Employee Discipline ©Connie Sitterly The information contained in these responses should not be considered legal advice. Consult an attorney if you have any legal questions.

Dear Workplace Doctor,

Last month I was promoted to field supervisor over eight tech reps, but I have no experience or training to know how to discipline an employee. One of my field reps, missed two appointments with customers last week, and left one job at a customer's site without finishing the job, rescheduling or telling anyone. Can you help me understand some basics of what discipline is and how to proceed? 

Frustrated in the Field

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Dear Frustrated in the Field,

It's common to promote without providing supervisory training. You can learn what you need to know, and experience with the right attitude can give you the rest.

Discipline is the right and obligation of a supervisor to provide training that corrects, prevents and improves knowledge, attitudes, behavior or conduct or to take actions to enforce the company's rules and standards when counseling proves ineffective.

The purpose of discipline is to correct performance and change behaviors, to listen and understand, and to problem-solve fairly and effectively.

There are four basic criteria to consider:

• severity
• past record positive and negative
• length of service
• previous actions taken

Also before you meet with the employee, consider these questions:

Does the employee understand:

• expectations
• performance requirements
• options
• consequences 
• follow up actions and updates required?

Does the employee have the necessary

• support
• information
• instructions
• skills
• tools
• materials or resources?

Hope this gets you started. see if your company provides supervisory training and visit our website for more information. Good luck!

The Workplace Doctor ^TM