Get All Access for $5/mo

Here's What Happens When an Employee Becomes Harmful to a Company's Goals When an employee is harmful to a company's success, he or she will have a pervasive impact on trust, productivity and a sense of community within the business's walls.

By David Ossip Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Q: When does an employee become harmful to a company's goals?
--Robert A. Parker

A: Simply put, an employee is harmful to a company's success when they are not aligned with company culture and values. It's typically very obvious when an employee lacks fit. It's evident in their work and especially in the way the employee speaks of the both the company and management.

When an employee speaks negatively about their employer or makes disparaging remarks about their manager, the effect is immediate and toxic. It is usually healthier for the organization to work respectfully with the employee to help them exit. When allowed to remain in the organization, they can have a pervasive impact on trust, productivity and sense of community.

Related: Unhappy Workers Cost the U.S. Up to $550 Billion a Year (Infographic)

Trust is damaged when employees witness a disconnect between what the organization values and the actions and opinions of naysayers. This disconnect can lead employees to feel that expectations are being applied and enforced inconsistently. They may even lose faith in the organization's ability to address and manage personnel issues.

With regard to productivity, a bad fit employee quite literally brings everyone around them down. The negativity that results can decrease engagement, morale and job satisfaction. As a result, collaboration suffers and both individual and team productivity are reduced.

Related: How HR Can Gain Workers' Trust

Furthermore, the sense of community can be damaged tremendously. To maintain an engaging, positive and productive culture, it's important to cultivate a sense of belonging. When an employee rejects a company's values – either vocally or through their actions – it becomes much harder for other employees to see their own values reflected in their team.

Because the potential for harm is so great, it's important that the company be proactive in identifying employees that are a poor fit. By the time a visible crisis emerges, it's likely that damage has already been done -- productivity may suffer for months before an issue comes to a head. Human resources and managers both have a key role to play in this. HR must continually engage with employees and keep a pulse on employee sentiment. People managers need to keep an awareness of the conversations surrounding their employees and act swiftly when an employee demonstrates any red flags.

Related: Silence at Work Is Like a Noxious Gas

David Ossip

CEO of Ceridian

David Ossip, CEO of Ceridian. a company that provides human-resource software to businesses

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Side Hustle He Started in His College Apartment Turned Into a $70,000-a-Month Income Stream — Then Earned Nearly $2 Million Last Year

Kyle Morrand and his college roommates loved playing retro video games — and the pastime would help launch his career.

Growing a Business

How to Determine The Ideal Length of Your Marketing Emails Your Customers Will Actually Read

Wondering how long your marketing emails should be? Here's what consumers say — so you can send them exactly what they like.

Business News

A Former Corporate Lawyer Now Makes Six Figures on YouTube — Here's How She Does It

Here are the secrets to starting and growing a successful YouTube channel, according to a YouTuber with millions of subscribers.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

New Southwest Airlines Major Investor Wants to Force Out CEO, Slams Company's 'Stubborn Unwillingness to Evolve'

Elliot Investment Management announced a $1.9 billion stake in the Dallas-based Southwest Airlines on Monday and is urging shareholders to vote for new leadership.