Managing a Lazy Employee.

Abstract

Managing a lazy employee can be a huge source of frustration for a medica practice manager. It can also be baffling, especially when the manager is highly self-motivated and cannot relate to an employee's penchant for laziness. This article defines laziness and explores the most likely reasons behind an employee's lazy behavior. It suggests that medical practice managers look to their owr management prior to taking disciplinary action against a lazy employee, anc provides specific guidance. It then offers practice managers 10 strategies for dealing effectively with lazy employees and 15 do's and don'ts for them to share with employees who are dealing with a lazy coworker. This article also provides five suggestions for overcoming one's own temptation to be lazy and advice for instituting a mentorship program to bring lazy employees up to speed. Finally, this article explores whether laziness is an innate characteristic or learned be- havior and suggests how managers can use this information in their approach to managing a lazy employee.