Handling Disciplinary and Grievance Situations Training Course

Duration

1 day

What is this course about?

This course is designed to equip line managers with the knowledge they need to handle disciplinary and grievance issues. The format of the day will be a series of presentations and practical exercises drawn from real-life examples. The style will be highly interactive with questions and discussion encouraged throughout.

Who would benefit?

• Managers
• Team leaders
• Anybody with responsibility for other members of staff

Objectives

At the end of the workshop, delegates will be able to:

• Explain why their company has a disciplinary procedure
• Explain the key stages of each procedure and know when to move between the stages
• Define key terms
• Prepare, structure, conduct and record a disciplinary interview
• Complete the disciplinary documentation
• Describe the role and responsibilities of line managers and Personnel in dealing with disciplinary situations

Key topics covered

1. Welcome and introduction

• Setting objectives for the day

2. The law on discipline and grievance

• Unfair dismissal law in the UK
• The statutory dispute resolution procedures
• The importance of in-house procedures
• The duty to address grievances

3. Managing the disciplinary process

• Principles of natural justice in the disciplinary process
• Distinguishing between disciplinary and capability issues
• Identifying examples of gross misconduct

4. Starting the process

• Resolving difficulties informally
• Accusations of misconduct
• Carrying out a reasonable investigation
• Deciding to invoke the disciplinary procedure
• The invitation to the meeting - what information must the employee be given?

5. The disciplinary hearing

• Timing and location of the meeting
• Roles and responsibilities
• Structuring the hearing effectively
• The right to be accompanied and the role of the representative

6. Reaching the right decision

• Weighing up evidence
• Reaching a clear conclusion
• Deciding on the appropriate penalty - warning or dismissal
• Drafting warnings
• Considering mitigating factors
• The importance of consistency

7. Handling grievances

• What constitutes a grievance?
• Following the appropriate grievance procedure
• Conducting the grievance meeting
• Reaching a decision
• The right to appeal

8. Final questions and round-up

• Review of the day's objectives