Some of the most difficult human resource management problems involve handling difficult or ineffective employees. Guidelines for assessing the causes and how to deal with these situations follow:

1. Most deviant or difficult employees' problems probably have multiple causes. Some of these are:
   1. Problems of intelligence and job knowledge.
   2. Emotional problems.
   3. Motivational problems.
   4. Physical problems.
   5. Family problems.
   6. Problems caused by the work group.
   7. Problems originating in company policies.
   8. Problems stemming from society and its values.
   9. Problems from the work context (for example, economic forces) and the work itself.
2. Categories of employees that cause discipline problems include:
   1. Ineffective employees.
   2. Alcoholic and drug-abusing employees.
   3. Participants in theft, crime, and illegal acts.
   4. Rule violators.
3. The discipline process involves the following:
   1. The employer establishes rules and goals.
   2. These rules and goals are communicated to employees.
   3. Employees' behavior is assessed.
   4. Undesirable behavior is modified, punished, and so on.
   5. Depending on the behavior, its severity, and the number of offenses, an employee may be terminated.
4. For such problems as alcoholism and drug addiction, employers should concentrate on trying to modify the effects and advise rehabilitation and counseling.
5. For discipline systems to be effective, the disciplinary review must take place as soon after the action as possible. It must be applied consistently and impersonally.

Discipline is an area in which help is needed from many areas: supervisors, HRM, the work group, arbitrators, and top management. Each has a crucial role to play if the discipline system is to be effective.