Employee hasn't liked her role for the past 4 years

127 replies

holidayblues25 · 24/03/2025 16:46

I started in my new role as manager 6 months ago and she just came back from ML.

My manager (who used to manage her) just told me she hasn't been happy for many, many years, but that she has stayed even though it's very apparent she isn't happy.

We're thinking of starting to involve HR as her quality of work is subpar (she's already been on a PIP before).

I'm new to this role so don't really know how to proceed. When it happened to me, my then manager told me she's help me "leave" (although my circumstances were slightly different).

So AIBU to think we need to build a case? Being unhappy is obviously not a reason for dismissal. Or somebody has to be brutally honest with her, but that might backfire.

OP posts:

Original poster

holidayblues25 · 26/03/2025 17:20

NowYouSee · 26/03/2025 17:15

OP you really should not attempt to PIP someone based off pre mat leave work, a tremendously bad idea and leaving you wide open to maternity discrimination claim.

Instead set out very clearly the expectations of the role going forward at her level. What that means in terms of quality, volume, outcomes - whatever is relevant to the role. Where relevant give her a period of time to adjust back eg if in a fast moving industry you can’t expect her to be 100% up to speed on today’s current practice and trends day 1 if it has changed whilst out.

Monitor this regularly and document it, raise with her promptly when an issue and make clear what your expectations were and what needs to be different. by all means speak to HR first to make sure you capture what you need should this require a PIP in due course.

Depending on your organisation, general approach and management risk appetite if you are overstaffed and she hates her job you could discuss with management and then HR whether a possibility to mutually agree an exit with her to allow her to leave with some cash and reduce ongoing costs. Not as an opening salvo but can in some cases be a good outcome for everyone.

Thank you all very valid points.

I think your last suggestion would be welcomed by HR as they've done with a member of a different team.

It was a candid conversation, they have him I believe six months to look for another job while working (albeit not FT but with full pay).

OP posts:

LlynTegid · 26/03/2025 17:38

It is no fun being around someone who is miserable, whatever the circumstances. One of the benefits of hybrid working is you are at least not having to be alongside anyone like that five days a week, or with some other annoying trait.

Going down the PIP route is fraught with difficulties and very draining.

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