Human Resource Blog

Mississippi Progressive Discipline

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What do Mississippi Human Resource professionals mean by progressive discipline?

The “progressive” in progressive discipline refers to the way such a policy is set up. A succession of steps is clearly outlined, and you “progress” up those steps through the disciplinary process.

Any workplace disciplinary system with clear consequences spelled out for each consecutive violation is a progressive discipline policy.

The policy makes it very clear to employees just what the consequences are for each successive violation of the company rules. The steps may range from retraining through verbal and written warnings, up to suspension and firing. Employees ideally know all of the steps in advance.

An employer should document each step in writing, including retraining and verbal warnings. That way she or he can show that the policy is being administered fairly and consistently.

There are advantages to the progressive discipline policy. For example, because the employee knows the steps in advance, in a sense he or she is choosing the discipline by persisting in the behavior. It is also objective and fair.

Progressive discipline policies should be both consistent and flexible.

If an employee comes to work without consequences while another is disciplined, then the employer faces charges of discrimination or favoritism.

At the same time, if an employee who has never been tardy in the past arrives late because his spouse has suffered a heart attack, a rigid adherence to policy would not be appropriate.

As an example of progressive discipline, consider the case of a worker who comes in 3 to 4 hours late without a reasonable excuse. He or she would receive retraining in company tardiness policy on the first violation. On the second, the worker may get a verbal warning. On the third and fourth, written warnings. On the fifth, a three-day suspension with pay. And on the sixth, he or she would be fired.

Employers and, on occasion, even Mississippi Human Resource professionals, often have misconceptions about progressive discipline. They sometimes mistake it for peer review, in which a panel of co-workers administers discipline to their peers. In reality, however, supervisors usually administer progressive discipline policies.