It must be understood that progressive discipline is a last resort for safety management. However, there are circumstances when discipline will be required to reinforce, with some employees, that management is serious about safety. The steps to be followed are:

Stage 1 of Progressive Discipline – Verbal Reminder

The supervisor must ensure that he has sufficient facts to indicate that the employee to be given the verbal reminder was negligent in following our zero-tolerance policy. The verbal reminder should be a clearly understood statement. For example:

“John Doe, I have been making every effort possible to have your practice brought up to our zero-tolerance policy on eye protection, seatbelts or smoking. This is your official verbal reminder of your failure to comply with our policy and your name will now be entered on our department record. The next step in the process is a written warning.”

RECORD OF REMINDERS

Department
1 - Eye Protection
2 - Seatbelts
3 - Smoking

The supervisor who gave the verbal reminder will enter the name of the employee, the date of the verbal reminder, and the reason for the reminder on the posted “Record of Reminders” for the department. The supervisor entering the reminder will verify from the record that this is the first recorded reminder for this employee. If there is another verbal reminder recorded, the supervisor will proceed with the written reminder.

NOTICE
WRITTEN REMINDER

NAME: _______________________ DATE: _______________________

This is to certify that a clear, verbal reminder on :

• Compulsory eye protection
• Seatbelts in clamp/forklift trucks
• Smoking in other than designated areas

was given to you by _______________________ on_______________________.

The receiving of this notice by you will be recognized as a written warning of your noncompliance to our policy.

Please be reminded that these zero-tolerance policies are here to stay and the next step in the process will be progressive discipline – time off without pay.

_______________________
Supervisor’s Signature

_______________________
Date

Copy:
Employee’s File
Union Local
Department Superintendent

Stage 2 of Progressive Discipline – Written reminder

The written reminder, as per the attached, will be forwarded to an employee when there are ample facts indicating that a verbal reminder has been given to the employee. The written reminder will acknowledge who gave the verbal warning and when. The supervisor will forward a copy of the written reminder to HR to be put on the individual’s file, a copy to the superintendent, and a copy to the Union local.

The name of the supervisor giving the written warning, the reason for the reminder, and the date the reminder was given to the employee, will be recorded on the department “Record of Reminders”.

Stage 3 of Progressive Discipline - Suspension

When every other effort to affect buy-in to our zero-tolerance policy has failed, the department superintendent, in consultation with HR, the supervisor, and with representation from the Union, will carry out progressive discipline. This will start with a one (1) day suspension and progress further, depending upon the nature of the offence. The main focus of the discipline is to have the employee understand what zero-tolerance means in practice.

Story Tools:  Email This Post  Print This Post Top