Why your business should be using progressive discipline

Although much of owning a business is about increasing market share and maximizing profits, true success also requires you to implement risk mitigation strategies. If you can reduce or eliminate the possibility of being found legally liable for damages caused to other parties, then you can ensure that your business’s reputation and its bottom line are as fully protected as possible.

One aspect of your business where risk mitigation can be especially pertinent is your human resources department. It doesn’t take long to conduct an internet search to find employers being sued for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. Although you may not be able to completely avoid these kinds of allegations being made at some point, there are steps that you can take to reduce the risk of being found liable for such alleged actions.

The importance of progressive discipline

One risk mitigation tactic that you can utilize is progressive discipline. Here, you slowly increase the punishment handed down to employees who violate specified workplace policies. You can start with something as simple as a verbal warning or a written letter of counseling, which can then progress to a written reprimand, suspension, and eventually termination.

The purpose of progressive discipline is to ensure that there’s a record of the steps that you took to address the employee’s problematic behavior. This, in turn, reduces the risk that your adverse employment action will be seen as discriminatory or retaliatory. It also puts your employee on notice and gives him or her a chance to correct the behavior to become the employee that you want him or her to be.

Develop the HR strategy that is right for your business

Although your risk mitigation strategies need to touch on every aspect of your business, your human resources department deserves special attention. That’s why it’s imperative that you know how to develop sound HR strategies that seek to protect your business while also strengthening your workforce. If you’d like to learn more about how to do that, then we encourage you to continue to research the topic.