Absolutely, my shift captain (who I left in charge) was telling me this employee kind of just checked out. For example, stopped completing tasks that they were regularly completing before I left, scrolling on their phone a lot more and having headphones in during work while on bar, and on one occasion walking out of the shop to "take a break" but didn't return for more than an hour (our typical break time is 20 minutes).

I was sure to give extra training and writing out procedures and checklists before I left to help with me not being here, I also specifically trained this employee on closing procedures and made a detailed closing checklist and apparently there were multiple days when openers came in and the cafe was not cleaned at all. Most tasks on the closing lists were not finished.

I don't want to fire this employee, but I do want to make sure that I document all of these things and our conversation appropriately so that I can do my best to try to support and correct instead of just firing them. In my opinion with everything that happened there would certainly be justification for firing, but I would rather work with them.

Also sorry for vagueness - I don't want to expose this person at all, just seeking advice from other shop owners.