
Disciplinary Procedures Model Policy - Checklist
This checklist will help you negotiate a policy acceptable to the union.
Practical tips to help when asked to attend an urgent meeting with the head or principal at short notice without being given an agenda or an indication of its purpose
Possibly. Workers have a statutory right to be accompanied by a colleague or trade union official where they are required or invited by their employer to attend certain disciplinary or grievance hearings. We believe disabled employees and others who may be vulnerable because of other protected characteristics (e.g. an employee for whom English is not a first language) should be accompanied in any event if the absence of a companion would leave them unfairly disadvantaged.
The Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) Code of Practice, Disciplinary and grievance procedures, defines a disciplinary hearing as one that could result in:
The ACAS guidance defines a grievance hearing as a meeting at which an employer deals with a complaint about a duty owed by them to an employee, whether the duty arises from statute or common law (e.g. contractual commitments).
Your employer's grievance procedures should be readily available, normally in the staff handbook.
In this instance, you do not have the right to take a colleague or union representative along. Nevertheless, you can certainly ask if you can take a colleague or union rep with you. This will be considered at the employer's discretion.
However, if it becomes clear during the meeting that disciplinary action may be called for, then you should ask that the meeting is closed and rearranged to allow you to be accompanied by a colleague or union representative.
The following tips should help you get the most from the meeting:
You may:
If you have any concerns about the content of the meeting or the manner in which it was conducted, please speak to the National Education Union representative at your school, your branch/district secretary or contact the National Education Union’s Adviceline 0345 811 8111.