How to Write Up Disrespectful Employees
- 1). Identify pre-established disciplinary guidelines in your company policy. Properly follow all procedure and protocol set forth in the policy to ensure your written documentation is supported on strong grounds. If you have a policy where a verbal -- or informal -- warning is necessary before a written warning, for example, consult previous employee notes, witness testimony or electronic correspondence to corroborate that you completed this first step. Make sure your policy says that it can change at the discretion of management to keep it legally flexible if your disciplinary situation is complicated.
- 2). Date the document and include the offender's full name and position with the company. List the identity of the supervisor or employee who administered the warning. Write a detailed account of what transpired and how the disrespect manifested. Note any witnesses to the event, where the action happened and the date the misconduct took place.
- 3). Include two signature lines. Use the first space as the signature line for the supervisor or employee who wrote and served the document. Make the second space the signature line for the alleged offending employee. Business attorney Anne H. Williams recommends including a disclaimer under the second signature line stating: "The employee's signature indicates only that the warning was received. It does not necessarily indicate that the employee agrees with the contents of the warning."
- 4). Print two copies of the document. Sign both copies and have the alleged offending employee sign as well. Provide the employee with one of the copies. Save the remaining copy for your business and legal records.