SUPERVISOR'S ROLE

Supervisor's Role

Abstract

This paper is based on modern supervisory roles. In this contemporary business environment, supervisors face a number of challenges in their professional lives therefore they need solutions to deal with these problems. The paper discusses the two major challenges of supervisors which include dealing with employee discipline and complaint investigation. An approach of progressive discipline has been suggested in the paper in order to deal with the employee discipline. A model is also a part of this paper which is the most appropriate solution for supervisors in investigating the employee complaint. A conclusion is provided at the end of the paper in which a summary of paper is discussed.

Supervisor's Role

The workplace and the workforce have changed in this modern world. Effective and competent supervisors have become the primary need of all types of organization. Supervisors are the persons who are a part of the organization to control and manage different processes. They assist in improving the systems and provide coaching to other employers within the organization. It has been said that front line supervisors are the key to high performance and process excellence. Why are supervisors so valuable? To find the answer, simply ask "Who spends more time with the highest percentage of workforce than anyone else?" (Brashears, 1995)

In today's world, every person faces a number of challenges in their daily lives. Some challenges, which supervisors experience in organizations, include dealing with employee discipline and complaint investigation.

An effective supervisor can manage employee discipline by the use of progressive discipline. Progressive discipline refers to the process through which Supervisor controls employees for misconduct or unsatisfactory job performance at the workplace in an incremental way. The main purpose of progressive discipline is to foster an employee with lifting performance by giving feedback and support to correct the problems encountered. Termination of employment resulting from an inadequate progressive discipline endeavors may be deemed an unfair dismissal under any federal legislation. The word “progressive” in this form of discipline denotes the fact that the penalties get progressively heavier as an employee continues not to meet the expectations of the Supervisor, e.g. fails to attend regularly, fails to perform properly or fails to behave acceptably in accordance with company policy. The initial goal is to improve performance and not to punish the employee for his/her shortcomings. The Supervisor's actions in carrying out progressive discipline could include oral and written warnings, suspensions, or probation, depending on the nature of the offences and policies of the employer. (Guerin, 2007)

The Supervisor's actions in carrying out the progressive discipline usually follows a four step process that consists of an oral warning, a written warning, probation, suspension, or dismissal depending on the nature of the offences and the policy of the employer. Progressive discipline presupposes that supervisors have prerogative 'power over' their employees. Presumably, this power exists because employees are dependent on supervisors for a regular income. Progressive discipline allows the supervisors to exercise power over the employee, so as to enforce compliance on to the latter, mainly ...