7 ways to establish discipline at work and business optimally

Discipline at work is what any business aims to improve working efficiency and increase revenue and profit. In the following article, Viindoo software has summarized 7 ways to establish the most optimal business discipline. Follow along with us.

Manifestations of employees not complying with discipline

Regarding compliance

An employee's undisciplined behavior can also change the working atmosphere and environment of an enterprise. Employees may not comply with the company's discipline through some actions such as:

  • Providing false information or hiding personal data during the recruitment process. 
  • An employee who does not comply with the labor contract or the instructions at work or intentionally violates the rules of the company.
  • Theft, deception, or unreasonable claims for such Employee's health and tourism. 

Regarding behavior

Undisciplined behaviors of employees such as:

  • Having wrong attitudes and actions towards superiors and colleagues
  • Frequently being late to work, and leaving work without notice advance notice. 
  • Participating in wrong activities, going against social norms.
  • Bullying colleagues and sexual harassment can seriously affect the working environment in the company. 

Therefore, it is necessary to build a disciplined culture and a code of conduct in the enterprise to avoid the above behaviors from happening again.

Why is the discipline in business important?

For businesses

Discipline plays an important role in business, specifically:

  • Helping the company improve work efficiency: When there is discipline, each employee will strive to complete the job better, to make the company's operation more efficient.
  • Discipline will help businesses in all aspects, helping them achieve their goals with maximum profit.
  • Discipline is seen as an important factor to build a corporate culture strong and effective
  • An enterprise with disciplined habits will improve the morale of employees, bringing a more professional working atmosphere.
Discipline at work

Discipline plays an important role in the business

For employees

Discipline at work also plays an equally important role for each employee in the enterprise, specifically:

  • Discipline culture in business will help each employee increase knowledge and skills in all aspects.
  • When a disciplined work environment increases employee productivity.
  • Discipline in the organization is to help employees create good habits and improve themselves more.
Discipline at work

Discipline has a great influence on each employee

>>>> See More: Balance life and work

Causes of undisciplined employees at work

Personal reasons

Causes Personal causes are one of the reasons why an employee is undisciplined at work. Each employee is a separate individual, not following a common pattern. There are some employees who have a pretty big "me" and like to present themselves as different from everyone else. Employees' views on discipline or reward also differ.

Discipline at work

The cause comes from the individual

Meanwhile, human nature contains many emotions. Therefore, an employee can easily be influenced by emotions and perform behaviors that are contrary to the general rules of the organization. The diversity of employees' personalities and differences in work ethics will create indiscipline at work.

Business reasons

Not only from individuals, but businesses are also one of the reasons why employees work undisciplined. An enterprise that has not built a standard and strict set of working rules cannot make employees obey and follow.

Or the business may not properly assess the personality of employees right in the recruitment or probation process and send them to work environments with inappropriate cultures. This makes it impossible for employees to integrate into the business and comply with the company's regulations. 

Discipline at work

Cause of the business

Sometimes there are businesses that set too many rules that are too unreasonable. This leaves members of the company itself overwhelmed and unwilling to follow suit. Some employees want to contribute ideas to the company but are ignored by the leader. Since then, employees feel that their opinions are not respected and want to oppose the regulations set by the company.

Environmental causes

The surrounding environment is also an important reason why employees become undisciplined businesses should learn. The environment is where work discipline is formed. An environment where the problem of indiscipline appears at all times, from home to school and public places, etc. will invisibly form a standard that is accepted by many people.

Discipline at work

The environmental causes

This will make it very difficult for employees to follow the routines set by the business. Enterprises need to take strong and appropriate measures to limit the influence of environmental factors on their own discipline culture.

Steps to build a disciplined culture in the enterprise

Understand the legal regulations on discipline in the enterprise

The law will always have specific regulations on discipline in the working environment to help both users and employees. Employers and employees are guaranteed their rights and responsibilities. Businesses need to understand these regulations to build the most appropriate and optimal set of operating rules.

Discipline at work

Understand the legal provisions

These regulations will ensure the interests of both parties in the labor contract. Knowing the rules will help both businesses and employees avoid unnecessary quarrels. The loss of the enterprise when the employee voluntarily cancels the labor contract or sues the company... can be reduced by understanding this law.

Develop a transparent, clear policy

An important step for a business to build a good discipline culture is to have a clear and transparent working policy. These policies should specify the necessary behaviors that employees should take in different situations. At the same time, businesses need to regularly update their policies to suit the situation from time to time. 

Discipline at work

Clear, transparent policies

These policies should also be communicated to employees in a variety of formats for easier access. Penalties for policy violations must also be clearly recorded  to deter employees from easily committing undisciplined acts.

Establishing a Disciplinary Committee

Establishing a disciplinary committee is essential so that employees can reflect on code-related issues at work. The culture of discipline at work is established to change the behavior of employees to conform to the rules. Therefore, the committee was created to be corrective and constructive rather than destructive. Measures must be taken fairly and without bias.

