1. Progressive Discipline
& Best Practices

2. Discipline Policy:
It is the company’s policy to conduct disciplinary action in a fair, appropriate and consistent manner, within the at-will employment context.
Why is this important?
- Makes Prism a Good Employer
- It’s the Right Thing to Do

3. Avoiding Discipline Problems:
Tell your employees what you expect and 99% of your problems will go away…...
Set Expectations through Job Descriptions, Competencies, Goal Setting, Orientation.
Provide Regular, Constructive Feedback through Coaching & Counseling, and 1 on 1s.
- Timeliness, Consistency & Objectivity
Seek out Feedback
Why Job Descriptions are so important.

4. Avoiding Discipline Problems:
Conduct both Formal & Informal Performance Reviews
Review Employee Handbook and specific policies
Practice Good Recordkeeping
Be a Manager, not a Therapist
Make sure the annual performance reviews match performance of overall employee.

5. Progressive Discipline:
Why do we issue discipline?
- To Improve Performance
Designed to make an employee aware of a problem and to give them an opportunity to fix it.
Applies to all employees regardless of length of service and position.
Prism does not have a Probationary Period. However, new associates should be given at least one warning prior to terminating.
Hire Right! Interview Guidelines and Reference Checks are important

6. Discipline Notices:
Verbal & Written Warnings for Attendance, Performance or Conduct.
Standardized Corrective Action form or Memorandum following same format.
No notes or other documentation to personnel file without employee’s signature.
“Note to Files” should only be used if Verbal and both parties must sign.

7. Corrective Discipline
Progressive Discipline
Regular feedback documented ( s, memos, etc.)
Documented Verbal Warning
Documented Written Warning
Documented Final Warning
Suspension (as appropriate) – Investigation Results must be documented
Dismissal
Managers and HR should partner together for recommendations regarding the strategy and appropriate process to follow.

8. Considerations before a corrective discussion
Do you have all the facts? Ask questions. Give the team member an opportunity to explain?
Were expectations properly communicated to the team member? If the infraction is repetitive, has the team member been counseled properly and aware of the policies?
Has the case been properly documented?

9. Verbal Warnings (Counseling)
Formal indication of dissatisfaction with the employee’s work performance or warning on the first violation of an established rule policy/procedure or policy of the hotel or department.
May be appropriate for minor rule infractions; minor misconduct; or unsatisfactory performance.
Generally issued when previous discussions or informal coaching and counseling sessions have not resulted in desired improvement.
The employee will be asked to acknowledge receiving the warning (via signature)

10. Written Warnings
Generally issued for serious rule infractions or misconduct; repeat offense; or continued performance deficiencies.
Informs employee that a serious problem exists and employment may be in jeopardy.
Should list any previous disciplinary action that has taken place and corrective action required.
The employee will be asked to acknowledge receiving the written warning (via signature).
There is no Written #1, #2, etc

11. Final Warning (if applicable):
May be appropriate for “repeat offender” of low-grade offenses—including poor performance, repeated tardiness, consistently failing to punch in or out for shifts, etc.
Assumes that employee has already received prior disciplinary notices.
Notifies employee they have one more chance to improve.

12. Suspension Pending Investigation:
Employees should always be asked for a written response to allegations.
Must always complete a written warning form when suspending an employee.
Employee is not permitted to be on property during a suspension.
If an employee with house bank is suspended, you must retrieve bank keys ad notify accounting to pull banks for an audit.
General Rule of thumb is Suspend Employee if you need to investigate issue. Get employees statement before they are sent home. DO NOT send an employee home as a form of discipline. If suspension result is Termination, then employee is not paid for suspension time. If employee is returned to work then EE is paid for missed scheduled days. USE same suspension form and update if employee is returned to work and indicate on under Corrective Results

13. Suspension Pending Investigation (cont’):
Don’t commit to a specific time frame.. it depends on the scope of situation precipitating the need to investigate.
Summary of Investigation and Witness notices if applicable should be maintained.
Suspension is NOT used as a form of discipline.
Employees who are reinstated following suspension WILL BE PAID for time missed.
Employees who are terminated following suspension will NOT be paid.

