Firing an employee is never an easy task, but when performance doesn’t meet expectations, drastic measures must be taken. Some employers delay firing to avoid the fallout of termination and the threat of a lawsuit. But delaying the inevitable can cause problems to escalate and make termination even more difficult.

Taking steps to proactively avoid the threat of a wrongful termination lawsuit can help you make smarter hiring and firing decisions.

Hold Performance Evaluations Regularly

Document the performance of all employees across the entire organization. Employees of all levels should receive complete performance evaluations on a regular basis.

Evaluations provide supervisors with an opportunity to communicate performance issues, so employees understand the expectations that must be met.…