Cambridge Dental Consultants records that all offices have a Code of Conduct guidelines for the staff. The purpose of such guidelines is to improve staff relationships and to enhance production. Guidelines should be enforced in a constructive manner.
It is important to clearly define and make these guidelines available in writing to all staff. Your staff can then become familiar with what is expected. As a result, disciplinary action becomes predictable and not based on “opinions” or bias.
Violation of acceptable conduct may result in one or more of the following forms of disciplinary action: verbal warning, written warning and possible discharge.
In arriving at a decision for proper action, and only after a thorough investigation, the following facts may be considered: the seriousness of the violation, the past record of the employee, the circumstances surrounding the matter, and the consequences that resulted from the violation.
Although it is impossible to identify every violation in a code of conduct, the following is a partial list of violations that may result in warnings and/or discharge:
1. Ineffective use of work time.
2. Failure to maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees, management and patients.
3. Gossiping.
4. Divulging confidential information.
5. Negligence or deliberate inattention to patient care on your job.
6. Frequent and unexcused absence or tardiness.
7. Creating a disturbance in the work place.
8. Reporting to work in an unfit condition.
9. Theft.