Disciplining employees can create tense and unpleasant situations. Even if you have valid reasons for taking action against a worker, you will want to navigate every case with caution and precision.
Knowing some strategies for effectively disciplining non-compliant employees may improve the chances of a satisfactory outcome for everyone involved.
Know when to discipline
Think carefully about your policy for discipline and under what conditions to use it. Excessive reprimanding for nitpicky issues that may not directly violate anything at all can create division and hostility, as well as waste valuable company resources. For example, according to U.S. News, you cannot legally punish an employee for turning to social media to complain about work.
Over time, you can design a discipline policy that accounts for the unique variables in your workplace. Use consistency in the way you implement reprimands to maintain fairness. Following a set protocol for handling non-compliant workers can also reaffirm to your employees that you take their conduct seriously.
Maintain employee privacy
When disciplining an employee, never publicly share details of the situation with anyone who has no business knowing. Make it your goal to maintain the employee’s privacy. Acting with integrity in this manner may not only protect the employee’s reputation but also prevent your company from violating the code of ethical conduct. Oftentimes, you may find that confidentiality may facilitate improved habits and desirable changes in the employee you have disciplined.
Your conduct throughout disciplining employees can heavily influence the situation’s outcome. Following legal guidelines, implementing best practices and prioritizing confidentiality can all help you avoid worse problems.