A laboratory manager has documented ongoing performance conc…

A laboratory manager has documented ongoing performance concerns for an employee related to repeated failure to follow specimen labeling procedures. The manager has already met privately with the employee to discuss the issue and shared brief notes from the conversation. When the problem continued, the manager issued a verbal warning, clearly outlining expectations, provided addition training, and documented the discussion. Despite these steps, the employee continues to demonstrate the same behavior. What is the most appropriate next step in the corrective action process?