ABSTRACT
Most practices are run like a family business – even in large practices there are rarely more than a dozen or so ancillary staff employed. In practices where there are formal appraisal systems in use there tends to be less staff turnover and a happier working environment, which of course presents the practice to the outside world in a better light. Every practice has staff that overstep the mark, and there comes a time when it becomes necessary to intervene. It is then common to find practices who avoid using the correct disciplinary procedures. However, if one member of staff behaves badly or consistently makes mistakes and is not disciplined, the lack of boundaries and clarity can create a feeling of uncertainty amongst the other members of staff.
