Employee Relations: An International Journal

Fenley, Anthony

1986 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/eb055072

There is no clear evidence that British workplaces are any nearer the achievement of being representative bureaucracies as far as disciplinary rules are concerned as public policy initiatives are to placing the emphasis on a corrective as opposed to a punitive approach to Industrial discipline. The concept of industrial discipline is examined alongside forms of management control. Management aims and objectives and the difficulties management encounters in this sphere are considered. Worker attitudes and sources of complaints are discussed in the context of the type of involvement unions should have in the discipline process. The trend towards formalisation is explored and Its reasons, advantages and disadvantages discussed. Discipline Is still conflictprone and the reasons for this and ways to minimise it are examined. The work is based on an extensive review of the literature and an ESRC research project that examined disciplinary practice in eight different workplaces. Findings are based on interviews with personnel, line managers and shop stewards and examination of rule books, procedures and disciplinary records. The project was carried out during 19811983.