“Start with the end in mind.”
Stephen R. Covey
One of the toughest situations in employee management is disciplining or terminating an employee for failure to adhere to policy. Whether they perform a minor infraction or something major, could something have prevented this from happening?
When disciplined, many employees claim ignorance. They “didn’t know” that using work email for personal business was a policy violation, or they weren’t aware that taking simple office supplies home counted as theft. They might blame you for not letting them know sooner or claim that other employees get away with equally poor performance and still remain on staff.
Fortunately, you can help to deter and eliminate these situations by maintaining a consistent company handbook of policy and ensuring that your employees understand its contents. By distributing a detailed policy handbook that includes reference to larger procedural manuals located in the office, you can help employees better understand the company’s guidelines and what they can expect to happen if they break them. Over the next few weeks, I will share with you a series of blog posts that will address key issues in company policy and what you can do to eliminate the excuse of ignorance that many employees claim when being disciplined or terminated.
Want more information on handbooks now? Click here to request a free report, Uncover the Errors LURKING in Your Employee Handbook, now.