I was recently asked to mediate a situation in one of my clients’ offices. The situation was when the office manager of some 9 years began questioning the clinical judgement of the doctor and it finally culminated in an outburst in front of two co-workers and 3 patients of, “God, I hate him!”
There are so many things wrong with this scenario that I hardly know where to begin. At this point, it is quite clear, that this employee is not salvageable. Anyone who expresses such disdain for their employer is past the tipping point of no return and needs for their own sake and that of the practice, to be let go.
I wonder how things progressed down this slippery slope of no return. The only thing that could have salvaged the relationship was communication and this communication needed to start right at the first signs of dissatisfaction and distrust. Communication may well have resulted in a mutual agreement to part ways, however, it almost certainly would have averted the distractive outburst in front of patients and co-workers.
Talk early, talk openly, talk respectfully.