How to Deal with a Chronically Dissatisfied Employee and Prevent Problems in the Company

Some employees are constantly unhappy with everything. I call them "negativity spreaders". They create tension in the team, resist change, and hinder productivity. If such a person is already part of your team, it’s important to address the issue immediately, before it escalates.

1. Have an Honest Conversation

The first step is to calmly and directly address the issue:
"I’ve noticed that you are always dissatisfied with everything, and that surprises me."

Sometimes, negativity is just a habit. The employee may not realize how their behavior affects those around them. For example, they might criticize everything, believing it shows initiative. But in reality, such employees create chaos and lower team productivity.

If they don’t understand the difference between constructive feedback and constant negativity, you need to make it clear: the company values constructive feedback, not endless complaints. In many cases, after such a discussion, the employee becomes more aware of their behavior. The key is not to expect them to figure it out on their own.

2. Increase Pressure

If the conversation doesn’t help, you need to make it clear that this behavior will no longer be tolerated:
"I don’t like your constant negativity. It makes it harder for me to manage the company because changes are beneficial. I’m not going to tolerate it."

When employees realize that their attitude affects both leadership and the team, they either adjust their behavior or resist even more. If resistance increases, it becomes clear that the problem runs deeper than just their communication style.

For example, if a sales department manager consistently sabotages new tools, insisting that "the old way is better", they may simply not want to leave their comfort zone. It’s important not to let them disrupt work processes with their negativity.

3. Verify the Facts

If the first two steps don’t work, it’s time to consider what’s really behind this behavior. From experience, I can say that in 80% of cases, chronic dissatisfaction is linked to serious performance issues.

A real business example: an accountant who resists financial oversight is often trying to hide errors or fraud. As long as there’s no clear system, they can manipulate data. But the moment audits are introduced, they start complaining, sabotaging the process, and arguing that "everything is fine as it is." However, once the facts are on the table, further argument becomes pointless.

This issue is not limited to accounting. Often, an employee’s constant negativity is caused by the fact that they:

• Make serious mistakes and don’t want them to be discovered
• Are skimming profits or working inefficiently
• Fear change because it requires them to develop new skills

Reviewing their work quickly clarifies the situation. If violations are found, the issue is resolved through either correction or termination.

Next Steps

Chronic negativity in a team cannot be ignored.

• If it's a habit, it can be corrected through conversation.
• If it's fear of change, you need to show that change is inevitable.
• But if errors or misconduct are behind the negativity, simple discussions won’t help. In such cases, reviewing the employee’s work provides the clearest answers.

There is always only one solution: either the person changes their behavior, or they leave the company. The most important thing is not to let their dissatisfaction disrupt workflows or slow down business growth.