Staff Discipline Policy

Scope

This policy addresses problems with Free Geek staff collective members that affect Free Geek as an organization.

This should include escalating steps designed to deal with problems before they get out of hand, and if necessary, bring problems to a satisfactory and fair resolution without trampling on anyone's rights.

The intention of this policy is to solve problems by working directly with collective members in a humane way.

What are the reasons we would activate this process? (Many of these overlap.)

• Job performance.
• Repeated tardiness or absence, especially without adequate warning.
• Stealing.
• Violation of Free Geek policy.
• Physical or verbal abuse towards another staff member or volunteer.
• Illegal activities.
• Bringing firearms onto the premises.
• Falsely stating or making claims of injuries or illness.
• Sexual harassment.

Note about avoiding conflict on a grand scale: reviews and individual-to-individual.

Resolution Committee

See the Resolution Committee page for more information. This one piece (from that page) might belong in this document, however:

Action by Whole Collective

• An RC may recommend to the staff collective that a staff member be terminated. In this case, the reason for termination must be specifically described and the decision must be considered by the whole staff collective. The person under consideration for termination must be able to speak, but is not allowed to block the decision of the larger group. The person under consideration for termination may choose a representative, either a third party or another member of the staff collective to speak on his or her behalf as well.

First thing Resolution Committee would do is state why we're in the place we're in: legitimate or no?

1. Talk to the person to raise issues and get their side of the story.
2. Talk to the person as a delegation of the HR committee and create a written agreement.
3. Form a resolution committee to deal with the issue and consider termination of the staff member.