In Episode 11 of Happywork TV, I introduce the next commitment in my work code of conduct, “The Happywork Agreement.”

Here it is: “I will not keep dead weight around … One should not have to pick up the slack for underperforming employees … And we’re not going to use Jack Welch-style stack rankings. Annually firing 10% of one’s workforce is an apathetic, lackadaisical way to build a team.”

When running a company, there’s the fun stuff – plotting and executing strategy, making big sales, opening new locations, notable PR breakthroughs, and such and such. What’s not fun? Firing people. Even if they deserve it because they’re big jerks, it’s not fun. Sometimes you have to fire a nice person because they aren’t performing, and that’s even less fun.

So you know what happens? Sometimes, those people don’t get fired. They stick around … for years. And you have great employees who get to work with these under-performers, and that’s arguably unfair. In fact, I’ve noticed that the good workers sometimes get more work assigned to them, because their managers know they’re so good at what they do, they’ll get it done. Those high performers will eventually leave, because no one wants to be overworked because under-performing employees aren’t pulling their weight.

So yes, managers and owners – please build us a strong workforce, and don’t keep dead weight around. As mean and cutthroat as that sounds, it’s actually the fairest way to build a great team.

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Watch Episode 10 here!

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Happywork is available for pre-order on Amazon – HERE!

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