My team member prioritizes her personal life over her job, help!

Question:
I have an underperformer who is very good at setting boundaries. Every other email is a request for vacation time, telling me she’s leaving early due to some personal event, or a request for comp time for work she’s completed “outside of business hours.” I want people to have lives but this is getting out of hand. Suggestions? P.F., Pittsburgh, PA

Answer:
First, let’s be clear. This woman is not setting personal boundaries; she’s viewing work through her world, where she’s at the center.

There’s no need to feel guilty about the needs of the business. Set up a meeting to discuss the message she’s sending with her behavior. Assuming she’s aware that she’s underperforming, her behavior raises questions about whether she’s serious about rectifying the situation.

If her expectations about “business hours” are not realistic, clarify them for her. While it’s important for everyone to have a life, people are paid for performing their jobs. It’s their responsibility to find a good fit if the requirements of their current job conflict with their values