Discipline at work

Building a Disciplinary Committee

Disciplinary action should be taken gradually, one after the other. The disciplinary committee should start taking measures ranging from written warnings to more aggressive methods such as fines. If severe, measures such as suspension from work may also be taken.

Employee complaint-handling processes need to be fair and transparent. Businesses should set up an online system to help resolve employee complaints. Also, employees should not feel like a victim when they complain about disciplinary issues to their supervisor or a member of the committee. 

Develop regulations for middle management

Disciplinary measures should not only be developed for employees but also should be applied to middle managers. This helps the business apparatus operate more smoothly and optimally. At the same time, employees also do not have to feel unfair when implementing the company's regulations.

Discipline at work

Establish rules for mid-level managers

To strengthen employee discipline, businesses should establish common rules for everyone. This will create fairness and equality in the company, avoiding the spread of biased rumors that affect the reputation of the business.

Screening employee background when recruiting

In the process of recruiting employees for vacant positions, employers need to carefully screen candidates' resumes. At the same time, the employer should also note whether the candidate has violated company regulations in the past. This helps businesses limit encountering employees who are not disciplined at work affecting the company.

Discipline at work

Background Screening of Employees

Fairness

Regulations put in place to create a culture of discipline in the organization needs to be fair to everyone. Although the ultimate goal of any business is to increase profits, it still needs to include long-term and sustainable development.

The relationship between business owners and employees should be maintained in positive and good faith. Rules should be made with the rule of creating a better working environment, not simply because they want to show power and create pressure at work for employees. 

Discipline at work

Regulations should be fair to all employees

Maintain discipline documents for evidence

Employees' compensation and fines records should be kept as evidence when disciplinary action in the form of dismissal is required. At the same time, record keeping is also necessary as evidence when enterprises and employees have legal conflicts. Important documents related to individuals such as employee records, disciplinary documents, etc. should be arranged and stored scientifically to facilitate future searches.

Discipline at work

Maintain employee records

Rapidly evolving technology also makes record keeping easier. The software that supports businesses to store documents is constantly updated to serve the needs of businesses optimally. Businesses are increasingly investing in digitizing paperwork and procedures to optimize company operations and reduce the cumbersomeness of storing records like traditional methods.

Common forms of reprimand and discipline at work

Mild discipline Discipline

Discipline
Content
Verbal reprimand
Verbal reprimand is the lightest form of discipline. With this form, managers only reprimand and give warnings if employees commit minor mistakes such as not concentrating, or talking during working hours.
Written reprimand
This is also a common form of discipline for minor infractions. With this form, managers often ask employees to report and explain violations and force them to sign to admit violations. In case the employee does not agree to sign, the manager will stand as a witness and be responsible for signing for the warned employee.
Reprimand by Suspension
For slightly larger offenses, suspension of work for an employee for one or more days will be given depending on the severity. Of course, the days of suspension from work will be without pay.

However, there are still some special cases where the manager still refuses to pay the salary as usual even though the employee is suspended from work. This is considered a warning method, helping employees recognize mistakes and have the opportunity to correct them. This method is rarely used because it will cause unnecessary misunderstandings.
Loss of some benefits
This is a fairly common form applied in businesses. Specifically, with this form, employees will be deprived of some privileges such as work priorities, bonuses, holidays, etc.
Transfer of work unitAnother disciplinary measure is also common. applied is the transfer of work units. Accordingly, once an employee encounters a mistake, the manager will transfer them to another working unit that is far away and harder. This is seen as an indirect warning of employee violations. And to return to the old unit, the employee must have a positive working attitude and correct the mistakes of the past.
Discipline at work

Mild Discipline

Serious Discipline Discipline

Discipline
Content
Salary cut
This is a severe form of discipline and has a great impact on employees. This method is often applied by many businesses in building discipline at work. Once the salary is cut, the normal life of employees and their families will be greatly affected.
Demotion
When an employee is incompetent to undertake the job or commits acts contrary to the regulations, he will be demoted to a lower rank. This form of discipline is considered quite serious, causing the morale of employees to be lost quite a lot.
Suspension from work until investigation results is available
This is a form of discipline that is applied when an employee commits a serious violation. This suspension will only end when the investigation of the misconduct is complete. Of course, during the period of suspension, employees will not receive any salary, but only small support to maintain their lives.
Fire
This is considered the strongest form of discipline in any business. This severe form of discipline is only applied when an employee commits a fairly large mistake that is unforgivable, causing great damage to the business. 
Once fired, the employee's search for another job will become extremely difficult because the personal reputation is too much affected. Therefore, managers often will not arbitrarily impose this penalty, but need to go through a thorough evaluation process.

Discipline at work is an important factor that any business needs to pay attention to. Discipline will help businesses have a professional, well-rounded working style and increase operational efficiency. Hopefully, this article of Viindoo will help businesses establish the most effective and optimal discipline culture.

7 ways to establish discipline at work and business optimally
Viindoo Technology Joint Stock Company, Amber Nguyen January 18, 2023

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