May 19, 2017 10:42
7 yrs ago
19 viewers *
French term
sanctions
French to English
Bus/Financial
Business/Commerce (general)
Empowerment
Hi, the whole sentence goes: "Notre ambition est de davantage responsabiliser tous les échelons hiérarchiques, ce qui suppose de la confiance et du contrôle et des sanctions le cas échéant"
The context is a piece about empowering staff as part of a new company culture approach. A bit further on the text, they talk about "sanctionner" obstructions that come in the way of the new mindset.
I'm wondering how we would refer in English to "sanctions" / "sanctionner" - are these just measures to ensure staff are accountable for their actions?
Many thanks.
The context is a piece about empowering staff as part of a new company culture approach. A bit further on the text, they talk about "sanctionner" obstructions that come in the way of the new mindset.
I'm wondering how we would refer in English to "sanctions" / "sanctionner" - are these just measures to ensure staff are accountable for their actions?
Many thanks.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +5 | disciplinary measures |
Paul Bevan (X)
|
| 3 +4 | sanctions |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
|
Proposed translations
+5
23 mins
Selected
disciplinary measures
However, might be better to say "cautions or disciplinary measures if appropriate".
Reference:
https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/grievance-and-disciplinary-procedures-and-templates
Note from asker:
| Thanks all, very helpful. Having been self-employed for so long, I don't know how these systems work in big corporations anymore! |
| Many thanks, I ended up going with disciplinary measures as I felt it was right for my particular context. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
AllegroTrans
15 mins
|
| neutral |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
: Sanctions are a type of disciplinary measure, but both terms are often used interchangeably. Disciplinary measures may be appropriate in context. It depends.//"Disciplinary action" for "sanction".
32 mins
|
| agree |
B D Finch
1 hr
|
| agree |
Francois Boye
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Katarina Peters
3 hrs
|
| agree |
Anne Bohy
: disciplinary actions
5 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+4
1 hr
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Native in English
Psychologist, Court-certified legal
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
148
sanctions
As I mentioned in a comment above, "sanction" is used more often than not to describe a particular "measure". Sanctions are generally considered to be part of disciplinary measures, although I'm splitting hairs a little, as out in the big wide world, both terms are used fairly synonymously. I'm currently working on an HR project and "disciplinary measures" are clearly marked out as including "sanctions", not as synonyms.
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Note added at 1 hr (2017-05-19 11:46:04 GMT)
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http://www.bath.ac.uk/hr/working/difficult-situations/discip...
15. Alternative sanctions to dismissal
Gross misconduct cases may not always result in dismissal. Depending on the circumstances of the case and any significant mitigating factors, the University may decide to take action short of dismissal and / or may include the issue of alternative disciplinary penalties in addition to a warning including the following examples:
Final written warning or the reissuing of a Final Written Warning and /or
Time extension of the final warning beyond 12 months and / or
Disciplinary transfer and /or
Monetary payments by way of restitution for culpable loss or damage caused by you, (any such payment required will take into account the earnings of the employee concerned) and / or
Other appropriate actions to prevent the repetition of the misconduct.
You have the right to appeal in accordance with section 18 below a decision to impose any of the above sanctions.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2017-05-19 13:12:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"Sanctions" are the "disciplinary action" taken in application of "disciplinary measures" (rules).
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2017-05-19 13:15:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"Sanction" is about punishment, the actual action taken.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2017-05-19 13:17:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Yes, I probably am splitting hairs!
http://www.granddictionnaire.com/Resultat.aspx
sanction disciplinaire FR • disciplinary measure EN
gestion
Mesure répressive infligée par l'employeur à un salarié qui a commis une faute disciplinaire.
Logo identifiant une fiche rédigée par l’Office québécois de la langue française Office québécois de la langue française, 2008
sanction disciplinaire FR • disciplinary sanction EN
travail
[ + ]
Mesure prise, au terme d'une procédure disciplinaire, contre un membre qui a failli à ses engagements ou qui a commis une faute professionnelle.
