{"id":89696,"date":"2023-10-05T23:01:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T23:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/?p=89696"},"modified":"2024-01-30T00:28:13","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T00:28:13","slug":"written-warning-template-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arielle.com.au\/written-warning-template-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"Written Warning Template [With Guide And Australian Examples]"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 9<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\n

Do you have an underperforming employee who won’t “take the hint”? Don’t avoid the issue. Managers who turn a blind eye to misconduct allow bad attitudes to fester and spread within their teams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Performance issues rarely get better without your intervention. They almost always become worse, snowballing into irrecoverable messes and reflecting poorly on you as a leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writing a timely formal warning letter will help you build a high-performing team<\/a> faster.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Let me help you by providing templates for writing effective first, second and final warning letters to an underperforming employee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ll wrap up with tips on correct letter structure and delivery protocols.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

(Related: What Is The Correct Formal Letter Format?<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

When Can I Issue A Warning Letter To An Employee?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A warning letter is a formal notice that you use to document an incident and clarify future consequences. You can send it via email or send it via traditional mail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might consider sending one for two reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Behaviour correction<\/strong><\/td>The employee is not meeting your expectations. You need a mechanism that corrects their behaviour. <\/td><\/tr>
Employee termination<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>A letter sits on an employee\u2019s file. If performance doesn’t improve, you\u2019ll have a record of disciplinary action (which leaves you less exposed to unfair dismissal claims) that helps you manage them out of the business.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What Steps Must You Follow When Issuing A Warning Letter To An Employee?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Almost all workplaces have a progressive disciplinary policy<\/u><\/a> that outlines a clear escalation of consequences for continued misbehaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These guidelines are often created and managed by HR.\u00a0<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Before making any rash moves, check with your HR department to ensure you’re following the right steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, a progressive disciplinary policy consists of the following steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Give A Verbal Warning.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I’ve seen so many managers get this preliminary procedure wrong and use verbal warnings as an excuse to berate and even intimidate employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just because a conversation is unrecorded doesn’t mean it won’t come back to bite you on the backside if you’ve overstepped the mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A verbal warning should: <\/p>\n\n\n\n