Abstract
M.Phil.
Disciplinary policies and procedures are utilised to correct employee behaviour that contradicts organisational norms and to bring about a conducive environment in the workplace. When applied and monitored correctly, policies and procedures regulate employee behaviour, and can bear positive results for an organisation. However, when these are applied in an inconsistent and unfair manner, they will not bring about the desired outcome of improved employee behaviour in the workplace. Therefore, exploring the perceptions of employees with regard to the consistency of disciplinary measures within a state owned entity, is imperative.
The primary objective of the study was to establish whether the substantive and procedural elements were taken into consideration in the application of disciplinary measures within a state-owned entity. In addition the study attempted to establish the perceptions of employees around disciplinary measures in order to ascertain possible areas of weakness in the current application of discipline in the case organisation. An effort was made to also understand why a high number of internal disciplinary matters usually end up at external dispute resolution bodies, and to uncover the reasons for this.
The study adopted a case study approach, as it dealt with a specific state owned entity in the Johannesburg area, Gauteng Province, South Africa. Purposive and convenience sampling was utilised to obtain information from top managers, middle and junior managers, supervisors, shop stewards, as well employees who have themselves faced disciplinary action within the case organisation. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews with research participants. The research findings revealed a high level of inconsistency in the application of disciplinary action at the state owned entity. Furthermore, research participants highlighted selective application of disciplinary action; toxic leaders who use discipline as a victimisation weapon in the workplace; the existence of a poor organisational culture; and ineffective shop stewards were all mentioned as elements that have exacerbated the level of inconsistency in the application of discipline. It was evident from the research findings that disciplinary...