Get Written Warning at Work What Now

If you made a mistake at work that led to a warning, you may be wondering what you should do next. Whether you received an informal verbal warning or a formal written warning, it's important to keep in mind that the warning doesn't mean you're going to be terminated. Taking steps to improve your performance can often help you to resolve the problem. In this article, we discuss the different types of warnings you can get at work and what to do if you do get a warning.

What is a warning at work?

A warning is a method of communicating to employees that their performance is low, work is insufficient or conduct is inadequate. It's intended to be a signal to employees that their employment may be in jeopardy if they don't make changes in their performance or behavior.

Typically, warnings increase in seriousness each time they are given. For example, a manager may initially give an employee an informal verbal warning, communicating that there is a problem and that the employee needs to take steps to resolve the issue. The employer may give the employee a formal warning, either written or verbal. The manager may involve human resources and other formal action may be taken, depending on the behavior that led to the warning. At this point, the employee is documenting the warning and the action taken.

Depending on the employer and their disciplinary process, there may be a final written warning given to the employee if the performance or behavior goes uncorrected. If the employee doesn't improve when the warning is active on their record, they could be transferred to another area of the business, demoted or terminated.

Related: 10 Ways To Have a More Positive Attitude at Work

What to do if you get a warning at work

While it can be surprising or upsetting to receive a warning, either verbally or in written form, there are some guidelines for what you should do if it happens:

Maintain your composure

While you may be upset when given the warning, it's important to remain calm and maintain your composure. Remaining calm makes it easier to have a rational, even positive discussion with your manager about your performance at work. Your manager may even be impressed by your level of professionalism.

Present your case

While you do want to approach the situation with caution, it's okay to provide your reasoning if you disagree with the warning. Before doing so, give yourself a moment to prepare your thoughts. You may even need to schedule a meeting to speak with your manager at a later to give yourself more time to do so. Focus on the facts of the situation and refrain from making it personal or comparing yourself to others.

Take notes

Taking notes can give you something to focus on during the meeting with your manager, which can help you better maintain your composure. It will also ensure that you remember exactly what your manager says. Some important points to write down are exactly why you're receiving the warning and what you can take to resolve the issue.

Determine what could be done differently

During the meeting, your manager should communicate exactly what problem led to the warning. One of the most important things you can do is to find out exactly what you could do differently to avoid problems in the future.

While this may be obvious in some cases, such as if the warning was issued because of recurring tardiness, in other cases, the problem may not be so clear. For example, perhaps you were reprimanded because you were not fully engaged with a project. When that's the case, it's important to come up with a clear plan for how you can improve in that area. Take time to ask questions about specifics. You may even want to ask your manager to help you come up with a list of goals. This ensures you have expectations and you can clearly prove that you're making changes.

Related: How To Set and Achieve Goals

Take time to self-reflect

Take time to think about all the facts that your manager presented when you spoke and the comments that were included in the warning, if it was given to you in writing. Consider whether the comments were justified and what you could have done differently to have avoided the situation.

Follow up after the meeting

After the meeting with your manager, you should have some specific goals or steps you can take to improve your workplace performance or behavior. Give yourself some time to work on those goals and, after a few weeks, schedule a meeting with your manager to discuss your progress. Your manager may be impressed by your proactive approach and can offer feedback for areas you can improve, if necessary. Following up demonstrates that you are committed to making changes in your behavior and performance, reducing the likelihood of future warnings.

Prepare to search for jobs

While a warning doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to be terminated, it's still a good idea to start looking for opportunities elsewhere, while you're still fully employed. Review your resume and make sure it's up-to-date with your latest job, current skills and recent accomplishments. You may want to start networking on social media or even attending local networking events to expand your personal network. Consider reaching out to people you worked closely with in prior roles to see if they know of any local companies that are hiring. Finally, in your spare time, start browsing job listings online and applying for jobs.

Though your manager may have issued the warning because they genuinely believe in you and are confident that you can improve your performance, a warning could also be an indicator of a larger issue, such as feelings of dissatisfaction with your current role or a sign that the job isn't a good fit for you. By looking for opportunities elsewhere while you work on improving your performance in your current role, you can feel confident knowing you're exploring all options.

Get Written Warning at Work What Now

Source: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-to-do-if-you-get-a-warning-at-work

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