How can your organization keep discipline flexible?

In order to keep some flexibility in its progressive discipline system, your organization may provide that there is no set standard for the number of verbal warnings that must be given before a written warning is issued or the number of written warnings that must precede suspension or termination.

Factors to be considered in determining the number of warnings to be given are:

• The number of different offenses involved;

• The seriousness of the offenses;

• The number of previous warnings

• The time interval since the last offense;

• The employee's response to the last warning; and

• The employee's work history.