ABSTRACT
Discipline and dismissal comprise the human resource management processes by which organizations seek to correct deviations from acceptable conduct, and to rid themselves of individuals who are unable or unwilling to comply with reasonable standards of performance. Discipline is an ongoing responsibility of every manager, all of whom are expected to identify problems arising from employee behavior and introduce corrective measures. The application of discipline is not necessarily a negative process, in that the ultimate objective of a disciplinary procedure should be to provide employees with proactive guidance on how to improve their deficiencies. Dismissal, in contrast, should occur only when a worker has committed an offense that is so serious that it demands immediate action, or has proven to be unable to perform at an acceptable level after being provided with ample opportunity to address performance shortcomings.
