Knowing you have security in your job and you can rely on your paycheck each month is important, so receiving a written warning at work can be unnerving and is usually a sign that your employment is at risk. However, written warnings are not always fair or warranted and in this circumstance, you can challenge your written warning and get your career back on track.
A written warning is a document issued to an employee by their employer. This document is typically created to address a concern about the employee’s conduct, capacity to perform or ability in their role. When an employer issues a written warning, it usually means that your performance or conduct is being closely monitored and that you will need to improve to keep your job.
Continue reading to learn what you should do if you receive a written warning from your employer.
If The Warning Is Just, Take Action
If you are regularly late for work and your employer has given you a written warning about your punctuality, you need to take steps to ensure you are on time. If you are missing your targets each month and your employer gives you a written warning about your performance, be sure to put in the effort to bring your figures up. When a written warning is just, you should accept it, take action, and show that you are willing to take constructive feedback.
Ensure You Understand The Warning
When a written warning is issued to an employee, it should clearly outline the reasons for the warning. If you do not understand the reasons for the warning, be sure to calmly ask your employer for an explanation right away. You are entitled to ask for your employer’s help with regard to your performance in the workplace. Request that your employer help you to put strategies in place to work more productively or be more efficient so you can meet your targets successfully.
Respond Appropriately
As an employee, you have a right to respond to any warnings related to your conduct or capacity in the workplace. You must be provided with an opportunity to respond to the warning so you can state your side of the story. Be sure to submit your response on paper and keep a copy for yourself to ensure there is a record of your communications.
Your response should also include how you intend to resolve the issue at hand. You can also request a meeting with your employer to discuss how they will facilitate your new approach. Finally, if you feel that the warning was unfair, you should include a detailed response explaining exactly why you think the written warning was unjust.
Keep Records
Ask for a copy of the warning for your records and never sign a written warning. You are not required by law to sign a written warning and if you think the warning was unfair, you definitely should not sign anything. Keep a record of the manner in which you received the warning, the conversation that was had, and the time and location where the written warning was received. Keeping accurate records of exactly what happened can help you to challenge the warning if it is deemed to be unfair.
Seek Professional Legal Advice To Get The Best Outcome From Your Case
If you have received a written warning unfairly, you should seek professional legal advice as soon as possible. With the advice of an experienced lawyer, you can be sure that you will be able to challenge your written warning successfully, avoid dismissal and ensure that you get the best possible outcome from your case.
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