Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

CoronavirusAcasLatest NewsDisciplineDiscipline and grievances

Acas publishes coronavirus disciplinary and grievance guidance

by Ashleigh Webber 6 May 2020
by Ashleigh Webber 6 May 2020 Shutterstock
Shutterstock

Employers need to consider whether it is fair or reasonable to conduct a disciplinary or grievance procedure while staff are working from home, following social distancing guidelines at work, or are on furlough.

This is according to new guidance from Acas, which asks employers to think carefully about starting or continuing disciplinary or grievance processes while the coronavirus disrupts normal working practices.

Disciplinary procedures

Proceeding with a disciplinary hearing when companion unavailable

Disciplinary procedures: 10 common breaches of the Acas code of practice

The guidance says: “Going through a disciplinary or grievance procedure can be stressful in normal times, and employees might be facing other stressful circumstances at this time. Employers should give careful consideration to the health and wellbeing of employees when deciding whether and how to proceed at this time.

“It can be helpful for the employer to talk through the options with everyone involved before making a decision whether or not to proceed.

“Whether the employer decides to go ahead with the procedure or postpone it, they should explain their decision with those involved. This will help everyone to be clear about what has been agreed and why.”

The guidance notes that employees may still raise a grievance, but HR must consider whether its procedures for handling their complaint can be followed fairly.

Although they are not able to work, staff who have been furloughed can take part in a disciplinary investigation or hearing if they are under investigation themselves; have raised a grievance; are chairing the hearing; are taking notes at a hearing or investigation interview; are being interviewed or are a witness; or are accompanying a colleague at a hearing.

However, they must agree to do so voluntarily and hearings and interviews must only take place in line with public health guidance.

Where key workers are still going to the workplace, physical hearings must be held in a place that allows for social distancing and privacy.

Where the staff involved are working from home or on furlough, employers need to think about the circumstances of the case and whether it is urgent, or whether it could be investigated at a later date.

If the employer decided to press ahead and use video software to conduct interviews, it needs to ensure everyone involved has access to the technology needed and make any reasonable adjustments necessary for individuals with disabilities.

During video meetings, HR must ensure everybody involved can see witness statements clearly and can fairly assess and question evidence given by the people interviewed.

Acas states there would be no reason for an employer to record a disciplinary hearing held via a video meeting, but it should comply with data protection law if it wishes to do so.

Employee relations opportunities on Personnel Today

Browse more Employee Relations jobs

Ashleigh Webber
Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is editor at OHW+ and part of the Personnel Today editorial team. Prior to joining Personnel Today in 2018, she covered the road transport sector for Commercial Motor and Motor Transport.

previous post
Payroll departments under pressure but ‘unsung heroes of the hour’
next post
David Fairhurst: ‘Drop D&I now and face talent shortages in future’

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Boris Johnson’s partygate fixed penalty notice: any lessons...

14 Apr 2022

What should an investigation into employee misconduct involve?

6 Apr 2022

Unison to appeal against trade union detriment ruling

4 Apr 2022

Football and HR: 10 employment law issues in...

18 Feb 2022

HR processes delay Sue Gray Downing Street lockdown...

28 Jan 2022

Worker taped to chair loses £500k unfair dismissal...

20 Jan 2022

Flexible working requests behind growing number of tribunal...

17 Jan 2022

Cleaner who attended work with Covid-19 was unfairly...

12 Jan 2022

Top 10 HR questions December 2021: NHS Covid...

4 Jan 2022

Former McDonald’s chief to return $105m gained in...

17 Dec 2021
  • Apprenticeships are the solution to your recruitment problems PROMOTED | Apprenticeships have the pulling power...Read more
  • What it really means to be mentally fit PROMOTED | What is mental fitness...Read more
  • How music can help to ease anxiety at work PROMOTED | A lot has happened since March 2020, hasn’t it?...Read more
  • Why now is the time to plug the unhealthy gap PROMOTED | We’ve all heard the term ‘health is wealth’...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+