More than three-quarters of employers have disciplined staff in the past two years because they were simply not up to the job, according to research by Personnel Today’s sister publication IRS Employment Review.
Poor performance and capability issues were cited as the most common cause of disciplinary hearings, mentioned by 77% of employers.
The next most significant reasons were general misconduct (76%) and absence (70%).
But a more detailed breakdown of figures shows that employee absence is probably a bigger problem – topping the table when employers were asked to identify the issues that arise frequently or very frequently.
Other forms of disciplinary action taken by the 155 employers surveyed included transferring the offender to another job (37%), downgrading them (35%), suspending them without pay (27%), withholding a bonus or merit award (19%) and withholding a basic pay rise (13%).
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Respondents reported having heard a total of 9,231 disciplinary cases, of which 2,346 – or just over one in four – resulted in dismissal.
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