Acknowledgment

As part of New York State's management team, you play a key role in the delivery of quality public service. Your leadership ability significantly influences both the individual and collective performance of employees under your supervision. You have the daily challenge of recognizing and building the strengths of employees, and the responsibility to identify and address opportunities to foster improvement in their performance. This handbook has been developed to assist you in meeting the challenge and responsibilities of supervision.

Employee counseling is a mechanism designed to address concerns about performance and/or work related behaviors in a positive and constructive manner. The Supervisor's Guide will provide you with the necessary knowledge and information to utilize counseling as an effective supervisory tool.

It is our hope that this manual will be a valuable resource and help facilitate your role in the delivery of quality public service in New York State.

We wish you every success in your career as a supervisor in State government.

Linda Angello, Director, June 17, 1997

This handbook was prepared to provide instruction to State supervisors in proper counseling techniques. Specifically, it provides an overview of the counseling process, guidelines pertaining to both the counseling session and the counseling memo and a summary of contractual provisions governing the counseling process.

The handbook is intended to provide supervisors with general guidance in counseling. It is not intended to be applicable to every situation, nor does it supersede the terms of the collective bargaining agreements or otherwise established policies or practices of State departments or agencies. Accordingly, each agency is encouraged to continue providing training and guidance in specific agency policy or procedures with respect to counseling.

In addition, supervisors are encouraged to discuss specific questions, problems or unusual circumstances with appropriate level supervisors or Human Resource Management.