Q. Explain the Procedure for taking disciplinary action?

Procedure for taking disciplinary action / disciplinary procedure:

1. Preliminary investigation: the first and primary step should be to hold a preliminary investigation in order to find out whether a prime facie case of misconduct exists.

2. Issue of a charge sheet: as soon as misconduct is observed and confirmed through preliminary investigation a manager should frame a charge sheet which contains charges a description of misconduct and an explanation should be asked for. Charge sheet is not a punishment in itself. It is merely notice of a charge that the worker is responsible for some misconduct and that the management wants he has to say about it. A charge sheet is also called a show cause notice. A manager has to be very careful in farming the charge sheet because if the punishment awarded is not in consonance with the charges it would be invalidated. The following points should be considered while framing the charge sheet.

The charge sheet should be properly worded and loose language should not be used so as to create apprehension and confusion in the mind of the concerned work man.

While stating the offence, the date, time and place of its commission and all other relevant details should be given.

If in a firm, standing orders are in force, then the wording of the charges should be in consonance with the wording in the standing orders.

The proposed punishment may be mentioned.

It should call upon the worker to submit an explanation in writing within a specified date or time.
The charge sheet upon the worker to be issued under the signature of the disciplinary authority and not of the enquiry officer.