discipline and grievance procedure

7/31/2019 Discipline and Grievance Procedure

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DISCIPLINE AND GRIEVANCE

PROCEDURE



Concept and Nature of Discipline

• Discipline may be defined as a force that

prompts individuals or groups to observe the

rules, regulations and procedures which are

deemed to be necessary for the effective

functioning of an organization.

• According to Ordway ted, “Discipline is the

orderly conduct of affairs by the members of an organization, who adhere harmoniously in

forwarding towards the end which the group

has in view, and willingly recognize that.”



• Discipline in industry may be described as

willing cooperation and observance of the

rules and regulations of the organization by

the management and the workers.

• It means securing consistent behavior in

accordance with the accepted norms of

behavior.



Principles of industrial discipline

• The basic prerequisites of discipline in

industrial organizations are as follows :

1. The goals or objectives of industrial discipline

should be clearly stated. The goals must, in

clear and unambiguous terms, specify the

standards expected of the workmen,

supervisors and managers.



2. Specific and clear rules and regulations

should be laid down in consultation with the

workers. Such rules and regulations should

serve as a code of conduct for the workers

and managers.



3. The code of conduct or the rules and

regulations should be communicated to all in

the organization and must be understood, in

the same terms, by those who enforce the

rules and those who have to obey such rules.

Whenever a new employee joins the

organization, he must be made tounderstood the rules and regulations so that

he may produce acceptable behavior.



4. The rules of conduct must contain provision

for investigation and settlement of

grievances arising out of and during the

course of employment.

5. The discipline policy should lay greater

emphasis on the prevention of the breach of

discipline than on the administration of penalties. The approach to discipline should

be positive and constructive.



6. The management should ensure that their

own conduct and policies do not encourage

breach of discipline. This will promote self-

discipline among workers.

7. The enforcement authority must be

specified. The procedure for appeal against

the disciplinary action by the aggrieved partyshould also be provided.



8. The quantum of prescribed punishment in

specified cases of indiscipline should be

known.

9. All rules and regulations should be executed

objectively and consistently. They should be

appraised regularly to keep them suitable

and up-to-date.



10.Disciplinary action should not be vindictive or

should not be used to victimize employees

but to prevent recurrence of indiscipline in

future. The discipline policy should seek to

prevent the breach of discipline rather than

to administer penalties. Penalties should be

used only when they become absolutelynecessary.



11.There should be a suitable grievanceprocedure for the prompt redressal of allgrievances of employees. All awards and

agreements should be implemented withoutdelay and discrimination.

12.A discipline committee may be constituted tolook into the causes of indiscipline in theenterprise and to suggest suitable measuresfor their removal.



Code of Discipline

• In India, the problem of industrial discipline

was debated by the Indian Labor Conference

held in 1957.

• The Conference noted the alarming record of

breach of discipline by employers and

employees.

• A sub-committee was appointed to draft a

model Code of Discipline which would be

acceptable to all.



• A code of Discipline drafted by the sub-

committee was duly ractified by the central

organizations of workers and employers at the

16th session of the India’s Labor Conference in

March 1958 and it became operative from 1st

June, 1958.

• The code is based on the following principles :



1. There should be no strike or lockout without

proper notice.

2. No unilateral action should be taken in

connection with any industrial matter.

3. There should be no recourse to go slow

tactics.

4. No deliberate damage should be caused to

plant or property.



5. Acts of violence, intimidation, coercion or

instigation should not be resorted to.

6. The existing machinery for settlement of

disputes should be utilized.

7. Awards and agreements should be speedily

implemented.

8. Any action which disturbs cordial industrial

relations should be avoided.



Objectives of the Code

• The code of Discipline is intended to achieve

the following objectives :

I. Maintaining peace and order in industry.

II. Prompting constructive criticism at all levels

of management and employees.

III. Avoiding work stoppages in industry.

IV. Securing the settlement of disputes and

grievances by a mutually agreed procedure

and avoiding litigations.



V. Facilitating a free growth of trade unions.

VI. Bringing home to the employees and

management the importance of their

recognition of one another’s rights and

responsibilities.

VII.Eliminating all forms of coercion,

intimidation and violation of rules,

regulations and procedures governing

industrial relations.



Features of the Code

1. It prohibits strikes and lock-outs without

prior notice and also intimidation,

victimization and the adoption of ‘go slow’

tactics by workers.

2. No one-sided (unilateral) action can be taken

by either party in any industrial relation

matter.



3. All disputes are to be settled through the

existing machinery provided for this purpose

by the Government.

4. The employers will not increase work-load

without prior agreement with the workers.

5. A common grievance procedure for the

settlement of grievances of the workers after

full investigation has been provided for.



6. The employers will provide all facilities forthe unfettered growth of trade unions.

7. Prompt action will be taken against those

officers whose conduct provokes indisciplineamong the workers.

8. The workers will not indulge in any trade

union activity during the working hours. Theywill not engage in any demonstration oractivity which is not peaceful.



9. The workers will implement their part of theawards and settlements promptly and willtake action against those office-bearers of

the union who have violated the code.10.The unions will discourage negligence of

duty, careless operation, damage to property,insubordination and disturbance in normalproductive activities. They will discourageunfair labor practices and will not engage inrowdy demonstrations.



Contents of the code

discipline and grievance procedure

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