"An employer's nightmare? Problem employees, of course. But in today's world, many business owners, supervisors and managers often want to work effectively with difficult employees rather than fire them -- and Dealing With Problem Employees shows them how. This book combines the practical and legal information employers need. Providing a plain-English overview of employment law, Dealing With Problem Employees also shows readers how to: ? head off potential problems and conflicts ? recognize who is and isn't a problem employee ? evaluate the circumstances ? investigate problems and complaints ? conduct performance evaluations ? apply progressive discipline ? suspend employees, if necessary ? terminate employment ? deal with the results of termination ? handle severances and references ? avoid legal trouble Whether employers need to handle situations as they crop up, or want to implement policies and procedures to make the workplace problem-free, they'll find everything they need in this one-of-a-kind book. Provides sample policies, forms, checklists and statutes for every state. NOTE: This book does not cover hiring or layoffs. For more information on these topics, see The Employer's Legal Handbook, published by Nolo. ".