The principle of due process is another theme that runs throughout this guidebook. What is due process? It is a system that establishes procedural consistency. There are two key ingredients as it pertains to any disciplinary system.
1. The system must establish the employer’s intent to objectively examine the company’s philosophy of consistency concerning employee-related issues.
2. Due process must allow for employee challenges of the company’s actions, that is, for right of appeal.
The disciplinary process you are about to learn, when coupled with a mechanism for employees to challenge the company’s actions, will assist you with due process if honestly adopted and followed as a part of your organization’s culture. We will return to the important concept of right of appeal in Chapter 3.