A reprimand is a notice or warning addressed to someone with the intention of correcting an action that is performed irregularly.
General warning procedure
Two are the protagonists involved: the individual or the institution that imposes the reprimand and the person reprimanded. The former generally has a recognized and legitimate authority. On the other hand, the person who receives the warning has acted improperly.
Between the one who sanctions and the one sanctioned, there must be a regulation or regulation that specifies what conducts are reprehensible, for what reason and what type of sanctions must be applied.
Different contexts related to the idea of admonition
In the world of sport there is the figure of the judge or referee. His task is obvious: that athletes carry out their activity respecting certain rules. If during the competition there are improper actions or actions that are very close to the sanction, the referee can impose some type of warning, which can be a verbal warning or a more explicit warning (for example, a yellow card in the case of football).
In the school environment, students must comply with some rules of coexistence. If inappropriate behaviors occur, teachers apply the disciplinary regime and impose some type of reprimand.
In the labor context, there are reprimands when the worker commits a specific minor offense (for example, a delay in the start time or a lack of respect for a superior). In these cases, the notice of reprimand may be verbal or in writing. If a certain number of reprimands accumulate, there is the possibility of being fired from work.
Respect for established rules
In most human activities there is some kind of standard that serves as a frame of reference. The traffic code, the disciplinary regime of a school or labor regulations are clear examples of rules that must be respected for the proper functioning of the activity.
In any of these circumstances, reprimands function as an element of coercion and are normally accompanied by fines, sanctions or punishments. The admonished individual has broken some established norm and, consequently, has to assume some type of punishment. If the warning mechanism is not applied properly, the activity to be carried out becomes a chaos where injustice and disorder prevail.
Photos: Fotolia – Ssoil322 / Robert Kneschke
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