From Performance Concerns to a Clear and Respectful Resolution
Case Study
The Challenge
A growing consumer-products company had an employee with ongoing performance concerns. Leadership had provided feedback, but expectations, documentation, and follow-through were not yet consistent enough to support a clear resolution.
The situation was affecting the employee's manager, the broader team, and confidence in the role. Leadership needed to address the performance issues directly while ensuring the employee received a fair opportunity to understand the concerns and improve.
How Good Carma Helped
Good Carma partnered closely with the employee's manager and company leadership to assess the situation, strengthen the documentation, and establish a structured performance improvement process.
Our team:
Helped the manager separate observable performance issues from frustration or subjective judgment
Identified the essential expectations of the role and documented specific examples of where performance was falling short
Defined what meaningful and sustained improvement would look like
Developed a performance improvement plan with clear expectations, measurable outcomes, scheduled check-ins, and a defined timeframe
Coached the manager on communicating directly, giving actionable feedback, documenting progress, and avoiding mixed messages
Guided leadership through the decision to end the employment relationship when the required improvement did not occur, and prepared the termination documentation, conversation, and offboarding plan
The Outcome
The company moved from an unclear and prolonged performance issue to a decision that was consistent, well-documented, and aligned with business needs.
The employee received clear expectations, regular feedback, and a genuine opportunity to improve. The manager gained greater confidence in handling performance concerns, and leadership had a defensible process supporting the final decision.
The termination was conducted directly and respectfully, with the necessary operational details handled accurately and promptly. The company also emerged with a stronger performance-management framework that could be applied more consistently in the future.
The Good Carma Difference
Difficult employment decisions shouldn't be rushed — but they also shouldn't stay unresolved because a manager isn't sure what to say or do next.
By combining practical HR knowledge, direct leadership coaching, careful documentation, and compassionate execution, Good Carma helps organizations reach a clear resolution while protecting both the business and the dignity of the employee.
