Friday, October 18, 2013

All About Employee Discipline And The Written Warning

By Gregory Covey


It's definitely a tricky meeting when the subject is about disciplinary conduct, so understanding the rules of conduct is crucial. All of this depends on what the problem at hand really is, such as, poor conduct, poor performance or a blatant disrespect of the the rules. Whatever the case, a written warning letter is an all important necessity to begin the procedure.

Arrange for a manager or supervisor to conduct an investigation about the details. This might involve interviewing witnesses, getting signatures on statements, and checking proof, like emails, etc. In a smaller company there might not be a second manager, so it could be up to the one.

Refer to procedures to determine which rules appear to have been broken. Verify the person's file to determine if other disciplinary warnings were imposed. Inform employee about the meeting, including the time and place and who else will be attending. The letter should state that it's a disciplinary meeting, the nature of the allegation, which rules were allegedly broken), and that they have the legal right to come accompanied by a coworker or union official.

Make certain that any claims made are copied and attached to the letter. A minute taker ought to be present, but must be considered a neutral party. Once the meeting begins, state the facts from the get-go. Explain the worker's rights and that they are fully known to them. Also note whether there's a companion with the worker. Ensure each individual present is recognized, and also the reason they're attending.

Follow-up with the allegations and any existing evidence. Create an atmosphere where a calm discussion is held, all the while with the employee allowed to comment. Take into consideration any evidence the employee has presented and ensure the companion is questioned and asked to comment. When the matter is completely discussed, adjourn the meeting and consider everything. Don't forget to consider the person's employee history before when reaching the decision.

Reconvene the meeting after a day or two, given that no further investigation is necessary. Advise the employee of the decision. Remind the employee of their right to appeal. Write a letter confirming the decision, including the disciplinary warning, a demotion, suspension and so on or confirmation of the fact that no disciplinary sanction will be applied.

The letter should be accompanied by all notes from the meeting. Advise the employee that he/she has the right to appeal, and discuss the manner in which it is to be done. Acting quickly and properly can ensure that the situation is under control and prohibits the formation of poor habits among the team and the entire organization.

If all this appears a little overpowering, don't hesitate to ask the HR department for assistance. For more help, warning letter examples are easy to come by. If there already isn't a written warning procedure, it should be implemented immediately.




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