Disciplinary Policy Implementation Date: 01 April 2013 Review Date: 01 April 2016 1 P age
AMENDMENT HISTORY VERSION DATE AMENDMENT HISTORY D1 Sept 13 Addition of branding and formatting changes in line with Policy for Development of Policies. V1 Oct 13 Approved by Rem Com. RC/XX/030/V1 Dec 14 Unique reference number added prior to publication. REVIEWERS This document has been reviewed by: NAME DATE TITLE/RESPONSIBILITY VERSION Steph Cartwright 9.9.13 HR Lead D1 Julia Dixon 9.9.13 Staff Side Lead D1 Remuneration Committee V1 APPROVALS This document has been approved by: NAME DATE TITLE/RESPONSIBILITY VERSION Remuneration Committee 9.10.13 V1 N.B: the version of this policy posted on the intranet must be a PDF copy of the approved version. DOCUMENT STATUS This is a controlled document. Whilst this document may be printed, the electronic version posted on the intranet is the controlled copy. Any printed copies of the document are not controlled. RELATED DOCUMENTS These documents will provide additional information. 2 P age
CONTENTS POLICY OVERVIEW 1. Purpose 4 2. Who This Policy Applies To 4 3. Key Principles 4 4. Legal Considerations 4 5. Supporting Principles 5 THE POLICY 6. Informal Discussions 6 7. Establish the Facts of Each Case 6 8. Inform the Employee of the Problem 6 9. Hold a Hearing with the Employee to Discuss the Problem 6 10. Allow the Employee to be Accompanied at the Hearing 7 11. Decide on the Appropriate Action 7 12. Provide Employees with an Opportunity to Appeal 8 13. Special Cases 8 14. Equality Statement 8 3 P age
POLICY OVERVIEW Disciplinary Policy Purpose In order to operate effectively, high standards of performance and conduct are expected from all our staff. Cases of minor misconduct or unsatisfactory behaviour are usually best dealt with informally. This policy is designed to resolve issues and aims to ensure that where some form of formal action is needed, issues are dealt with promptly, fairly and consistently. Who this Policy applies to The policy applies to all staff that are employees of the organisation in either a permanent, fixed term or temporary post with the exception of Bank and agency staff. Best practice suggests the timescales included in this policy; however in exceptional circumstances alternative timescales can be agreed between the line manager and employee. Key Principles Employers and employees must raise and deal with issues promptly and must not unreasonably delay meetings, decisions or confirmation of those decisions. Informal action will be considered, where appropriate, to resolve problems. For formal action the employee will be advised of the nature of the allegations against him or her and will be given the opportunity to state his or her case before any decision is made at a disciplinary hearing. Employees will be provided, where appropriate, with written copies of evidence and relevant witness statements in advance of a disciplinary hearing. Employers must allow an employee to appeal against any formal decision made. Legal Considerations The ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures sets out principles for handling disciplinary and grievance situations in the workplace. Employment tribunals are legally required to take the Code into account when considering relevant cases. Most of the provisions governing unfair dismissal are to be found in the Employment Rights Act 1996 as amended. Numerous other pieces of legislation cross refer to unfair dismissal issues. 4 P age
SUPPORTING PRINCIPLES Disciplinary Policy Employers and employees must raise and deal with issues promptly and must not unreasonably delay meetings, decisions or confirmation of those decisions. Employers and employees must act consistently. Informal action will be considered, where appropriate, to resolve problems. For formal action the employee will be advised of the nature of the allegations against him or her and will be given the opportunity to state his or her case before any decision is made at a disciplinary hearing. Employees will be provided, where appropriate, with written copies of evidence and relevant witness statements in advance of a disciplinary hearing. No employee will be dismissed for a first breach of discipline except in the case of gross misconduct, when the penalty will be dismissal without notice or payment in lieu of notice. The procedure may be implemented at any stage if the employee's alleged misconduct warrants this. Employers must carry out any necessary investigations, to establish the facts of the case. Employers must inform employees of the basis of the problem and give them an opportunity to put their case in response before any decisions are made. Employers must allow employees to be accompanied at any informal/formal disciplinary meetings. Employers must allow an employee to appeal against any formal decision made. Where issues of misconduct cannot be resolved informally or it is inappropriate to do so the formal disciplinary procedure may be used. 5 P age
THE POLICY Disciplinary Policy Informal Discussions Wherever possible, an initial discussion must be held between the employee and their manager. It is in everyone s best interest for an issue to be dealt with quickly and fairly at the lowest possible level and we hope that the majority of concerns will be resolved at this stage. The employee can be accompanied if they request it. The employee and the manager must keep a note of the discussion. Establish the facts of each case It is important to carry out necessary investigations of potential disciplinary matters without unreasonable delay to establish the facts of the case (this must take no longer than one month). In exceptional circumstances this can take a longer period of time and the employee will be notified of the delay. In some cases this will require the holding of an investigatory meeting with the employee before proceeding to any disciplinary hearing. In others, the investigatory stage will be the collation of evidence by the employer for use at any disciplinary hearing. In misconduct cases, where practicable, different people must carry out the investigation and disciplinary hearing. If there is an investigatory meeting this must not by itself result in any disciplinary action. Employees will be allowed to be accompanied at a formal investigatory meeting under this policy. In cases where a period of suspension with pay is considered necessary, this period must be as brief as possible, must be kept under review and it must be made clear that this suspension is not considered a disciplinary action. Inform the employee of the problem If it is decided that there is a disciplinary case to answer, the employee must be notified of this in writing. This notification must contain sufficient information about the alleged misconduct and its possible consequences to enable the employee to prepare to answer the case at a disciplinary