What should HR review before any disciplinary action is taken?

Before any disciplinary action is taken, it is crucial for HR to review all disciplinary and termination documents. This ensures that the process adheres to established protocols and provides consistency and fairness in the application of disciplinary measures across the organization. By examining these documents, HR can ascertain whether the actions being considered are justified and supported by a clear history of previous disciplinary actions or warnings.

Reviewing these records helps ensure that the organization is compliant with its policies and that all relevant facts and circumstances surrounding the situation have been taken into account. This practice is essential to minimize the risk of potential legal repercussions or claims of unfair treatment, as employees need to feel that their disciplinary processes are based on documented evidence and not arbitrary decisions.

In contrast, while company culture guidelines, employee performance evaluations, and general compliance standards are all relevant to understanding the broader context of employee behavior and standards, they do not provide the specific, actionable insight needed to inform disciplinary decisions as thoroughly as a review of prior disciplinary documents does.