3. Meaning
One effective way to approach the disciplinary process is to
follow what is popularly known as the Red Hot Stove rule.
According to Mc Gregor this rule is to guide managers in
enforcing discipline.
This rule draws an analogy between touching a hot stove and
undergoing disciline.
When you touch a hot stove your discipline is immediate with
warning, consistent and impersonal.
4. GUIDELINES
The Hot Stove Rule prescribes the following guidelines for
disciplinary action :
The action should occur with advance warning to the employee in
the form of likely consequences of discipline.
The action should occur consistently against all employees who
commit the same mistake under the same conditions.
The action should occur impersonally in that the personalities are
not criticized but the deed or action receives the corrective attention.
5. Principles
Principle of Immediate:
As is the case of touching red hot stove the burn is immediate in the same way
the penalty for the violation should be immediate almost automatic.
Principle of warning:
If the stove is red hot a he knew that he would get burn if he touched it.
Principle of Impersonality:
It implies that the Hot stove does not have any kind of personal feeling,
similarly the disciplinary authority should neither have a sense of election or
sadness in punishing the person.
6. Principles
Principle of Consistency:
This states the under identical situations there should be no marked
differences in the action taken. The Hot stove burns all fingers or all limbs that
touch it in the manner whether it is achieved or a beautiful young lady or an old
man who touches the stove.
Dismissal:
The ultimate disciplinary punishment is dismissing the employee. This action
must be used only for the most serious offenses or after all earlier steps have
failed. The decision to dismiss an employee should be given long and hard
consideration before being implemented
