Discipline & Termination

Document all the details when disciplining

May 19, 2016
Skipping careful analysis in discipline investigations is a bad idea.

Sexual harassment: What to look for

May 4, 2016
Sexual harassment costs U.S. workplaces millions of dollars annually in legal liability and lost productivity.

Say what? Handling the tough talks

April 19, 2016
How to find the right words for those tense conversations with employees.

When should you give a reprimand?

March 19, 2016
Being able to give an effective reprimand is an important management skill, but only when you’re confident that reprimands will actually change behavior and produce positive results.

Writing the ‘written warning’

February 18, 2016
A “written warning” is usually a key step in the process of progressive discipline. It’s purpose, of course, is to effect a change in behavior. But how do you write one?

Racial remarks? Respond quickly and forcefully

February 12, 2016
As a manager, it’s your responsibility to ensure that none of your people behave in a way that diminishes the sense of mutual respect and dignity in your unit. That’s what insensitive racial remarks do.

Supervisors’ guide to progressive discipline

February 4, 2016
No state or federal law requires you to establish a progressive discipline policy. If your organization has one, however, make sure all your supervisors understand and follow it.

What to ask before punishing insubordination

January 20, 2016
An employee who doesn’t do what is asked of him or her is not necessarily insubordinate. Before disciplining for insubordination, delve a little deeper into the employee’s resistance.

Two workers locking horns?

December 7, 2015

It’s a common scenario in the workplace: An ongoing dispute between two employees. Left unchecked it can split your whole unit into factions. And your workers may be looking at everything you do in terms of which side you seem to favor. Here are some guidelines that can help you address employee conflicts in a positive, effective manner.

Disciplining employees: Myths and realities

December 3, 2015

We  often think of “discipline” as “punishment.”  But it means more than that. Webster’s New World College Dictionary defines it as “training that develops self-control, character, or orderliness and efficiency.” Keeping this definition in mind can help you separate the myths about discipline from the realities.