February 16, 2010
Can An Employee Be Sacked For A Perceived Lack Of Motivation?
Can an employee be sacked for a perceived lack of motivation?
If you have proof that your employee shows a lack of motivation/commitment in the job, can you sack them legally?
Suggested Reading:
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates UsMost people believe that the best way to motivate is with rewards like money--the carrot-and-stick approach. That's a mistake, says Daniel H. Pink in ... Read More >
Related Posts
Filed under Motivation by 
Leave a Comment
Comments on Can An Employee Be Sacked For A Perceived Lack Of Motivation?
Better go through the whole warning process first, start with the verbal, then if it continues have a meeting about it with no warning but document and record it, then written, then out, you are covered you even had a meeting with her on one occasion to sort it where no warning was given, be fair though.
An employer can sack anyone who they reasonably believe is not carrying out their job properly or to a satisfactory standard.
If the employee thinks that they have been unfairly dismissed then they can take the employer to an employment tribunal. The employer would need to prove that they believed this person had no motivation to do the job in question.
This website is very useful http://www.uklaw24.co.uk/sacking-redunda…
in the UK no.
you are required to investigate why the employee has no commitment or motivation.
is it because he is paid poorly?.
is there an element of intimidation or bullying?.
trouble at home perhaps?.
lack of motivation or commitment does not constitute an act of gross misconduct so you cannot instantly dismiss the employee without going through the disciplinary procedure that is in place.
This seems to be a recurring question.
Lets get something clear:
An employer can fire an employee at any time for any reason or for no reason at all, with or without any notice.
This is the “at-will” rule, and it applies to the vast majority of employees in the country. Unless you have a contract, you are an at-will employee and are subject to the above rule. He can fire you because he does not like the color of your eyes.
How are you going to prove a lack of motivation? You don’t know what’s going through his mind.
Poor performance, though, is a different matter . . .
Those referring to “at will” employment are American, it’s not the case in the UK, which is where I believe you are.
If he is an at-will employee, you can fire him anytime. The problem lies with those who have contracts. If the lack of motivation/commitment is one of the grounds for termination then you can fire him.
An employer can fire anyone they want. They are the boss so to speak.