I have an employee who gets has good results. Problem is, he is confrontational and, in a word, pisses people off. You either love him or hate him. Oh, I might add, he has a history of hypertension, which has caused him to be hospitalized more than once.

I have spoken to him on many occasions and documented those conversations about his people skills or lack thereof. Do I have the right to fire him?

Ann Kiernan replies:

Yes! You don't have to put up with an employee who is disruptive, disrespectful, rude, mean, or nasty! You can and should hold all workers to the same standards for professional conduct, even if his bad behavior is caused by his medical condition. The most important thing to do before firing him is to give him a final written warning. In that warning, review the conversations you have had, how you have tried to help him, and the specific problems you want corrected. Then say, "Any further outbursts by you will result in your immediate termination."

Before firing him, make sure you handle the termination properly by reviewing our Wrongful Termination Guide.

Good luck!