Question

Progressive Discipline

This activity is important because, as a manager, you must be able to determine the most effective and legally defensible discipline process for your organization. While ideally all employees will always abide by all organizational policies and practices, in reality this is unlikely. Therefore, managers and supervisors must be prepared to implement a well-designed and formally communicated discipline policy

The goal of this exercise is to demonstrate your understanding of the progressive discipline process and how it can benefit both the employee and organization.

Read the case of the discipline issues at United Medical Staffing agency and select the most accurate response to each scenario provided.

Mr. Jordan is a new manager at United Medical Staffing (UMS) agency that prides itself on winning several regional and national awards for excellent customer service. Its primary customers are large medical agencies who contact UMS to hire physicians and nurses to meet their shortages in these critical areas.

Upon arriving in his new office, the head of the recruitment department, Sarah was waiting to discuss several employee concerns. While the organization appeared to be meeting the demands of its clients and filling the most immediate staffing needs, there were several employees who were of some concern. Mr. Jordan understands the importance of addressing any and all employment concerns, especially if the outcome negatively impacts the organization’s mission to provide quality candidates for employment to the health care industry.

The progressive discipline system at UMS is established, communicated through both face-to-face, classroom training as well as sent via email and posted on the company’s Intranet. All employees are required to electronically sign they have received and understand the new discipline policy. The new policy will go into effect immediately and be used to address new employee discipline concerns.

In order to ensure the new progressive discipline process included all of the necessary criteria, Mr. Jordan likely included which of the following to provide information regarding unacceptable behaviors and establish rules and consequences for violating the rules that would be relevant to this organization?

Multiple Choice

• the HR professional

• supervisors

• managers

• employees

• All of the answers are correct.

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Progressive Discipline

In creating UMS’ new progressive discipline system, Mr. Jordan found that tardiness was one of the primary violations in the months following its implementation. What did all employees who were tardy experience in the first tardy after the system began?

Multiple Choice

• unofficial spoken warning

• termination

• written warning

• suspension

• extra duty

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Yesterday, Sarah, the recruiting manager at UMS, met with one of her recruiters to discuss not meeting the established goals. This would be the final step of the new progressive discipline system before termination would occur. Which step in UMS’ new progressive discipline system will the recruiter experience?

Multiple Choice

• termination

• suspension

• written warning

• unofficial spoken warning

• extra duty

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Unfortunately, Mr. Jordan had to deliver a message of termination to an employee today. As is true of most discipline policies, when the behavior is grievous or dangerous to another employee, termination may be the first step and only step taken. What is the most likely behavior, upon investigation, found to be true of the terminated employee?

Multiple Choice

• tardiness

• absenteeism

• sexual harassment

• poor quality work

• cyberslacking

Answer 1

1. Jordan likely included which of the following to provide information regarding unacceptable behaviors and establish rules and consequences for violating the rules that would be relevant to this organization?
   • Ans - All of the answers are correct.
   • Reason - The progressive discipline system at UMS is applicable for all the employees respective what role or designation they are at.

2. Progressive Discipline

   In creating UMS’ new progressive discipline system, Mr. Jordan found that tardiness was one of the primary violations in the months following its implementation. What did all employees who were tardy experience in the first tardy after the system began?

   • Ans - unofficial spoken warning

   • Reason - They received a warning as it was their first time and the new progressive discipline system was just being deployed and it would take some time for people to get used to it, accept it and follow it

3. Yesterday, Sarah, the recruiting manager at UMS, met with one of her recruiters to discuss not meeting the established goals. This would be the final step of the new progressive discipline system before termination would occur. Which step in UMS’ new progressive discipline system will the recruiter experience?

   • Ans - suspension

   • Reason - Suspension as a step comes before termination. Because in suspension the guilty person is given the least change to reflect on his actions and also to make him realize what it would mean if it's a termination

4. Unfortunately, Mr. Jordan had to deliver a message of termination to an employee today. As is true of most discipline policies, when the behavior is grievous or dangerous to another employee, termination may be the first step and only step taken. What is the most likely behavior, upon investigation, found to be true of the terminated employee?

   • Ans - sexual harassment

   • Reason - Sexual harassment is one of the most grievous or dangerous acts that can be done by someone in an organization and an act like this warrants immediate termination