The Progressive Discipline Handbook: Smart Strategies for Coaching Employees Book

Introduction
What Is Progressive Discipline     3
The Benefits of Progressive Discipline     3
Getting Results With Progressive Discipline     4
Avoiding Legal Trouble     5
Who Should Read This Book     6
How to Use This Book     7
An Overview of Progressive Discipline
Progressive Discipline Basics
What a Progressive Discipline Policy Should Look Like     12
How Progressive Discipline Works     16
Using This Book With Your Company's Policy     26
Principles of Effective Progressive Discipline
Your Goal Is Retention-Not Termination     31
Discipline Should Be Proportionate     32
Have the Facts at Your Fingertips     32
Listen to Your Employees     33
Collaboration Is the Key to Success     33
Be Flexible Within a Consistent Framework     34
Some Employment Relationships Don't Work Out     36
Avoiding Legal Trouble
Don't Compromise At-Will Employment     42
Be Consistent     48
Be Objective     51
Don't Retaliate     54
Make Reasonable Accommodations for Employees With Disabilities     57
Be Careful When Disciplining for Absences     61
Deal With Dangerous SituationsRight Away     67
Keep It Confidential     70
Remember: You Represent the Company     72
Document Everything     73
Build Your Skills: An Overview of Progressive Discipline     77
Is It Time for Discipline?
Identifying Potential Problems
Knowing What to Look For: The Three Types of Employee Problems     84
How to Spot Employee Problems     89
Deciding What Action to Take
Is Discipline Appropriate?     106
How Serious Is the Problem?     111
Choosing the Right Response     120
Build Your Skills: Is It Time for Discipline?     129
Smart Discipline Skills
Why Discipline Is Hard
Understanding Your Emotions     136
Accept the Challenge     145
Smart Talk: How to Discuss a Discipline Problem With an Employee
Prepare     149
Guide     155
Demonstrate     158
Wait     160
Listen     161
Adapt     165
Act     166
Smart Ways to Deal With Difficult Employee Reactions
Emotional Reactions     177
Masking Reactions     184
Smart Documentation
The Benefits of Documenting Discipline     194
Guidelines for Effective Documentation      196
Informal Documentation     202
Formal Documentation, Step by Step     205
Smart Collaboration: Involving the Right People at the Right Time
Involving Management     214
Involving Human Resources     217
Involving Legal Counsel     220
Involving Other Employees     223
Build Your Skills: Smart Discipline Skills     231
The Disciplinary Steps
Step 1: Coaching
What Is Coaching?     240
To Coach or Not to Coach?     241
Types of Coaching     242
How Do You Coach?     246
When Coaching Is Over     255
Step 2: Verbal Warnings
What Is a Verbal Warning?     258
When to Give a Verbal Warning     259
How to Give a Verbal Warning     262
Step 3: Written Warnings
What Is a Written Warning?     286
When to Give a Written Warning     286
How to Give a Written Warning     289
Build Your Skills: The Disciplinary Steps     313
If Discipline Fails
Termination
Is It Time for Termination?     323
Prepare for the Meeting     331
The Termination Meeting     336
Documentation     343
Life After Discipline
Conduct a Process Evaluation      348
Talk to Your Team     353
Tell Others Who Need to Know     358
Moving Forward     361
Build Your Skills: If Discipline Fails     363
Appendixes
Tools, Checklists, and Summaries
Sample Policy Language     371
Disciplinary Form     373
Discipline Evaluation Checklist     374
Setting Expectations     376
Opening Discussions     377
Choosing Tone of Voice     379
Brainstorming an Action Plan     381
Build Your Skills: An Overview of Progressive Discipline     382
Build Your Skills: Is It Time for Discipline?     386
Build Your Skills: Smart Discipline Skills     390
Build Your Skills: The Disciplinary Steps     396
Build Your Skills: If Discipline Fails     401
Progressive Discipline Basics: Smart Summary     405
Principles of Effective Progressive Discipline: Smart Summary     406
Avoiding Legal Trouble: Smart Summary     407
Identifying Potential Problems: Smart Summary     408
Deciding What Action to Take: Smart Summary     409
Why Discipline Is Hard: Smart Summary     410
Smart Talk: Smart Summary     411
Smart Ways to Deal With Employee Responses: Smart Summary     412
Smart Documentation: Smart Summary     413
Smart Collaboration: Smart Summary     414
Coaching: Smart Summary     415
Verbal Warnings: Smart Summary     416
Written Warnings: Smart Summary     417
Termination: Smart Summary     418
Sample Documentation
State Laws
State Laws Prohibiting Discrimination in Employment     446
State Laws That Control Final Paychecks     458
How to Use the CD-ROM
Installing the Form Files Onto Your Computer     467
Using the Word Processing Files to Create Documents     468
Using PDF Files to Print Out Forms     471
Using the PowerPoint Presentation     474
Index