If you have hired a bad employee, there are some easily quantifiable costs, such as the cost of recruiting, relocation and training. However, according to the management.about.com website, there are many other areas in which a bad hire can have an adverse effect.
1) Negative impact on the rest of the team
An employee with a constantly bad attitude, who keeps making mistakes and delivering weak results, may cause the rest of the team to become less effective. Irritating work habits threaten the morale of others, whose engagement plummets as they need to work more in order to cover up mistakes made by their new colleague. Productive employees will be fed up with all the bother, standards will drop and before long your best employees may even start considering termination of their contract.
2) Your time will be wasted
You will have to give your new employee a large portion of your energy and time. That means less time to be devoted to coaching and developing other, more promising employees. There will be constant complaints from others, you will have to give corrective feedback all the time and micromanage the weak employee. Eventually it will become more and more painful for you.
3) Customers will be affected
A bad hire will disappoint your customers. Insufficient customer service awareness can significantly harm your reputation. In the middle of looking for short cuts and not being able to fulfil responsibilities, it is pretty sure that your new employee won’t have the time to look after customers. Negative interactions will confuse your current customers, who may even walk away from you. With a bad hire, both your brand and reputation are in danger.
4) Your own reputation can suffer
If the troubles with hiring a bad employee repeat themselves, you will acquire a reputation as a less than competent manager. You need a team that delivers results, so always bear this in mind.
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