P. 9 In simple terms, performance management is about setting productive and supportive standards for change when an employee is not meeting the requirements of the job. It’s about communicating: • What needs to change • The expectations for change • The timelines for change Why performance decline happens. Performance decline occurs for a variety of reasons. Common causes include coworker conflict, job burnout, personal illnesses or lifestyle changes. Managing situations like these can be difficult but it’s necessary; if an employee’s low productivity is left unresolved, an organization can experience increased benefit costs (including prescription drug claims, medical and short and long-term disability) and decreased customer service levels. You could also run the risk of losing the employee altogether and having to recruit, hire, and train a replacement. If you think an employee’s performance is suffering because of a personal or work-related problem, there are some basic guidelines that you can follow to help you through the performance management process. Remember that there are no ‘quick fixes’ for an underperforming employee; it will take time, planning and patience. The reasons for performance decline may vary. Common causes include coworker conflict, job burnout, personal illnesses or major lifestyle changes. Performance management