MML Review Magazine Fall 2026

EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE

Practical Steps for Elected Officials

Elected officials are unlikely to discipline employees or monitor their performance. However, as leaders and policymakers, they can take steps to set their communities up for success: • Direct your HR staff or attorney to review and update employee handbooks regularly, ensuring proper at-will disclaimers and compliance with current Michigan law. • Support a flexible discipline framework that empowers supervisors to respond proportionally rather than locking them into rigid, one-size-fits-all steps. • Budget for regular supervisor training on consistent discipline, thorough documentation, and legal boundaries. • Insist that every disciplinary action is documented promptly and thoroughly. • Require consultation with employment counsel before terminations, particularly where protected activity, accommodation issues, or elevated legal risk is present. • Ask for periodic reports on complaint trends, termination rationales, and manager consistency so problems are caught early. Employee discipline may not be the most glamorous part of public service, but it is one of the most consequential. A thoughtful, well-documented, and consistently applied discipline process protects employees, shields your community from liability, and reflects the kind of fair governance the public expects from its leaders. Erik G. Bradberry is a senior attorney with Plunkett Cooney. You may reach Erik at 248-433-7172 or ebradberry@plunkettcooney.com. Joshua J. Trombley is a senior attorney with Plunkett Cooney. You may reach Joshua at 616-752-4617 or jtrombley@plunkettcooney.com.

PLANNING DESIGN BUILDING

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| Fall 2026