In my experience with an underperforming employee on my team, it was exactly like this. Everybody knew what the problem was; they were constantly talking about

In my experience with an underperforming employee on my team, it was exactly like this. Everybody knew what the problem was; they were constantly talking about him in my one-on-ones. "Man, Ted did this thing and it pissed me off." "Ted didn't do his job again." "Ted dropped the ball on this project." There was a lot of frustration. I don't think that publicly shaming him in the team meetings would have done any good. There would have been blood in the water and that would have just been a bad meeting. I've certainly been in meetings where that's happened and nobody walks out feeling good -- it's so easy to let the fire catch you and out come the pitchforks... it's just ugly. People should have the chance to redeem themselves. If you've chosen to humiliate them them in public, though, that becomes a serious long-shot. In my case, after several months of working with my particular Ted I did let him go. It was the right call for the team -- and for him, I think. (Although I admit that might be hubris; I hope it was the right thing for him.)