101 Sample Write-Ups for Documenting Employee Performance Problems: A Guide to Progressive Discipline and Termination (A Guide to Progressive Discipline & Termination)

Over 100,000 copies sold! Now with 20 all-new write-ups! Managers may dread dealing with performance problems, but this sanity-saving guide by HR expert Paul Falcone is here to help. Revised to reflect the latest developments in employment law, the third edition of 101 Sample Write-Ups for Documenting Employee Performance Problems explains the disciplinary process and provides ready-to-use documents that eliminate the stress and second-guessing about what to do and say. These expertly crafted, easily customizable write-ups address: Absenteeism \* Insubordination \* Sexual harassment \* Drug or alcohol abuse \* Substandard work \* Email and phone misuse \* Teamwork issues \* Managerial misconduct \* Confidentiality breaches \* Social media abuse \* And more With a focus on getting employees back on track, each sample document includes an incident description, a performance improvement plan, outcomes and consequences, and a section for employee rebuttal. Whether you're addressing an initial infraction or handling termination-worthy transgressions, this trusted resource ensures every encounter remains clear, fair, and-most importantly-legal. Cover 1 Contents 6 Introduction 11 Part I: Mastering the Write-Up Tool 15 1 Progressive Discipline and Its Legal Considerations 16 2 Disciplinary Levels, Subjects, and Prior Notifications 26 3 Incident Descriptions and Performance Improvement Plans 41 4 Consequences, Rebuttals, and Employee Acknowledgments 51 5 Commonly Asked Questions and Practical Answers to Tricky Employee Relations Issues 64 6 About the 101 Sample Write-Ups 85 Part II: Disciplining the Probationary Employee 88 #1–3 Disciplining the Probationary Employee 89 #2 Disciplining the Probationary Employee 92 #3 Disciplining the Probationary Employee 96 #4–6 Disciplining the Probationary Employee: Extending the Length of Probation 99 #5 Disciplining the Probationary Employee: Extending the Length of Probation 102 #6 Disciplining the Probationary Employee: Extending the Length of Probation 105 #7–9 Performance Problems That Arise Right After the New Hire’s Probationary Period Ends 108 #8 Performance Problems That Arise Right After the New Hire’s Probationary Period Ends 111 #9 Performance Problems That Arise Right After the New Hire’s Probationary Period Ends 114 Part III: Policy and Procedure Violations 117 #10 Inappropriate Interviewing Questions 118 #11, 12 Failure to Follow Departmental Policies and Procedures 121 #12 Failure to Follow Departmental Policies and Procedures 124 #13 Excessive Personal Telephone Calls 127 #14 Software Piracy (Unauthorized Installation) 130 #15 Unauthorized Use of Company Equipment, Time, Materials, or Facilities 133 Bonus Sample—Lost Equipment 136 #16 Unauthorized Removal of Company Files 139 Bonus Sample—Employee Time Card Falsification 142 #17 Leaving the Work Site During a Regularly Scheduled Shift 146 #18 Working Unauthorized Overtime 149 #19 Disclosure of Confidential Information About the Company or Its Customers 152 #20 Failure to Follow Company Dress Code 155 #21 Smoking on Company Grounds 158 #22 Unauthorized Release of References to Prospective Employers 161 #23 Email Misuse (Nonwork-Related Usage) 164 Bonus Sample—Email Misuse (Racially Influenced and Distasteful Messaging) 168 Bonus Sample—Personal Cell Phone Use 171 #24 Off-Duty Conduct and “Moonlighting” 174 Part IV: Performance Transgressions 178 #25–31 Substandard Work Performance 179 #27 Substandard Work Performance 185 #28 Substandard Work Performance 188 #29 Substandard Work Performance 193 #30 Substandard Work Performance 197 #31 Substandard Work Performance 200 #26 Substandard Work Performance 182 #32 Substandard