Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Turn workplace challenges into leadership wins!

Ever wondered how great managers handle difficult employee situations with confidence and professionalism? The Troubled Employee online course gives you the tools to do exactly that.

This engaging class explores why employees sometimes struggle at work—and more importantly, how effective leaders respond in ways that support improvement while protecting the organization.

What you will learn

You’ll build practical, real-world skills to:

• Recognize and reinforce positive employee performance

• Confidently address and manage problem behaviors

• Navigate effective and fair disciplinary processes

• Identify warning signs like absenteeism, tardiness, or sudden attitude changes

• Understand how Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and community resources can provide support

Instead of reacting emotionally or punitively, you’ll learn structured, professional approaches that actually work.

Why This Course Stands Out

This isn’t about “punishing” employees—it’s about leading with clarity, accountability, and consistency. You’ll explore alternative discipline strategies that focus on responsibility and improvement, giving you tools you can apply in any management role.

Course Text

We’ll use Discipline Without Punishment, Second Edition by Dick Grote (American Management Association, ISBN-13: 978-08144-7330-6).
This practical guide is widely respected for its straightforward, effective approach to workplace discipline.