Prevent Wrongful Termination Claims With Progressive Discipline
Terminating an employee may be necessary, but if your company does not have policies and procedures in place describing the methods you took to end an employment relationship, it could open you up to wrongful termination litigation.
At Santomassimo Davis LLP, we help clients develop progressive discipline policies to protect them from employee lawsuits.
ACHRNews notes that typically, progressive discipline follows five steps:
1. Official verbal warning
Although a verbal warning is the first official step, usually a manager or supervisor will discuss the employee’s problematic behavior at least once. The goal is to ensure that your employee has every opportunity to correct the substandard performance or inappropriate behavior.
2. Written warning
In addition to providing the employee with an explanation of the problem and expectations for correcting it, a written warning provides supporting documentation in the event that termination becomes necessary.
3. Disciplinary suspension
The suspension period is generally three business days, and it may be paid or unpaid. This leave is intended to provide the employee with time to determine whether he or she will comply with the changes necessary to maintain employment.
4. Last chance agreement
If, after the suspension, the employee determines that he or she wants to keep the job, you may want to create further documentation in case of termination by having the employee sign a contract verifying this last chance. In addition, you may want to have him or her complete a performance improvement plan.
5. Termination
Although it may not be pleasant to have to follow through with the termination, you can have a clear conscience and legal documentation that your employee understood the rule or standard and violated it, and that you gave him or her ample opportunity to correct the issue.
Understanding how this can affect you and your business is part of our job here at Santomassimo Davis LLP, as we primarily focus in providing expert Outside General Counsel for a variety of law firms and legal issues related to Corporate and Business Law in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
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