Introduction
King & Co. partnered with a small business in the hi-tech trade industry facing significant financial pressures and operational inefficiencies. The client needed to implement structural changes to secure the business’s long-term viability. Our team provided support through a complex restructure, investigation, and disciplinary processes to address challenges affecting both internal operations and external client relationships. Despite the high-stakes environment, our collaborative approach ensured a smooth process, with the client praising our expertise and streamlined execution.
Challenges Faced
- Lack of Defined Roles: All line employees shared the same job title, making performance evaluation and accountability difficult.
- No Performance History: The absence of documented performance discussions or appraisals hindered objective decision-making during the restructure.
- Operational Issues: Employees failed to follow written and verbal instructions, leading to costly errors that damaged client equipment and reputation.
- Restructure Pressure: The timing of employee errors coincided with the restructure process, raising concerns about its potential impact on employee performance.
Solutions Implemented
- Restructure Process: Introduced distinct job titles and responsibilities to improve performance management and operational clarity.
- Performance Evaluation Framework: Conducted an additional selection process in the absence of historical performance records, ensuring fairness and transparency.
- Investigation: Carried out a thorough investigation into the employee errors, considering whether the restructuring pressures contributed to the incident.
- Disciplinary Action: Addressed the misconduct through due process, including proposing serious misconduct charges and implementing summary dismissal to protect the business’s reputation.
Results & Achievements
- Enhanced Role Clarity: Defined job titles and responsibilities, improving accountability and operational efficiency.
- Improved Decision-Making: Established a framework for future performance appraisals to support effective evaluations and ongoing development.
- Reputation Management: Swift and fair disciplinary action protected the client’s reputation and maintained customer trust.
- Stabilised Operations: 4.The business emerged from the restructure with a clearer structure, better equipped to handle financial pressures.
Financial Benefits
- Risk Mitigation: Implementing due process reduced legal risks and ensured compliance with employment law.
- Cost Containment: Addressing performance issues and defining roles led to improved efficiency and reduced operational errors.
- Client Retention: Timely resolution of the employee error restored client confidence, mitigating potential revenue losses.
Key Takeaways
- Role Clarity is Essential: Clear, distinct job titles and responsibilities are crucial for performance management and operational efficiency.
- Consider Relationships Carefully: Employing family members or close friends can introduce complexities that require clear boundaries and expectations.
- Due Process is Critical: 3.Following proper procedures in disciplinary actions protects the organisation legally, ensures fairness, and upholds employee rights.
Testimonial
You guys are fantastic; small businesses need you around more to ensure these sorts of things are being done correctly. In a trade industry, these are the last things on our minds. You have made this situation very easy and streamlined for my small business under these financial pressures and ensured the business’s financial and reputational stability as the priority around all advice.
Conclusion
Through a structured and empathetic approach, King & Co. helped this small business navigate challenging financial and operational pressures. By implementing clear roles, addressing misconduct, and adhering to due process, we ensured the client’s stability and long-term success. We remain committed to supporting the business as it continues to evolve.
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