Letter of Reprimand for Employee Performance (Best Examples)

Letters of Reprimand are usually followed by further disciplinary action and, in severe cases, termination. An employee’s performance problem can be well documented by a letter of Reprimand. These letters precisely and directly state the issues and consequences the employee must resolve. However, it is essential to remain professional when writing a letter of Reprimand to inform the employee of his misbehavior and negative traits at the workplace. 

Simply it is define as;

A letter of Reprimand is a letter usually issued by management to explain a performance problem that needs improvement.

The purpose of the letter of Reprimand is to ensure that the Reprimand does not blindside the employee. As a logical and expected extension of progressive discipline, it should benefit the employee by helping him/her improve. This letter is typically followed by counseling and coaching by the manager, carefully documented to secure one’s position if there is a lawsuit.

The importance of a letter of Reprimand lies in its use as a tool to increase the performance of employees. A letter of Reprimand is a warning to improve their performance, if erring employees continue in their ways, they will face more drastic repercussions, and in some cases, they may lose their jobs.

In most cases, sending a letter of Reprimand is considered a disciplinary action documented to help as a reference in the future. However, it may be an action with severe consequences, depending upon the employer’s behavior.

For example, it is common for companies to allow a certain number of written reprimands before punitive actions that could affect an employee’s rank or salary.

When to write and use a letter of reprimand?

A letter of reprimand is a formal letter that the employer should write under particular circumstances according to the company policy and laws. It should not be written emotionally or anxious, as it can later create legal issues. Employees are reprimanded depending on their performance. It is generally the responsibility of the Human Resources Department to monitor an employee’s conduct and then issue a letter of Reprimand to an employee if he is underperforming or engaging in unacceptable behavior. 

Addressing the letter to the employee can help protect the employer against future disputes. Therefore, the letter must take the form of an official document indicating the unacceptable conduct of the employee in question. Employee deficiencies can include attendance, behavior, performance, and other issues that require attention.

The letter of Reprimand is formal and should be written clearly, highlighting the misconduct and incidents in the past reference to the employee’s file. As mentioned above, the purpose of the letter of Reprimand is to increase the employee’s performance; therefore avoiding considering the termination. What follows are the processes that go into writing a letter of Reprimand:

Take legal side into account

It is essential to take the legal side into account before writing a letter of reprimand. It includes making sure that the reprimand is following workplace policies and local labor laws. If the company has a progressive discipline policy, compare one’s notes from the file review to the company’s disciplinary policy. If you are a sole proprietor, you should consult your lawyer or an expert in labor law who knows about the government policies to get all the legal things covered before issuing the reprimand.

Be objective but humane 

The letter should be written by the employer formally and objectively, clearly stating the employee’s conduct or actions that are not acceptable by the company policy, mainly if the employee repeats the behavior regardless of numerous verbal warnings. After the discussion is over, the employees should be asked to follow appropriate procedures.  While a letter of Reprimand has a negative connotation, the letter is still an opportunity to express your intentions elegantly and humanely. Keep in mind that the letter should help the employee personally and professionally, ensuring the continuous and smooth operation of the workforce.

Add basic details

Start the letter of Reprimand with standard details that go into a formal letter. The letter should be addressed to the employee. It should be addressed to the employee by their full name and with Mr. or Miss if appropriate. Make sure to include the date on the letter when it was written and sent.

Highlight the problem clearly

Many professionals suggest writing about the employee’s positive traits since the letter of Reprimand is written to improve the employee’s performance and is not usually written to terminate the employee. However, the content should clearly state why a letter has been issued. Keep the content short and direct.

In addition, you need to specify the specific violation or misconduct committed by the employee. Make sure you have proper documentation to support your allegation. Make sure the time and date of the violation are accurate, along with the location.

You can refer to the company policy. Use it to reinforce that the issue is not a matter of personal preference or unreasonable expectation. In addition, reference the company policy to show the employee what required behavior and parameters they must follow to conduct themselves correctly. Explain the progress the employee made following each disciplinary action, including any performance improvement plans he or she completed and any he or she still needs to complete. 

Better improvement practices

 In the letter, the employee could be given examples of how they can change their performance to conform to company performance expectations. The use of examples conveys a shared understanding among the employees regarding the company’s and manager’s expectations.

Explain how the employee’s non-performance impacts not only them but also the organization’s success. An employer can include a timeline in the form of a due date or an end date when the manager will evaluate the employee’s performance once again. 

Describe the consequences

If an employee fails to show improvement in performance as outlined in the letter of Reprimand, the reprimand letter should outline the consequences they can expect if they fail to do so. Provide the employee with a clear definition of the consequences should they fail to abide by the corrective actions. This act will motivate the employee even more and prove to the client that they understood what they were doing and improved themselves. 

