Discipline and Grievance Issues

7. Going for Improvement

Aim to improve behaviour or performance, not to punish the employee.

7.1 Be constructive and positive.

• Give a first warning. Accompany it with the offer of training.
• Consider counselling if family or social difficulties underlie the problems.

7.2 Stress that it is the behaviour you are attacking, and not the person.

7.3 Devise an action plan for improvement to tackle ongoing problems.

7.4 Set the timescale for improvement.

• Leave a stated amount of time for improvement between warnings.
• Tribunals insist that the time allowed and improvement demanded must be reasonable. This will depend upon the circumstances.