Customer Service 203 #33, 34 Safety Infractions 206 #34 Safety Infractions 209 #35 Lack of Sales Production 212 Bonus Sample—Substandard Sales Performance (Extension of Final Written Warning) 215 #36, 37 Unwillingness to Perform Properly Assigned Work 219 #37 Unwillingness to Perform Properly Assigned Work 222 #38 Recurring Negligence and Thoughtlessness 225 Bonus Sample: Improper Cash Handling (Dual Custody Violation) 228 #39, 40 Acts Resulting in Loss to the Employer 232 #40 Acts Resulting in Loss to the Employer 236 #41, 42 Slow or Inefficient Production 239 #42 Slow or Inefficient Production 242 #43, 44 Failure to Observe Working Schedule, Including Rest and Lunch Periods 245 #44 Failure to Observe Working Schedule, Including Rest and Lunch Periods 248 #45 Sleeping on the Job (Written Warning) 251 Bonus Sample—Sleeping on the Job (Final Written Warning) 254 #46 Failure to Learn New Material During Training 257 Bonus Sample—Failure to Retain Information After Training 261 #47 High Error Factor and Scrap Rate 265 #48 Falsification of Employer Records 268 #49, 50 Lack of Communication with Supervisor 271 Bonus Sample—VP-Level Substandard Performance and Conduct 277 Bonus Sample—Unacceptable Skip-Level Findings (Director Level) 281 Bonus Sample—Substandard Project Management (Director Level) 285 Part V: Behavior and Conduct Infractions 289 #51 Profane Language in the Workplace and Insubordination 290 #52 Poor Attitude 294 #53 Insubordination 297 #54, 55 Insubordination and Substandard Work Performance 300 #55 Insubordination and Substandard Work Performance 303 #56, 57 Misconduct, Fighting, and Horseplay 306 #57 Misconduct, Fighting, and Horseplay 309 58–61 Sexual Harassment 312 #59 Sexual Harassment 315 #60 Sexual Harassment 318 #61 Sexual Harassment 321 #62 Creating an Intimidating Work Environment 324 Bonus Sample—Social Media Cyberbullying 327 #63 Veiled or Direct Threats of Violence 330 #64–66 Antagonistic Behavior Toward a Coworker 333 #65 Antagonistic Behavior Toward a Coworker 336 #66 Antagonistic Behavior Toward a Coworker 339 #67 Managerial Retaliation 342 #68–70 Intoxication During Work Hours 346 #69 Intoxication During Work Hours 350 #70 Intoxication During Work Hours 353 #71 Drug-Related Impairment During Work Hours 357 Bonus Sample—Failure to Disclose Coworker Inebriation 361 #72 Misuse of Power and Office 364 #73 Union Steward Abuse 367 #74 Character Assassination and Defamation 370 Bonus Sample—“Locker Room” Banter 373 Part VI: Absenteeism and Tardiness 376 Caution Regarding Restrictions Related to Disciplining or Terminating Employees for Attendance and Tardiness 377 #75 Excessive, Unscheduled Absence: “No Fault” System 379 #76, 77 Excessive, Unscheduled Absence 382 #77 Excessive, Unscheduled Absence 385 #78, 79 Pattern of Excessive, Unscheduled Absence 388 #79 Pattern of Excessive, Unscheduled Absence 392 #80 Excessive, Unscheduled Absence: “Excuse-Based” System 397 #81–83 Excessive Tardiness 400 Bonus Sample—FMLA Abuse: Failure to Provide Appropriate Medical Documentation 409 Bonus Sample—FMLA Abuse: Failure to Follow the Terms of the Medical Certificatio 413 Bonus Sample—FMLA Abuse: Failure to Consult HR Regarding Leave Request 418 Bonus Sample—Failure to Engage in the ADA Interactive Process 422 #82 Excessive Tardiness 403 #83 Excessive Tardiness 406 Part VII: Termination Notices 426 #84, 85 Discharge for Cause: Substandard Performance 427 #85 Discharge for Cause: Substandard Performance 428 #86 Employee Fails to Report to Work on First Day; Company Rescinds Its Employment Offer 429 #87 Summary Discharge: Falsification of Company Records 430 #88 Summary Discharge: Employee Time Card Fraud 431 Bonus Sample—Supervisory Time Card Manipulation 432 #89 Summary Discharge: Loss of Current Weapons License 433 #90 Summary Discharge: Possession, Sale, or Being Under the