Progressive Discipline

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 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.

After you complete this course, you will be able to:

• 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 Topics:

Session One: Course Overview

• Learning Objectives 

Session Two: Minimizing Disciplinary Issues

• Onboarding
• Onboarding Topics
• Performance Management
• The Shared Management Model
• The Shared Management Model
•  Session Three: Discipline
• What is Discipline?
• Disciplinary Issues
• Poor Performance and Misconduct
• Appropriate Level of Discipline

Session Four: Discipline Policy

• Creating The Policy
• Creating The Policy
• Discipline Policy Elements
• Communicating the Policy

Session Five: Progressive Discipline

• Progressive Discipline
• The Four-Step Progressive Disciplinary System
• Progressive Discipline Processes
• Informal Structured Guidance
• Informal Guidance Supports

Session Six: Step 1 - Verbal Warning

• Verbal Warning
• Detailed Step One: Verbal Warning
• Verbal Warning Role Play
• Verbal Warning Role Play
• Verbal Warning Role Play
• Verbal Warning Role Play

Session Seven: Step 2 - Written Warning

• Written Warning
• Escalating Discipline
• Written Warning Scenarios

Session Eight: Step 3 - Performance Improvement Plan

• What is a Performance Improvement Plan?
• Escalating Discipline
• Case Study: Developing Improvement Goals
• Case Study: Developing Improvement Goals
• Case Study: Developing Improvement Goals
• Case Study: Developing Improvement Goals

Session Nine: Step 4 - Termination

• Termination
• Termination
• Termination
• The Termination Meeting
• The Termination Meeting
• Termination Meeting Role Play