Therefore, it is important to avoid these common disciplinary mistakes in your School:
You should follow both your own procedure and the ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures at all times. It is essential that this is rolled out and practiced consistently.
Failure to follow a fair and lawful procedure could result in the disciplinary action being deemed unfair, regardless of whether the sanction issued is reasonable in the circumstances. This could even lead to discrimination allegations. For instance, if a male employee is treated less favourably than a female employee during their disciplinary action.
You must conduct a reasonable and comprehensive investigation to gather relevant evidence before you decide whether to hold a formal hearing. It is a good idea to hold an investigation meeting before the disciplinary hearing so that both parties can establish the facts of the case before the disciplinary process advances any further.
The employee under the spotlight and any employees involved in the investigation as witnesses should be asked not to discuss the allegations with anyone else.
You must provide the employee with all relevant evidence held against them in advance of their disciplinary hearing. This enables them to have plenty of time to consider the case against them and build their defence.
It is also important to give the employee in question adequate notice to prepare. Your policy will specify the notice that you are required to give. However, this is usually either five or ten working days.
Employees are legally entitled to be accompanied by either a work colleague, trade union representative or accredited trade union official at their disciplinary hearing. This right should be relayed to them in their letter of invitation.
If the employee’s representative is unable to make the hearing date you originally proposed, the employee can request an alternative, suitable time within five days of the date the school initially proposed. If this cannot be accommodated, or if the date is more than five days later, the school should be reasonable in considering an alternative. An unreasonable refusal to agree to a later date may undermine the fairness of any subsequent dismissal. Care should be taken to ensure that the date finally agreed does not cause any deadlines for notice to be missed, which could result in a significant cost.
Refrain from using the same person to conduct the investigation process, disciplinary hearing and appeal hearing. If you do, there is a chance any dismissal could be considered unfair. In an ideal world, a different person would carry out each stage.
It is important to record and keep legible, complete and accurate notes throughout the entire disciplinary process. If you do not have written evidence to take away from any meetings, it could render their contents ambiguous and open them up to challenge.
Records should be held in accordance with your data protection and retention policy.