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Management · Guide + Word template

Written Warning

A documented step between a conversation and a performance plan, written so the employee knows exactly what has to change.

In the 10-page guide

  • When a warning is the right step
  • The 9 parts of a good warning
  • Vague vs. specific examples
  • How to deliver it
  • State notes for CA, NY, IL, TX, and FL
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Written Warning template

A one-to-two page warning with every section from page 4, a prior-discussions log, and signatures with space for the employee's comments.

Warning details
Employee, manager, date, and warning level.
01 The issue
What happened, with dates, in observable terms.
02 The expectation
The policy or standard it falls short of.
03 Prior discussions
A log of earlier conversations.
04 What must change
The specific change, deadline, and support offered.
05 Next steps
Consequences and the follow-up check-in date.
06 Employee comments
Space for the employee's side.
07 Acknowledgment
Signatures, plus a declined-to-sign note.
$39
Instant download · Always in your library · Review with your legal counsel before use
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Includes the guide PDF and editable Word template.
Also included in the Performance & Exit Kit and the Everything Bundle. Need hands-on help? Talk to an HR professional.
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About this guide

What the Written Warning guide covers

A documented step between a conversation and a performance plan, written so the employee knows exactly what has to change. Written for managers and HR leads at small and growing companies, in plain language, with federal rules and state notes for California, New York, Illinois, Texas, and Florida.

The 10-page guide covers when a warning is the right step; the 9 parts of a good warning; vague vs. specific examples; how to deliver it; state notes for CA, NY, IL, TX, and FL. It comes with 1 editable Word template: Written Warning template. It is also part of the Performance & Exit Kit.

Price: $39, one-time purchase, instant download. General guidance, not legal advice: review finished documents with your legal counsel.

Questions

Frequently asked

What should a written warning include?

The specific issue with dates, the expectation that wasn't met, prior conversations, what must change and by when, and a place for the employee's acknowledgment and comments.

Does the employee have to sign a written warning?

Their signature confirms they received it, not that they agree. If they decline to sign, note that with the date and have a witness initial it.

Is this legal advice?

No. ModuleHire HR guides and templates are general guidance. Review anything that affects an employee with your legal counsel before you use it.

How do I get the files?

Right after checkout you get a download page and an email link. Everything you buy also lives in your library at hr.modulehire.com/library.html, so you can download it again any time.

Which states do the guides cover?

Guides on topics where state law matters, such as pay, leave, hiring, and terminations, include state notes for California, New York, Illinois, Texas, and Florida alongside federal rules.