"STEWARD'S TIP OF THE WEEK"
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STEWARDS: DO YOU HAVE A TIP TO SHARE?
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April 14, 2009
"Make Sure Your Good Deed Goes Unpunished"
One of your members gets in trouble. You go to speak to the manager and get him to reduce the discipline: a shorter suspension, a warning instead, or a final warning instead of termination. Maybe you even talk the manager out of disciplining her altogether. You feel good that you've helped your coworker.
Until, all of a sudden, it goes wrong.
The member is not happy. It turns out she does not like the agreement. Maybe she feels she does not deserve even the reduced discipline that you worked out. You may believe you got the best possible deal for the member – and you may be right! – but it really does matter what the member thinks. So, what had seemed like a victory has turned into what feels like a defeat.
Avoid this problem by always keeping the member informed about what is going on. If a manager calls you in about a problem before talking to the member, you should tell the member as soon as you can. You may want to tell her even before you talk to the manager, but you should certainly discuss the issue with her before you agree to anything.
Before you agree to any reduced discipline, make sure the member is OK with it. It is a good idea to speak to your Field Rep, too, to make sure the agreement is consistent with other discipline that has gone on in your department or at your agency, and to make sure you are not setting a precedent that could inadvertently harm someone else. Finally, it is a good idea to put the settlement in writing; that way there can be no question about what you agreed to later on. Your Field Rep can help you with that. |