14. Corrective Active Discussion:
Know your facts.
Have the discussion as soon after the issue occurs as possible.
Keep conversation on track;
Be constructive; focus on performance or conduct, not feelings or judgments.
Never have the discussion when you’re upset or emotional.
Keep to the facts. No feelings should be in the corrective action form.

15. Corrective Action Form:
Two good reasons for properly writing a corrective disciplinary form are:
When applicable, the company should not incur unemployment benefit expenses (if you can prove competence and that the team member was showing insignificant effort).
The legal implications for writing a good / bad corrective disciplinary form can mean the difference between no legal exposure or a law suit (stick to the facts and facts alone).
Show Corrective Action Form

17. Corrective Action Form:
Be specific about the offense, incident, performance issue, etc. Include date, time of occurrence, and work rule that was violated if applicable.
Avoid subjective language and keep in behavioral terms.
Include backup documentation if appropriate.
State what needs to be done and by when.
“In the future I expect you to arrive ready to begin working promptly at 8am each day you are scheduled to work”.
Utilize the Employee Handbook to document the specific policy and/or misconduct that was violated. Signed Employee Handbook Acknowledgement is key.

18. Corrective Action Form:
State potential consequences if improvement is not shown or if infraction occurs again.
Conclude with the phrase, “Any future infraction, violation of company policy, or unsatisfactory performance may result in further disciplinary action or possible termination of employment”.

19. Corrective Action Form:
If applicable, detail previous disciplinary action.
Record items such as action taken, date of incident, reason/type of violation and who it was presented by.
Only current disciplinary action should be recorded (no more than 12 months).
Encourage employees to write comments on the form or on a separate sheet.
Employee should be provided a copy of the notice.
Check appropriate box stating whether or not you have suspended the employee.

20. Corrective Action Form:
All disciplinary forms must be signed by the employee and manager/supervisor issuing the warning.
All disciplinary forms must be signed by HR and the GM.
If they refuse to sign, have another manager witness refusal and explain to the employee that the warning is still valid.
Original form should then be submitted to HR and kept in the employee’s personnel file.

21. Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)

22. Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)
PIP’s should be delivered as a form of early intervention – Precedes written warning.
Should be delivered when success is the desired and likely outcome. Otherwise, just issue discipline (Corrective Action).

23. Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)
Review the form. Make sure to point out that originals of both documents should be turned into HR and no hardcopies should be kept in someone’s office as in the past some of these have “disappeared”.
Protect the folder where the soft copies are saved. This is between you, the associate and HR.
Associates at Prism are at-will employment status. This means that when they willingly choose to work for our properties, they agree to work under our performance standards and to follow our policies and procedures when they accept our employment offer.

24. Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) cont’
Associates who do not agree to sign and acknowledge the required items for improvement leads to voluntary resignation as our expectations are non-negotiable.
Do not let an associate take the action plan form with them overnight or for several days.
The employee does not have to agree but has to comply to remain employed.
Action Plans for EC members must be reviewed and approved by Corporate HR and VPs.

25. Sales Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)
Review the Sales PIP Memo and Instructions.

26. Performance Discussions
Prepare & Practice
Schedule the discussion whenever possible and appropriate.
Choose the right location, in private and with witnesses as needed.
Be constructive.
Be professional, stay focused on the issue, not the person.
Don’t make it personal
Be brief and to the point
Re-set expectations
Do not negotiate standards

27. Best Practices Set the right expectations.
Communicate and provide feedback on a regular basis.
Recognize and reinforce positive behaviors and accomplishments.
Document conversations, incidents and feedback discussions.
Be proactive
Be consistent
Know Prism’s Employee Handbook.

28. Best Practices (cont’)
Don’t set precedents
Partner with HR
Model our Prism Core Values
Follow up with the employee