Discipline and grievances
A disciplinary procedure and grievance procedure permit employers to deal fairly and consistently with employee misconduct and complaints from employees about the workplace.
The “Acas code of practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures” provides employers with the principles for handling workplace disciplinaries and grievances. Employment tribunals will take the code into account when considering relevant cases, with the possibility of a 25% adjustment in any compensation awarded.
Top 10 HR questions October 2019: Right to be accompanied
Should employers give employees the right to be accompanied to meetings under a redundancy procedure?
Such a meeting could ultimately...
MPs to examine police disciplinary system
A group of MPs is to scrutinise the police conduct and disciplinary system and investigate whether wider reforms are needed...
Lawyer found dead had been suspended for sexual misconduct
A partner at a law firm who was found dead at the foot of cliffs in south Wales had been suspended for alleged inappropriate sexual conduct
BBC ‘destroyed career’ of woman paid less than 15 male peers
The BBC has settled an unequal pay claim for more than £130,000 after a former employee complained that 15 male...
City banker wins sexism case for unequal pay and victimisation
A financial product manager for the French bank BNP Paribas has won her case for direct sex discrimination, victimisation and...
Duty of care and the employee accused of wrongdoing
All HR professionals are familiar with the stress and anxiety associated with a grievance or disciplinary process. Ashleigh Webber examines...
Steep rise in sexual harassment complaints involving law firms
An apparent sharp rise in the number of sexual harassment complaints involving solicitors has drawn attention to law firms' misuse of gagging orders.
‘HR department’ needed to tackle bullying in Parliament
The House of Commons is in need of an HR department to help stamp out the bullying and harassment that many MPs’ staff experience.
Covert recording is not always misconduct, finds EAT
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has clarified when it is acceptable for an employee to make a covert recording of a...
Top 10 HR questions June 2019: Ex-employee grievances
Can an employer ignore a grievance if the employee no longer works for the organisation?
The most popular FAQ on...
TfL employee wins discrimination claim after manager doubts his command of English
A Transport for London employee who was told he could not take part in training and conference calls because English...
Top 10 HR questions May 2019: Ramadan, redundancy and references
Many employers will have staff who have been fasting over the last month, as they observe Ramadan.
The most popular...
‘Black and white minstrel’ worker wins racial harassment appeal
An employee who dressed as a “black and white minstrel” at a work Christmas party and sung a “racist” song...
Top 10 HR questions April 2019: Maximum compensation, holiday entitlement and positive action
The annual increase to the limits on compensation that can be awarded in an...
Top 10 HR questions March 2019: Anonymous witness rights
If a witness in a disciplinary procedure wishes to remain anonymous, how can the employer balance their privacy against the...
