Important steps to implement and manage

Employee discipline – Important steps to implement and manage

Implementing and managing employee discipline is an ongoing task which addresses the need for smooth flow of information and task completeness in the organization. Steps to implement and manage organization-wide discipline are outlined as

Understand why discipline problems occur.

Having this acknowledge may help you head off potential problems. For example, employees may fall short of standards because of

Lack of knowledge – no one has told them the standards, procedures or policies
Personal problems – financial, family, health or other problems outside the workplace can become major distraction when brought to work
Frustration – for example, due to low pay lack of opportunity for advancement, or not having concern taken seriously by their supervisor
Fear of change and the possibility of failure
Conflicts with other employees
Rules that are unnecessary or outdated.

Communicate the rules and standards.

Employees need to know exactly what’s expected in terms of behavior. Introduce rules to new employees during induction training. Remind all employees of rules periodically.

For example, you can use posters to reinforce safety issues throughout the workplace.

Get to know the people on your team.

The better you know people, the better you’ll be able to anticipate their concerns. Take time to learn about each team member’s goals so you can provide with appropriate challenges. Walk the job often. Keep your eyes and ears open. What employees say and do can provide valuable about what’s on their minds.

Make sure employees are properly trained.

This is an important for employees who are new to the organisation and employees who need to upgrade their skills, for example, due to changes in technology.

Discuss the “why as well as the what”

Employees are more likely to comply with rules when they understand the purpose of the rules. For instance, employees who are aware of the advantages of good housekeeping are more likely to keep their work areas tidy and free of potential hazards.

Help build a sense of pride and teamwork

The most effective kind of discipline is self-discipline. Be sure team members understand the organisation’s objectives and how their work contributes to meeting those objectives. Praise people for a job well done. Let team member know you trust them to act responsibly. The chances are, they won’t disappoint you.

Set a good example.

Make it clear by what say and do that standards of behavior apply to everyone.

Be consistent

Don’t enforce rules one week and ignore them the next. While it’s fine to allow an occasional exception to a rule, be sure that team members understand why when you do.

Build a reputation for being fair

Being fair means taking appropriate action when an individual falls shorts of standards. This does not necessarily mean every employee should be subject to the same disciplinary action for the same infraction. For example, an employee who arrives late one morning should not be subject to the same disciplinary action as an employee who is habitually late.

Be available

Encourage employees to come to you if they’re unhappy about something. Let them know that the sooner you discuss the problem, the sooner it can be resolved. Review the rules periodically and determine whether each rule is