1. Cite an article about “Discipline in the Workplace” and explain what
you like about this particular article.
“Punishment doesn’t work with children, and it doesn’t work with adults in the
workplace.” That sentence stood out to me in the SHRM article “Employee Discipline
for the New Workplace.” The article discusses the issue of employee discipline, and
how to use it effectively without causing extra stress in the workplace. It mentions
how one of the problems is that we view discipline as something we do to people
rather than as something to be developed and nurtured in people. Any organization
needs people who are self-disciplined for excellence, not punished into compliance.
It is an attitude I strongly agree with. Collaboration and communications things to
keep in mind when approaching discipline.
The article discusses a few tips to a successful interaction. First of all, focus on the
conversation, not the disciplinary form or documentation. Also, change the name of
the disciplinary steps from things like “reprimands” or “warnings” to words like
“notice” or “conversation” so it doesn’t have such a negative connotation. The tip I
appreciated the most was “Give people a way to clear their record.” Employees need
to know that they have a way to move past their mistakes and not have them held
against them. It reinforces the idea that the goal is to fix the problem, not to punish.
Engaged and accountable employees are crucial to a company’s success.