Clear employer’s actions

The employers should communicate what actions they will take in response to this behavior. It includes scheduling a private meeting with the employee and discussing the behavior or actions you wish to see them improve or implementing an intervention plan to track this employee’s performance and behavior. It clarifies expectations for employees, and it protects your organization against legal repercussions. 

Include signature lines 

When reprimanding employees, the manager must sign the letter. The signature signifies that they have received the letter and that they understand its contents. The wording must be specific to understand they acknowledge receipt of the letter, not that they have committed misconduct. 

You must remind the employee to sign the letter and let them know they have the right to submit a written response. If the employee refuses to sign, add the words “refused to sign” after his signature and ask the HR representative to sign the letter. Affixing a signature to this letter also constitutes the employee’s agreement or disagreement with its content. The signature indicates that the employee has received and read this letter.

Do not sound like an angry parent rebuking the employee as a child. Instead, write down the rectification measures that the employee must follow to ensure that he or she can realize the violation that one had made and how he or she can improve per the standards established by the company.

To avoid any legal problems, you may attach an employee’s attendance records or a performance review when there has been poor performance or productivity as evidence of the claim made against him or her.

Be in place of the employee

Keep the purpose of the letter of Reprimand in mind and write the letter from a perspective that helps achieve the purpose by putting yourself in the employee’s shoes.

Following are the free letter of reprimand customizable templates available to download.

Letter of Reprimand is written from the employer to the employee, informing the latter of his failure to comply with the company policy. What follows will guide you through the reasons for writing a letter of Reprimand.

Violation of company’s policies

The ways an employee can violate company policy include attendance, behavior, performance, and other issues requiring attention.

Below are the most common reasons that may result in the issuance of such a letter:

• Breach of employee obligations.
• Violation of health and safety policy
• Violation of alcohol and drugs policy
• Theft of company property.
• Frequent tardiness
• Absenteeism
• Violation of confidentiality policy

Things to be considered inappropriate

There are some specific things and behaviors that should not be tolerated or considered acceptable in a workplace.  A letter of reprimand can be for insubordination, which involves intentionally refusing to follow directions from management or company officials, unnecessarily arguments, misconduct with coworkers, or underperformance-that involves failure to meet minimum standards of the position and job requirements for a probationary period.

A productive and successful workplace depends on good behavior. For organizations to succeed, employees’ behavior must be in line with what the organization needs. Changing behavior at the workplace is not an easy task. There are at least a few “tried and true” methods to get it done. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Considering office-based policies

According to the workplace’s terms, a dedicated human resource department handles and amends the policies and policy handbook according to the workplace’s terms in large companies. However, small businesses should also create a company policy. 

Company policies address both inside and outside the workplace and are usually contained within a business’s employee handbook. They apply to both the employees and employers. Employee motivation and engagement can be vital to driving your company’s success. Favorable company policies can reinforce these factors and help your company thrive – especially if you are just getting started.

Maintaining progressive discipline

A progressive discipline process is used when employees fail to demonstrate behavior that corresponds to their expected and communicated performance standards. Progressive discipline is designed to help individuals understand that there is a performance problem or opportunity to improve.

Contrary to the old notion that discipline is punishment, it is a series of tactics giving the employee feedback to improve. It involves telling the employee verbally that he will be shown how to improve his performance despite repeated warnings and that he will have to document the changes. 

Continuous policy implementation  

The most important thing for the success of a company’s workplace and disciplinary policy is consistent application. Employers who selectively enforce workplace policies are likely to lose employees due to a substantial turnover owing to low morale and general dissatisfaction.

 In addition, reprimands need to be consistent concerning their content and actions. Employees are exposed to potential legal liability when they complain about unfair treatment if their employers cannot enforce policies consistently. For large companies, applying a consistent policy is not an easy task, and it’s the HR department that has to overlook it; however, it is much easier to maintain a consistent policy in small companies. 

Develop a verbal route

Giving a verbal warning is always advised before issuing a formal letter of reprimand. It is considered standard practice, which involves informing the employees that they might face further consequences if they don’t improve their behavior or performance in the workplace. The consequences can vary depending on the severity of the misconduct and may include demotion or termination. It is also advised to document the verbal warning for later references in the demotion or termination letter, and it may also be helpful in a lawsuit.

Issuing a termination

If the employee is still misconducting after the verbal warning and the written Reprimand or cannot increase his performance, it’s okay to terminate the employee. However, he should be given enough time after sending the letter, and only after that should his employment be terminated.