When you receive a warning at work – whether verbal or written – you should take it seriously. A warning is a sign that your supervisor is very unhappy with your work (or sometimes your behavior).
What Receiving a Warning Means
In the United States, most workers operate “at will,” meaning they are free to resign at any time. This also means that the company can terminate employment for almost any reason. However, even though companies have the freedom to terminate an employee’s contract without providing a reason, very few choose to do so. Primarily, companies can expose themselves to a lawsuit if an employee believes that there was discrimination behind the termination. Perhaps importantly, morale throughout the company may also be affected if people are fired without reason.
Company Policy
Instead, most companies have a policy for dealing with bad behavior or poor work. This is often referred to as “progressive discipline” – the idea is that warnings will escalate from a conversation to a verbal or written warning. For both verbal and written warnings, there is usually a formal meeting and written documentation that is added to your work file. Often, both your supervisor and human resources are present.
Consequences of Receiving a Warning
If you receive a warning, does that mean you will be fired or terminated? Not necessarily. You may change your behavior or work in a way that satisfies your manager. However, this is a very serious action taken by your manager, and it shows deep dissatisfaction with your performance.
Even if you are determined to correct any mistakes and stay with the company, it may be wise to consider updating your resume and LinkedIn account and prepare for a job search.
How to Respond to the Warning
A person may feel shocked, stunned, and unfairly treated upon receiving a warning. How should you respond? Of course, there is no one right answer, but here are some guidelines to follow:
- Stay calm: During the meeting to discuss the warning, and afterwards, do your best to avoid crying, raising your voice, or showing extreme distress. This can of course be quite difficult.
- Take notes: Keeping notes during any meeting about the warning can help achieve the first goal – staying calm – and will also assist you in remembering exactly what was said. Important points to record include the reason for receiving the warning and the actions you can take to correct the situation.
- Present your case: Do you differ from the warning you received? If you feel comfortable doing so, you can speak during the meeting to present your case and defend yourself. This is a tricky situation – you want to defend yourself but without sounding defensive. This is not easy!
- Ask what you can do differently: Before you leave the meeting or sign any acknowledgment of the warning, you will want to ensure you understand (a) exactly what you did wrong, and (b) the proper behavior expected in the future. Sometimes this can be very straightforward.
- Follow up with a written response: Do you believe the warning you received was unwarranted? In addition to presenting your case during the meeting, you can also write a written response. In your letter, you should provide an argument to defend yourself. For example, if you were late to work but had requested and received permission to do so, print out those emails from your supervisor. Again, for less clear-cut violations, defending yourself can be more complicated.
What to Do After Receiving the Warning
Take some time to reflect: It is natural to respond to criticism by defending yourself. But take some time to think about the facts and comments mentioned in the warning. Is any of it justified? Consider what you can do differently.
Try
Determine if the warning is the final step or a turning point: Sometimes warnings are issued as a way to protect the employer from a lawsuit before terminating employment. But this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, your supervisor or human resources genuinely believes that the situation can be resolved. Do your best to understand the spirit in which the warning was issued.
Continue to communicate with your manager: During meetings with your manager, ask for feedback. This will help you gain an understanding of the next steps. Ideally, you will have specific goals or steps to improve your work/conduct.
Start job searching: Finally, it’s wise to begin taking steps to start looking for a new job. Again, a warning does not necessarily mean you will be fired. But it is a possibility. Build your network, reach out to former colleagues to see if they know of any job opportunities, update your resume, and apply for jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many warnings will I receive before I am terminated? Employers typically can decide how many warnings they will give employees before terminating their contracts. They may also choose not to provide any notice at all. If you are employed at will and the termination is not based on protected characteristics like gender or race, you can be terminated without warning. However, many companies prefer to issue warnings before termination to maintain their reputation as good employers.
How long are work warnings valid? Typically, warnings are valid for a period of a few months. However, it is best to ask your employer to specify the terms of the warning process during the meeting. Ideally, they will have a written HR policy outlining the validity period of the written warning.
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/what-to-do-if-you-get-a-warning-at-work-4570979
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