BASIC APPROACHES FOR EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE

Haldane P. Santiago

Employee discipline is the backbone of healthy industrial relations. It refers to the employee’s self-control and effectiveness in his work which later on yields to the development of team work. The promotion and maintenance of employee discipline is essential for smooth functioning of an organization which implies a state of order. Through the establishment of good employee discipline, each member of the organization will be able to appreciate the hierarchical superior subordinate relationship. It also develops among them the willing cooperation for and the observance of the rules of the organization. This now in the long run yield to the development of employee morale and intrinsic motivation.

But what particular actions call for employee discipline. that call for discipline which are summarized below:

•Lack of code of conduct for employees which can may disorient the other employees and potentially sow seeds of indiscipline others.

•Finding the job uninteresting and do everything to evade responsibility which may encourage other employees to do the same.

•Individuals with non-conformist values that tend to engage in undisciplined behavior.

•Frustrated individuals whose expectations were not met such as not being given the award

•Individuals with low ethical values that exhibit negative behaviors.

When any of these situations are being manifested by employees, several approaches can be used by employers to keep his people back on track. There are five major approaches or types of discipline namely: Positive Discipline, Negative Discipline, Self-Discipline, Progressive Discipline and The Red Hot Stove Rule.

•Positive Discipline – this approach follows an atmosphere of trust and that all employees or members understand or in support of the disciplinary program of the organization. It also takes the positive support and reinforcement for approved actions that aims to develop the members’ corrective and supportive attitude.

•Negative Discipline - On the other hand, Negative Discipline refers to the act of imposing penalties for wrong behavior. The fear of punishment is imposed to the employee which puts him back on track.

•Self-Discipline – This type of discipline aims to develop inner discipline which means that the employee exerts effort to adjust oneself to certain needs and demands.

•Progressive Discipline - This states that the penalties must be appropriate to the violation and that if the violation is minor, an oral waring is sufficient and written warning or other sanctions will only be given if the negative conduct of the employee prevails.

•The Red Hot Stove Rule – This strategy which was propounded by Mc Gregor implies that discipline should be imposed without generating resentment and that a sound and effective disciplinary system in an organization should be immediate, consistent, impersonal and with prior warning notice.

--oOo-

There are several factors

The author is from Department of Education, Regional Office

III