© Institut Canadien des Comptables Agréés, 2006
sanction disciplinaire FR • summary punishment EN
droit
Le Docte, Edgard, 1978
sanction disciplinaire FR • disciplinary procedure EN
sport
Hepp, Ferenc, 1962
Whatever...!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 hrs (2017-05-20 09:12:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I'm actually working on this very point in a job I'm doing right now.
here you can find an extract from Employment and Labour Law: Jurisdictional Comparisons : https://books.google.fr/books?id=Z-WCEMbg7oQC&pg=PA123&lpg=P...
it is a GB English book. In the section about L. 1331-1 of the Code du Travail, you can see terms such as "disciplinary action" and "sanctions". The former describes generally action that might be taken, the latter describes a particular 'punishment' for want of a better word.
My choices are clear for my client.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 hrs (2017-05-20 09:14:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Straight from the cheval's mouth, the relevant article of the C du T: http://www.lexinter.net/JF/sanction_disciplinaire.htm
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 23 hrs (2017-05-20 09:52:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/o/q/H02_1.pdf
Extracts:
"Disciplinary procedures are an aid to the effective management of people, and
should not be viewed primarily as a means of imposing sanctions or as leading to
dismissal. Where dismissal does occur, employees may make a complaint to an
employment tribunal if they believe they have been unfairly dismissed, although
ordinarily the employee must have one year's service1. It is for the employer to
show the reason for the dismissal and that it was a fair reason. "
"Good disciplinary procedures should:
[...]
• ensure that employees are given an explanation for any sanction and
allow employees to appeal against a decision."
"Dismissal or other sanction
If the employee has received a final written warning further misconduct or
unsatisfactory performance may warrant dismissal. Alternatively the contract may
allow for a different disciplinary penalty instead. Such a penalty may include
disciplinary transfer, disciplinary suspension without pay, demotion, loss of
seniority or loss of increment. These sanctions may only be applied if allowed for
in the employee's contract."
"Key points
• Employers must follow the statutory procedures if they are contemplating
dismissing an employee or applying sanctions such as demotion, loss of
seniority and loss of pay ..."
" sanction: is a punishment imposed on an employee as a result of
unsatisfactory performance or misconduct. Sanctions may include dismissal or
actions short of dismissal such as loss of pay or demotion "
And also:
"
- disciplinary action: formal action against an employee: for example issuing a
first written warning for misconduct or dismissing someone for gross misconduct
- disciplinary procedure: is a procedure for organisations to follow to deal with
cases of misconduct or unsatisfactory performance. It helps employers deal with
discipline cases fairly and consistently"
The term appears 17 times in this ACAS document. ;-)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 23 hrs (2017-05-20 09:53:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
So between the Code du Travail definition at L. 1331-1 and the ACAS doc, that gives food for thought.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2017-05-19 11:46:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://www.bath.ac.uk/hr/working/difficult-situations/discip...
15. Alternative sanctions to dismissal
Gross misconduct cases may not always result in dismissal. Depending on the circumstances of the case and any significant mitigating factors, the University may decide to take action short of dismissal and / or may include the issue of alternative disciplinary penalties in addition to a warning including the following examples:
Final written warning or the reissuing of a Final Written Warning and /or
Time extension of the final warning beyond 12 months and / or
Disciplinary transfer and /or
Monetary payments by way of restitution for culpable loss or damage caused by you, (any such payment required will take into account the earnings of the employee concerned) and / or
Other appropriate actions to prevent the repetition of the misconduct.
You have the right to appeal in accordance with section 18 below a decision to impose any of the above sanctions.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2017-05-19 13:12:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"Sanctions" are the "disciplinary action" taken in application of "disciplinary measures" (rules).
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2017-05-19 13:15:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"Sanction" is about punishment, the actual action taken.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2017-05-19 13:17:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Yes, I probably am splitting hairs!
http://www.granddictionnaire.com/Resultat.aspx
sanction disciplinaire FR • disciplinary measure EN
gestion
Mesure répressive infligée par l'employeur à un salarié qui a commis une faute disciplinaire.
Logo identifiant une fiche rédigée par l’Office québécois de la langue française Office québécois de la langue française, 2008
sanction disciplinaire FR • disciplinary sanction EN
travail
[ + ]
Mesure prise, au terme d'une procédure disciplinaire, contre un membre qui a failli à ses engagements ou qui a commis une faute professionnelle.
