Progressive Discipline

Course Description:

Discipline is not something any manager wants to do but it is a skill that is important to be able to perform consistently and fairly. This one-day course will look at the importance of minimizing discipline issues before they happen and the need to have a discipline policy in place. After determining what discipline is and what are appropriate levels of discipline, the course will explain the typical steps of progressive discipline and help you use it to manage employee behavior and performance.

Course Objectives:

• Realize the importance of onboarding and performance management in minimizing disciplinary issues
• View discipline as a positive part of ensuring employee success
• Differentiate between performance problems and misconduct
• Decide appropriate levels of discipline, considering escalation and mitigating circumstances
• Outline the necessary information to include in a discipline policy
• List the methods to communicate a discipline policy
• Define a progressive discipline process
• Describe the steps of a progressive discipline process
• Use informal structured guidance for minor misconduct or performance issues
• List supports that can be provided to improve the success of employees
• Perform verbal warnings, written warnings, performance improvement plans, and terminations

Course Outline:

Lesson 1: Course Overview

The Instructor will spend the first part of the day getting to know participants and discussing what will take place during the workshop. Students will also have an opportunity to identify their personal learning objectives.

Lesson 2: Minimizing Disciplinary Issues

In this session we will briefly look at two ways to minimize disciplinary issues: onboarding and performance management.

Lesson 3: Discipline

In this session we will start by defining discipline in relation to performance problems and misconduct. Then we will look at determining appropriate levels of discipline, considering escalation, and mitigating circumstances.

Lesson 4: Discipline Policy

In this session we will outline the necessary information to include in a discipline policy and look at ways to communicate the policy to all employees.

Lesson 5: Progressive Discipline

In this session we discuss progressive discipline and describe the steps of a progressive discipline process. We also explore the use of informal structured guidance for minor misconduct or performance issues.

Lesson 6: Step 1 - Verbal Warning

In this session we look at the first step in a formal progressive discipline process — verbal warning — and determine ways to give the employee every opportunity to correct their behavior. A role play exercise provides an opportunity to practice delivering a verbal warning.

Lesson 7: Step 2 - Written Warning

In this session we will determine the information that is necessary to include in a written warning. Then we will provide an opportunity to practice writing a written warning for a chosen scenario.

Lesson 8: Step 3 - Performance Improvement Plan

In this session we look at the elements that are included in a PIP and then provide an opportunity to practice developing PIP goals, objectives, actions, and determining the measure of success.

Lesson 9: Step 4 - Termination

In this session we look at the termination process and look at a termination checklist for managers to ensure all actions have been taken. We then look at the termination meeting essentials and give an opportunity to practice for a chosen scenario.

Workshop Wrap-Up

At the end of the course, students will have an opportunity to ask questions and fill out an action plan.