Elements of an Employee Warning Notice
An effective warning notice includes:
- The employee’s first and last name, along with the date of the notice
- The information of the supervisor to whom the employee reports
- Description of issue and pertinent details in regards to the warning notice.
- Description of appropriate policies and guidelines that the employee is failing to follow
- Any previous liberties the company may have provided to the employee to assist in creating an accommodation
- Expectations of when the employee must have evidence of improvement
- Signature of the employee acknowledging the issues and agreeing to the corrective action recommended
- Signature of the supervisor or appropriate entity
- A follow-up date to ensure progress is being met as expected
Both parties should retain copies of the form.
How to Properly Issue a Warning
A first-hand discussion between the employee and their supervisor or human resources liaison could prevent a warning from being necessary. If the discussion does not lead to the appropriate behavioral changes, the supervisor should carefully complete the warning notice and deliver it to the employee via a timestamped email.
Follow-Up and Consequences
Should the employee fail to meet the requested corrective action, the employee may face suspension, be placed on probation, or be subject to termination.