When problems arise with employee performance or behavior, having a structure in place for effective disciplinary action can help take care of these problems effectively and fairly. Many of the most functional workplaces have used progressive discipline to manage performance issues for years.
Progressive discipline solutions can help organizations establish transparent and fair disciplinary procedures, leading to a more accountable and productive workplace. Employees in workplaces that use progressive discipline can track their progress, understand the consequences of their actions, and make substantive changes that can help them improve.
If your workplace doesn't have a discipline system or employee discipline software in place, your organization could be at risk. Here's what you need to know about implementing progressive discipline solutions into your organization's disciplinary process. This is why many businesses have turned to PayDay Payroll's Performance Management Solutions. Here's what you need to know.
What Is Progressive Discipline Performance Management?
Progressive discipline is a system that utilizes a series of consistent steps to manage and correct employee performance issues. Steps vary from one workplace to another, but typically steps escalate when problems continue. Steps may include verbal warnings, written warnings, implementation of a performance plan, required training, and suspension.
Progressive discipline relies on timelines and deadlines to provide the employee with an opportunity to correct their behavior. With each step that is taken, the manager documents the discipline, expectations, consequences, and outcomes. Progressive discipline is applied consistently to all employees to ensure fairness in the workplace.
Benefits of Progressive Discipline Management
There are many benefits of progressive discipline management.
Facilitates workplace accountability. Progressive discipline is a clear set of steps taken when the employee is not meeting expectations. This system is designed to hold employees accountable for their behavior and provide them with resources and understanding to facilitate improved performance.
Creates workplace accountability. Employees need to be held accountable for their performance. Without accountability, productivity can slow down or stop altogether, leaving good employees to pick up the slack for employees who won't do their part. Progressive discipline creates a system of accountability to prevent this from happening.
Creates consistency for treatment of employees. Employees who feel they are not treated fairly may take action against their employers, putting the organization at risk. Progressive discipline creates consistency to help ensure that all employees are treated fairly.
Limits employer risk. Progressive discipline relies heavily on documentation that provides proof each step of the process was completed. This is necessary because courts require employers to prove they took the proper steps when an employee termination occurs. This documentation and fair treatment limits the employer's risk and can help prevent lawsuits.
Improves employee retention. Employees who are let go due to poor performance can cost businesses thousands of dollars. Replacing them is costly because training and hiring are expensive, and less experienced employees can slow organizational progress. It's often better to hang on to an employee and remediate behavioral issues than it is to let go of an employee and start over. Progressive discipline creates a framework for retaining and working with employees to improve performance.
Sets clear expectations. Employees need clear expectations in order to do their best work. Progressive discipline gives employers an opportunity to set clear expectations at every step of the process. Each step is met with a deadline. Progressive discipline also brings the employee and employer together to discuss the steps required for improvement.
Improves employee performance. Ultimately, the point of progressive discipline is to improve employee performance. By creating a set of clear steps, establishing expectations, and bringing the manager and employee together to analyze performance and discuss the path for improvement, the progressive discipline process creates a way forward for the employee and their manager.
Challenges with Progressive Discipline Management
For many employers, the most significant challenge with progressive discipline is the documentation requirement. Documentation and tracking can be taxing but are necessary for the progressive discipline process. Without proper documentation, employees may not know the next steps, and employers cannot prove that they provided the next steps to employees. Should the problem be taken to court, the employer will not have the proof they need that they did the right thing for their employee.
Not all managers are good at documenting interactions with employees. This leaves some managers in trouble during the disciplinary process, while others may just avoid discipline altogether. This can be resolved if the manager provides a platform for recording and sharing documentation with the employee.
How to Make Progressive Discipline Management Efficient for Your Workplace
Performance management is possible with software solutions that facilitate good documentation. That's why PayDay Payroll offers performance management solutions through its cloud-based software. With PayDay Payroll, employees and managers have 24/7 access to their performance management documentation. PayDay Payroll manages the workflow to make discipline management easy for both parties.
Transform your disciplinary process with Payday Payroll. Contact us today to learn more about our discipline management solutions.