Managing discipline is no easy task. As an employer, you must deal with the human aspect, with motivation and the need to keep the business productive. You must also deal with the many possible recourses available to employees, whether unionized or not. The decision to dismiss is rarely taken lightly by an employer; however a poorly prepared case file can have serious financial consequences.

Absenteeism is a growing concern in any business. Replacement costs, shuffling employees to fill vacant positions, and loss of productivity are just some of the factors that force any thriving business to control absenteeism as much as possible. A casual approach leads to even more serious consequences: the loss of motivation among workers who are not delinquent absentees.

In employment, discrimination is prohibited by the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms from the very beginning of the hiring process. However, it is important to know that the aptitudes or qualities required for a position to be filled may justify questions or tests related to the grounds of discrimination protected by the Charter, so that you can make an informed decision when hiring a new employee.

You can't fire an employee for poor performance overnight. However, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. You can terminate an incompetent employee if he or she continues to be unable to perform the way you would expect at the end of a remedial process, even if the employee has been with the company for several years. And while dismissal for incompetence is an administrative measure, there is nothing to prevent you from taking a mixed approach, i.e. imposing disciplinary measures before finally administratively closing the file of an employee who is unable to improve his or her work performance. But whatever approach you choose, it is important to remember that the shortest route to incompetence is not always the best.