QUESTION 8- EXPLAIN THE DISCIPLINARY ACTION PROCESS

Disciplinary actions are usually necessary when an employee is underperforming and showing a negative attitude and/or behavior.

It has been observed that such a behavior and underperformance often have a direct impact not only on the worker concerned but also onto the whole working atmosphere and team spirit.

The main purpose of a disciplinary action is to identify and fully understand the actual situation.

A disciplinary action process comprises of the following:

Ø  Identify the problem and have a 1^st meeting with the concerned staff.

o   Having a meeting with the employee will be an opportunity for both the manager/ supervisor and the concerned worker to look into the matter together.  Also, the manager can counsel the worker about how the matter can be resolved and so on.   However, the manager/ supervisor also give a written UNFORMAL warning to the staff.   The letter should clearly explain to the worker what is being reproached to him/her.    Also the staff is made aware that if the problem is resolved, no more actions will be taken.

Ø  A formal warning

o   Actually, if the problem is still not resolved after the 1^st meeting, the employee is once again conveyed to another meeting, where the latter will be given a 2^nd warning and this time it will be a FORMAL written warning.   Also, the employee is made aware that if the situation continues, he will be called onto a disciplinary hearing or even more actions can be taken against him/her.

Ø  The disciplinary hearing

o   This is held in case of gross misconduct or if an employee’s behavior/performance/attitude hasn’t improve even of having got previous warnings.   During the hearing, the employee will be given the right to talk and explain himself/herself.   The out comings of a disciplinary hearing can be:

§  Transfer to another department.

§  Reduction in salary.

§  Suspension for a given period of time.

§  Contract termination.

Also, the management should ALWAYS keep records of all the procedures and steps taken in a disciplinary action.   This can be used as proof and evidences in case of judicial pursue.