How to Address an Under-Performer

[u/DCF_ll]

I’ll try to keep this short, but give enough information to get useful advice. Basically, I’m a Lead Engineer for a manufacturing facility. I do everything from capital projects/expansion, maintenance projects, process optimization, utilities, etc…

The Engineering Team is spread out and I report directly to the VP at our corporate office. I have a Process Controls Engineer (let’s call him Brad) who had been reporting to a Process Controls Manager. The Manager is burnt out and leaving because he’s really good and everyone goes to him for stuff. He oversees several facilities including mine and gets calls 24/7. I was told that Brad will now become my direct report.

The problem is this Brad is a massive under-performer. He’s on a PIP right now. I’ve been on the up-and-up with this company they’re very happy with my performance and want to challenge me to get Brad performing. Brad is lazy, constantly on his phone, not a self starter, doesn’t understand the process flow of the plant, doesn’t like to leave his desk, cannot prioritize projects, frequently misses deadlines which delays my projects… I could go on and on.

Up until now I’d say Brad has been a peer of mine. I’m much younger (20 year age difference) and wondering for those that have dealt with a similar situation what’s the best approach? I’m thinking I take him out to lunch and just lay out the facts? Write down a list of things I’d like to challenge him to start doing and my general expectations? Make it clear how I’ll be evaluating his progress and what “success” would look like in his position. I feel like I can’t beat around the bush and just need to be direct, but also let him know he’s got my support 100% and I’m willing to help. Any advice or opinions?

[u/Capt-Clueless]

Why in the world would you want to put time and effort into trying to get a lazy, low performing employee to do his job at even a mediocre level, when you can just fire him and look for someone better?

If being on a PIP, aka the fast track to unemployment, doesn't motivate this guy... He's a lost cause.

[u/DCF_ll → u/Capt-Clueless]

It’s been a really hard role to fill due to industry and location. We were looking for 8 months before Brad and using 3rd party. If I could get things turned around it would save me another 8 months of trying to fill the controls role on top of my own responsibilities.

[u/Capt-Clueless → u/DCF_ll]

Sounds like you're not paying enough then.

[u/FellowOfHorses → u/Capt-Clueless]

Yeah, if you are in the middle of nowhere and need technical staff you don't pay local wages, you pay whatever it would take for someone from a big city/other country to move there.

it's a reason why some industries have been moving out of rural areas. As work has become more specialized, technical labor costs have been trampling cheap land and general labor.