Legal Definitions - Progressive discipline

Progressive discipline is a structured process that employers use to address and correct an employee's performance or behavior issues. It involves a series of increasingly serious steps, starting with less severe interventions and escalating to more significant consequences if the problem persists despite repeated attempts to resolve it. The primary goal is to give an employee multiple opportunities to improve and meet expectations before resorting to severe actions like termination.

Here are some examples of how progressive discipline might be applied:

• Example 1: Chronic Lateness

  Imagine a software developer, Alex, who frequently arrives late to work, causing delays in team meetings. His manager first has a verbal conversation with Alex, reminding him of the company's punctuality policy and the impact of his tardiness on the team. If Alex's lateness continues, the manager then issues a formal written warning, documenting the issue and outlining specific expectations for improvement. Should the problem persist, Alex might receive a final written warning, potentially accompanied by a short, unpaid suspension. If, after all these steps, Alex continues to be late, the company may proceed with termination of employment.

  This illustrates progressive discipline because the company started with a mild intervention (verbal warning) and gradually increased the severity of the disciplinary action (written warnings, suspension) as the problematic behavior continued, providing Alex multiple chances to correct his conduct.

• Example 2: Misuse of Company Resources

  Consider an administrative assistant, Brenda, who is found to be regularly using company computers and internet access for extensive personal online shopping during work hours, violating the company's acceptable use policy. Her supervisor initially gives Brenda a verbal warning, explaining the policy and the importance of focusing on work tasks. If Brenda continues this behavior, she receives a written warning, detailing the policy violation and the potential consequences. If the misuse persists, the company might issue a final written warning and temporarily restrict her internet access or impose a brief suspension. Ultimately, if Brenda fails to comply with the policy after these escalating steps, her employment could be terminated.

  This example demonstrates progressive discipline by showing how the employer escalated from a simple verbal reminder to more formal warnings and potential restrictions, giving Brenda opportunities to change her behavior before facing the most severe consequence.

• Example 3: Consistent Failure to Meet Performance Targets

  A sales representative, Carlos, consistently fails to meet his monthly sales targets despite receiving regular training and support. His sales manager first holds a series of coaching sessions with Carlos, discussing strategies and offering additional resources to help him improve. When his performance doesn't improve, the manager issues a written warning, outlining specific performance goals and creating a formal Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) with clear deadlines. If Carlos still does not meet the revised targets after the PIP period, he might receive a final written warning, potentially leading to a temporary reassignment of duties or a reduction in responsibilities. If his performance remains unsatisfactory after all these interventions, the company may decide to terminate his employment.

  This scenario exemplifies progressive discipline as the company began with supportive coaching and gradually moved to more formal warnings and a structured improvement plan, providing Carlos with multiple chances and resources to meet his job requirements before considering termination.