So, after a ridiculous amount of back and forth, it appears that the decision has been made that I am to sit down with my wayward probationer and clinically (i.e., coldly) discuss my expectations, his efficiencies, and his deficiencies. In other words, I must give him a second chance. Of course, I already have my suspicions as to how that meeting will go: he thinks he’s succeeding so this little meeting/evaluation will be a completely left-field ball that he’s not expecting. It’ll light a fire under him for a bit, but with his cavalier attitude, I foresee him quickly returning to the bad habits that brought us to the crux.
On the upside, I’ve hired two new staff and they start on Monday. I am curious as to how he’ll respond to having two new teammates, both female, as that appears to be part of the problem. He doesn’t seem to have any difficulty taking direction from men; sorry, but I do not plan on changing genders anytime soon.