EMPLOYMENT LAW TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT LAW CONSULTANCY

The Manager's Guide to Discipline

For most managers, let alone the employees involved, the disciplinary process can be a painful and embarrassing. Poor performance tends to be confused with misconduct and consequently carries the stigma of punishment; this despite the fact that most company policies and indeed the ACAS Code (correctly) put emphasis on improving behaviour or performance, rather than punishment.

The danger for organizations is that managers may be tempted to brush misconduct under the carpet. When it comes to poor performance, they bury their head in the sand or in some cases react in the opposite way, rushing in with heavy handed/inappropriate? sanctions or seeking to dismiss the employee. In both cases this can lead to further problems or resentment amongst employees and expose the organization to claims of discrimination or unfair dismissal.

The Manager's Guide to Discipline is designed as a short and practical guide for all managers to handling disciplinary and dismissal issues. The text provides managers with a tool to assist them in putting your disciplinary procedures into practice, giving consideration to employment law and best practice. The authors cover the procedures in detail and highlight the actions or decisions that you need to take using a step by step approach.

The comprehensive appendices include checklists on how to prepare and conduct a disciplinary hearing and standard letters to help with the process. These should enable the organisation to demonstrate that not only has the policy been adhered to, but that there is a clear record showing what the circumstances were and how it was handled in the event of any dispute or tribunal claim.

Disciplinary or performance problems will always be seen as a problem for those managers who have to deal with them. Armed with The Manager's Guide to Discipline they will have a better understanding of how to approach the problem; a significantly improved chance or of resolving any issues successfully and a much reduced risk of finding themselves in front of an employment tribunal.

You can buy the book from Gower Publishing:
http://www.gowerpublishing.com/isbn/9780566088551