hearing. It would normally be appropriate to provide copies of any written evidence, which may include any witness statements, with the notification. The notification must also give details of the time and venue for the disciplinary hearing and advise the employee of their right to be accompanied at the hearing. Hold a hearing with the employee to discuss the problem The hearing must be held within 10 working days whilst allowing the employee reasonable time to prepare their case. Employers and employees (and their companions) must make every effort to attend the hearing; however the hearing can take place in the employees absence. At the hearing the employer must explain the complaint against the employee and go through the evidence that has been gathered. The employee must be allowed to set out their case and answer any allegations that have been made. The employee must also be given a reasonable opportunity to ask questions, present evidence and call relevant witnesses. They must also be given an opportunity to raise points about any information 6 P age
provided by witnesses. Where an employer or employee intends to call relevant witnesses they must give advance notice that they intend to do this. Allow the employee to be accompanied at the hearing This policy gives workers the right to be accompanied by a companion at each stage of the process. The chosen companion may be a fellow worker, a trade union representative, or an official employed by a trade union. A trade union representative who is not an employed official must have been certified by their union as being competent to accompany a worker. Employees must make a reasonable request to be accompanied and what is reasonable will depend on the circumstances of each individual case. However, it would not normally be reasonable for workers to insist on being accompanied by a companion whose presence would prejudice the hearing nor would it be reasonable for a worker to ask to be accompanied by a companion from a remote geographical location if someone suitable and willing was available on site. Nor would it be reasonable for the worker to delay proceedings because their chosen companion was not available within 10 working days of the original meeting. The companion must be allowed to address the hearing to put and sum up the worker s case, respond on behalf of the worker to any views expressed at the hearing and confer with the worker during the hearing. The companion does not, however, have the right to answer questions on the worker s behalf, address the hearing if the worker does not wish it or prevent the employer from explaining their case. Decide on appropriate action After the hearing decide whether or not disciplinary or any other action is justified and inform the employee accordingly in writing. If an employee s first misconduct or unsatisfactory performance is sufficiently serious, it may be appropriate to move directly to a final written warning. This might occur where the employee s actions have had, or are liable to have, a serious or harmful impact on the organisation. A first or final written warning must set out the nature of the misconduct and the change in behaviour (with timescale). The employee must be told how long the warning will remain current. The employee must be informed of the consequences of further misconduct within the set period following a final warning. For instance that it may result in dismissal or some other contractual penalty such as demotion or loss of seniority. A decision to dismiss must only be taken by a manager who has the authority to do so. The employee must be informed as soon as possible of the reasons for the dismissal, the date on which the employment contract will end, the appropriate period of notice and their right of appeal. Some acts, termed gross misconduct, are so serious in themselves or have such serious consequences that they may call for dismissal without notice for a first offence. A fair disciplinary process must always be followed, before dismissing for gross misconduct. Examples of acts considered gross misconduct are listed below; however this list is not exhaustive: theft, bribery or fraud physical violence or bullying 7 P age
deliberate and serious damage to property serious misuse of an organisation s property or name deliberately accessing internet sites containing pornographic, offensive or obscene material serious insubordination unlawful discrimination or harassment bringing the organisation into serious disrepute serious incapability at work brought on by alcohol or illegal drugs causing loss, damage or injury through serious negligence a serious breach of health and safety rules a serious breach of confidence Where an employee is persistently unable or unwilling to attend a disciplinary meeting or hearing without good cause the employer will make a decision on the evidence available. Provide employees with an opportunity to appeal Where an employee feels that disciplinary action taken against them is wrong or unjust they should appeal against the decision. Appeals must be heard within 15 working days and ideally at an agreed time and place. Employees must let employers know the grounds for their appeal in writing within 15 working days of receiving the decision letter. The appeal must be dealt with impartially, by a manager who has not previously been involved in the case. Workers have a statutory right to be accompanied at appeal hearings. Following an appeal the original decision may be confirmed, revoked or replaced with a different decision. The final decision will be confirmed in writing, within 5 working days of the appeal meeting. There will be no further right of appeal. The date that any dismissal takes effect will not be delayed pending the outcome of an appeal. However, if the appeal is successful, the decision to dismiss will be revoked with no loss of continuity or pay. Special cases No action will be taken against a trade union representative/official of a recognised trade union or professional association, until the initial circumstances have been discussed with a full time officer/senior official of the union/association concerned. If an employee is charged with, or convicted of a criminal offence, consideration needs to be given to what effect the charge or conviction has on the employee s suitability to do the job and their relationship with their employer, work colleagues and patients. Equality Statement In applying this policy, the organisation will have a due regard for the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and provide for good relations between people of diverse groups. In particular on the grounds of the following characteristics protected by the Equality Act (2010); age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, in addition to offending background, trade union membership or any other personal characteristic. 8 P age