© Institut Canadien des Comptables Agréés, 2006
sanction disciplinaire FR • summary punishment EN
droit
Le Docte, Edgard, 1978
sanction disciplinaire FR • disciplinary procedure EN
sport
Hepp, Ferenc, 1962
Whatever...!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 hrs (2017-05-20 09:12:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I'm actually working on this very point in a job I'm doing right now.
here you can find an extract from Employment and Labour Law: Jurisdictional Comparisons : https://books.google.fr/books?id=Z-WCEMbg7oQC&pg=PA123&lpg=P...
it is a GB English book. In the section about L. 1331-1 of the Code du Travail, you can see terms such as "disciplinary action" and "sanctions". The former describes generally action that might be taken, the latter describes a particular 'punishment' for want of a better word.
My choices are clear for my client.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 hrs (2017-05-20 09:14:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Straight from the cheval's mouth, the relevant article of the C du T: http://www.lexinter.net/JF/sanction_disciplinaire.htm
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 23 hrs (2017-05-20 09:52:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
http://www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/o/q/H02_1.pdf
Extracts:
"Disciplinary procedures are an aid to the effective management of people, and
should not be viewed primarily as a means of imposing sanctions or as leading to
dismissal. Where dismissal does occur, employees may make a complaint to an
employment tribunal if they believe they have been unfairly dismissed, although
ordinarily the employee must have one year's service1. It is for the employer to
show the reason for the dismissal and that it was a fair reason. "
"Good disciplinary procedures should:
[...]
• ensure that employees are given an explanation for any sanction and
allow employees to appeal against a decision."
"Dismissal or other sanction
If the employee has received a final written warning further misconduct or
unsatisfactory performance may warrant dismissal. Alternatively the contract may
allow for a different disciplinary penalty instead. Such a penalty may include
disciplinary transfer, disciplinary suspension without pay, demotion, loss of
seniority or loss of increment. These sanctions may only be applied if allowed for
in the employee's contract."
"Key points
• Employers must follow the statutory procedures if they are contemplating
dismissing an employee or applying sanctions such as demotion, loss of
seniority and loss of pay ..."
" sanction: is a punishment imposed on an employee as a result of
unsatisfactory performance or misconduct. Sanctions may include dismissal or
actions short of dismissal such as loss of pay or demotion "
And also:
"
- disciplinary action: formal action against an employee: for example issuing a
first written warning for misconduct or dismissing someone for gross misconduct
- disciplinary procedure: is a procedure for organisations to follow to deal with
cases of misconduct or unsatisfactory performance. It helps employers deal with
discipline cases fairly and consistently"
The term appears 17 times in this ACAS document. ;-)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 23 hrs (2017-05-20 09:53:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
So between the Code du Travail definition at L. 1331-1 and the ACAS doc, that gives food for thought.
Note from asker:
| Thank you, that's a great help. |
| Many thanks. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Chakib Roula
6 mins
|
| agree |
Katarina Peters
3 hrs
|
| agree |
Daryo
: just to split hairs a bit more, in some other context "to sanction" could mean the exact opposite - "to reward s.o." instead of "to punish"
5 hrs
|
|
Indeed. That is possible in French and in English too, although more common in French. However, in this context, the meaning is clear in both FR and EN.
|
|
| neutral |
Jennifer Levey
: "sanctions" is utterly ambiguous in English, and best avoided.
13 hrs
|
|
It can be ambiguous in both EN and FR. The point is that in context, au contraire, it is anything but ambiguous in FR and in EN.
|
|
| agree |
Yolanda Broad
3 days 15 hrs
|
Discussion
The problem with "measures" is that is most effectively used to describe the body of rules with regard to discipline. However, it is used, inaccurately in my view, to describe action taken. Whatever term you go with, as long as it reads objectively as clearly as psosible and that it is describing the actual action to be taken, that will do the trick.
https://books.google.fr/books?id=Z-WCEMbg7oQC&pg=PA123&lpg=P...