Retention through Empathy: An Invitation to Compassionate Progressive Discipline 

Managing employee relations is a challenge that many leaders in the library face. High morale, collegiality, and active listening are the building blocks that facilitate compassion in the workplace. A productive work environment is a delightful patchwork of leadership savvy, SMART goals, employee retention and motivation combined with proactive measures for well-being. Library leaders must have a comprehensive plan for retaining employees that considers the whole person, often necessitating progressive discipline to ensure a positive work environment. Historically, progressive discipline has been used punitively with a focus toward termination. In this presentation, we will make a case for compassionate progressive discipline that focuses on restorative practices that aim to bring a team together through transparent policy and procedures. The key is to implement restorative practices that focus on repairing harm through inclusive means that bring together employees and leaders to work together as a dynamic unit. This approach emphasizes modifying behaviors, taking accountability, and maintaining team morale. By following these steps library leaders promote a sense of community that prevents and addresses discord in a compassionate manner.