Supervisors can help prevent contract violations by providing proactive training and consistently enforcing policies. Here are five key practices supervisors should remember:
- Know the CBA’s gray areas: Train supervisors to pause and ask questions when something seems unclear, rather than guessing.
- Communicate proactively and openly: Supervisors should proactively communicate scheduling changes, policy updates, and decisions that impact union and nonunion employees.
- Use a “consult first” policy: Encourage supervisors to consult HR or Labor Relations before making decisions that could be contract-sensitive.
- Track violations and use them as learning tools: Review past violations and grievances as part of training—what went wrong, and how to avoid it next time?
- Document everything: Keeping thorough records of employee performance, attendance, and conversations helps ensure actions are defensible and aligned with contract terms.