Influence of Alcohol or Illegal Substances 434 Bonus Sample—Medical Marijuana Misuse 435 #91 Summary Discharge: Failure to Pass Certification Exam 436 #92 Summary Discharge: Terminating an Employee Without Corporate Approval 437 #93 Summary Discharge: Misconduct at Company Holiday Party 438 #94 Summary Discharge: Threatening a Coworker with Bodily Harm 439 #95 Summary Discharge: Terminating the Probationary Employee 440 #96 Letter Confirming Acceptance of an Employee’s Verbal Resignation 441 #97 Summary Discharge: Acceptance of Gratuities 442 #98 Summary Discharge: Insubordination (Inappropriate and Undermining Behavior) 443 Bonus Sample—Insubordination (Violent Employee Reaction) 444 Bonus Sample—Social Media Misuse 445 #99 Secretarial Layoff: No Severance 446 #100 Director-Level Layoff, Including Severance Package, Outplacement, and Appropriate Legal Release 447 #101 Job Abandonment 452 Index 453 A 453 B 453 C 453 D 454 E 454 F 455 G 455 H 455 I 455 J 455 L 455 M 456 N 456 O 456 P 456 R 457 S 457 T 458 V 458 W 458 Selected Additional Titles from the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM®) 459 About the Author 460 Free Sample Chapter from 75 Ways for Managers to Hire, Develop, and Keep Great Employees 461 Other Best-Selling books 478 About Amacom 479 Falcone, a human resources consultant, provides 101 sample write-ups for documenting employee performance problems related to probation, policy and procedure violations, performance issues, behavior and conduct infractions, and absenteeism and tardiness, in addition to termination, to provide positive and constructive discipline and rehabilitate poor performers and terminate problem employees legally. He focuses on treating workers with dignity and respect and progressive discipline, aiming to enhance performance by addressing minor problems before they become major ones, turn unacceptable behavior into positive output, and protect the company, as well as provide samples that can be customized. They include personal improvement plans for employees, and additional chapters address the structure and format of the write-up template. Complete write-ups for all examples can be found online. This edition includes recent developments in employment law, updated write-ups, and 20 new write-ups for issues like social media abuse, cyberbullying, locker room banter, medical marijuana termination, Family and Medical Leave Act abuse, and failure to engage in the Americans with Disabilities Act interactive process, as well as sample separation notices Whether you're addressing an initial infraction or handling termination-worthy transgressions, you need to be 100 percent confident that every employee encounter is clear, fair, and most importantly, legal. Thankfully, HR expert Paul Falcone has provided this wide-ranging resource that explains in detail the disciplinary process and provides ready-to-use documents that eliminate stress and second-guessing about what to do and say. In 101 Sample Write-Ups for Documenting Employee Performance Problems, Falcone includes expertly crafted, easily customizable write-ups that address: sexual harassment, absenteeism, insubordination, drug or alcohol abuse, substandard work, email and phone misuse, teamwork issues, managerial misconduct, confidentiality breaches, social media abuse, and more! With each sample document also including a performance improvement plan, outcomes and consequences, and a section of employee rebuttal, it's easy to see why this guide makes life for managers and HR personnel significantly easier when it comes to addressing employee performance issues. Whether you're addressing an initial infraction or handling termination-worthy transgressions, this trusted resource ensures every encounter remains clear, fair, and--most importantly--legal. -- Résumé abrégé tiré de l'ouvrage