HELP! Company comencing unessery disciplinary action

[CHARLOOT]

Hi
I wonder if anyone can help.
At 4 oclock yesterday (03/09/2014) my line manage presented me with a formal letter inviting me to a hearing on the 5/9/2014 regarding some allegations.. i have attached the letter i was handed. On it were headings stating very vague issues the company obviously had with me (see attachment)

I read the letter and was very confused as no previous issues had been brought up with me at all so asked my line manager if he could go into each one in more detail, he said that he wasnt at liberty to provide me with any more details at this time and i would have to wait until the hearing.

I left the office feeling somewhat confused about this, so i called my line manager a few minutes later and explained to him that at the bottom of the letter it says i can bring evidence to present at the hearing, but how could i do this when i hadn't been told by anybody that i had done anything wrong? He replied that he "seemed to have followed the wrong guidance" and that he would "email me the full details now" which he did.

Is this correct procedure? He has only given me a day to prepare myself for what feels to me like a defense, i feel like i have already been proven guilty of the allegations regardless... do i have the right to ask for more time to prepare? And should this be permitted?

Thanks

[des8]

Re: HELP! Company comencing unessery disciplinary action

Hi and welcome.
Someone should be along soon to help you.
I note on your attachment you have left identifying details. This is not advisable on open fora, so I have asked for the site moderators to anonymise your post, if possible.

[Amethyst]

Re: HELP! Company comencing unessery disciplinary action

Removed attachment, thanks des xx

[CHARLOOT]

Re: HELP! Company comencing unessery disciplinary action

ive edited the image
thanks

[Amethyst]

Re: HELP! Company comencing unessery disciplinary action

Lol, good timing

[Amethyst]

Re: HELP! Company comencing unessery disciplinary action

Theres no legal requirement for a minimum notice of hearing period, however ACAS guidance says 2 working days and you can ask for it to be postponed for up to 5 working days if you wish to take someone with you and you can't get someone in the timescale given, you have the right to be accompanied to the hearing by a colleague or trade union rep.

[Kati]

Re: HELP! Company comencing unessery disciplinary action

Here's a link to the ACAS website http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2179

and a copy of their Discipline and Grievances at Work Guide

[CHARLOOT]

Re: HELP! Company comencing unessery disciplinary action

But is it right that he should have asked me to this hearing with any discussion first? the allegations he emailed me, eventually, are all fairly minor things.. and all things that have never been raised to my attention before this letter? For instance, i was late on moday by 1.58 mins... i wasnt spoken to about this prev to this and i am never late, whistling to myself around work.. this is another allegation, as is making a mistake on a credit note. There lots of other trivial stuff

[Kati]

Re: HELP! Company comencing unessery disciplinary action

Is this a formal meeting or a 'fact finding' meeting??

The reasons you state seem (to me) a little bit silly for complaints - but I am not really clued up on Employment Law, so I may be wrong :tinysmile_hmm_t2:

I'm sure someone will be along soon to advise/help tho'

Kati x

[CHARLOOT]

Re: HELP! Company comencing unessery disciplinary action

A "Hearing"????



x

[Johnboy007]

Re: HELP! Company comencing unessery disciplinary action

Hi,
Do you have a copy of your company's Disciplinary and Grievance procedures?
If not request them straight away.
Also do you have a contract of employment?
Have you got a copy of the company 'Sales Procedure'?
Have you seen this procedure and been given a copy.
Have you signed anything to say you have read the procedure?
Have you a copy of the company's 'role expectations' and the defined priorities' for the work you are doing?
Has anyone ever explained them to you?
How long have you worked for the company?
At the 'Disciplinary Hearing' do please take a work colleague in with you to act as a witness.
Take pen and paper and do take notes.
If you are not sure about anything, then do ask.
First thing to do is listen to the allegation/s and then request an adjournment in order to prepare a case to answer.
State that the time given to you, between the allegation and the hearing is not reasonable
If the company do not allow you this extra time, do not worry, you can always appeal against any disciplinary measures.
Do not admit to anything you are not sure about, just say "I can't remember", or "I've never been told".
Keep us informed of the outcome.
Regards, JB


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