Your most expensive employee might be the one everyone works around.
In this brief leadership monologue, Donald Burns warns managers about the hidden cost of tolerating a single underperforming or toxic employee who consistently shirks standards, arrives late, and repeatedly receives second chances. He explains how this behavior forces top performers to cover the gaps, drains leaders’ time, and erodes team morale. Burns argues that the perceived "peace" of avoiding confrontation is actually expensive, leading to extra coverage, repeated mistakes, and burnout among good employees. He offers a concrete fix: clearly state standards, describe the problematic behavior, set crystal‑clear expectations, and enforce accountability. By doing so, leaders signal what is tolerated, protect high‑performers, and stop the cycle of weak accountability.
