I consulted a client who had to do something they had never done before — they had to cut a long-term employee who had been with the company for over five years. Once an employee has been with a company for that length of time, they have become “family,” which is the equivalent of cutting your “brother or sister.”

Most employees who get to five years of service must have been doing something right during their employment; otherwise, they wouldn’t have lasted that long. But things can change. In this case, the employee was no longer a high performer; they had quickly become a poor performer, causing broader challenges for the business, as described below. This post will teach you how to handle situations like these and why cutting your “brother or sister” may be your only option.

Related: Why the Best Job Candidates Are Hidden in Plain Sight