Disciplinary Hearings
This is an aspect of employment law that has undergone some changes in recent years. Your employer should have a written procedure setting out policy and procedure in relation to disciplinary hearings which you should read to ensure that you understand the process and that your employer follows it. This is often set out in an employment handbook and sometimes kept on the employer's intranet. It may also be in your employment contract. If you cannot find it then ask for a copy of the procedure. It is possible that your employer may not have a written procedure. If not, the general rules are that the employer should investigate the matter before deciding whether to institute a disciplinary procedure. Any meeting should be held without unreasonable delay but you should be given reasonable time to prepare. If the disciplinary meeting is at short notice, or you are ill, you can ask for it to be re-arranged (this may also be the case if you want a colleague or union representative to attend).
Preparation is very important in this area. You also need to be aware of the steps that may be taken in an investigation, particularly if you are suspended.