Disciplinary Hearing Guide for Employers
Under ACAS guidelines, before an employer can lawfully dismiss or sanction an employee for a disciplinary issue, the employer should first hold a disciplinary hearing with the employee. The meeting must be managed correctly to avoid allegations that the employer failed to handle the disciplinary process fairly. In this guide, we look at how employers […]
Bringing the Company Into Disrepute
Bringing a company into disrepute refers to actions or behaviour by an employee, contractor or representative that negatively impacts the organisation’s reputation. It can include conduct both inside and outside the workplace that creates public criticism, loss of trust or damage to the company’s standing with stakeholders, customers, or the public. In such situations, the […]
Using CCTV as Evidence at a Disciplinary UK
Some employers may be surprised to discover that video footage captured by CCTV can constitute personal data under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This means that there are certain rules that must be followed when processing this data, especially in the context of using this footage as evidence of an employee’s misconduct. The following […]
Confidentiality in the Workplace
It’s an unfortunate reality for business owners that employees are a potential source of commercial risk. While it’s rare that a breach of confidentiality at work will occur intentionally, even an honest mistake can result in severe consequences. This makes it business-critical to take certain measures to protect your commercial interests, such as using confidentiality […]
What are my Rights if a Grievance is Raised Against Me
It is not uncommon for staff to raise a grievance about their managers, in some cases without just cause, although the employer will still be duty bound to fully investigate any formal complaint. It is therefore important for managers to know their own employment rights in these circumstances, not only to help minimise the potential […]
How to Deal with Theft by an Employee
Theft by an employee can raise a number of issues for employers, from employment rights to workforce morale. If you have grounds to suspect an employee has been misusing company property or stealing from work, you should proceed with care. Your initial reaction may be to take disciplinary action straight away, but you have to […]
How to Deal With Lateness At Work
Dealing with employees who are repeat offenders of persistent lateness can be challenging and a problem that can only be addressed with effective policies and procedures in place. In these circumstances, you should ask yourself if your employee’s lateness is impacting your business and if it is necessary for them to always be on time. […]
The Sackable Offences List
The following guide for employers examines the issue of gross misconduct, from what this means to the type of conduct that can justify summary dismissal. The sackable offences list will also help to provide HR personnel and line managers with examples of gross misconduct, but this is not exhaustive and every dismissal must be approached […]
Disciplining Twice for the Same Offence?
In most cases, an employee would not be disciplined twice for the same offence. If they were, it may be argued that it was an abuse of process. Nevertheless, if there are unusual circumstances and an employer is looking to reopen disciplinary proceedings that had previously been resolved, would any subsequent disciplinary decision be deemed […]
Disciplinary Policy: What to Include
Following fair and lawful disciplinary procedures is vital to ensure disciplinary issues are dealt with properly. If you get this wrong, you may face tribunal claims. Fundamental to any fair and compliant disciplinary procedure is the disciplinary policy. This should act as the formal reference point to ensure employees are aware of the conduct standards they […]