Disiplinary and facebook

Sunshine12

If they only told you late Friday I would be inclined to tell them that as far as you are concerned "reasonable" notice has not been given and you would like the meeting postponed. Under legal terms:

Step 2: The meeting must take place before
action is taken unless suspension is involved.
The meeting must not take place unless –
(a) the employer has explained to the
employee the basis of the statement
given under Step 1.
(b) the employee has had a reasonable
opportunity to consider his or her

response to that information.

Zazen999

acebanditcat wrote: »

we have no HR department or union and i have noone other than my other half whom i can trust.
i also have no reports i can produce.

did the letter actually say what the outcome could be - did it mention a written warning, a final warning, or a dismissal at all?

acebanditcat

no doesnt say anything other than the following:

the letter says: (this is how its worded and spelt)
"You are here by invited to attend a disciplinary hearing on monday 11th january 2010 with regards to your call stat performance. The meeting will be held with myself at 8.30am in managing directors office, you are entitled to bring a witness."

Sunshine12

acebanditcat I think you seriously need to postpone meeting and contact ACAS. I dont think they have taken any guidance on this matter at all and dont think they are following the necessary steps which I can only imagine will ultimately work in your favour.

DVardysShadow

acebanditcat wrote: »

Also since the current MD has started he has ensured that various "non complying" members of staff resign though either making things impossible for them. Ironically a woman from accounts resigned on christmas eve he was so estatic and said "good ridance miserable cow" and got quite funny when i said i couldn't agree with him. when asked why i said because she's always been really helpful and never let me down and because she started work a month before me. to which he said "so does that mean your next?" and laughed.

I do hope you can postpone the hearing. But when it comes, do raise the above and not any response carefully - and ensure that it is included in your record of the hearing.

blue_monkey_2

Wow. It does sound a lovely place to work but more than anything I'd like to congratulate you on lasting 6 years, working every day with idiots like that! I think I'd have been out the door 5 years 11 months ago personally.

I've nothing to add but wanted to wish you luck. Also could not help thinking that it might be a blessing if they sack you and you can whip their backsides at a tribunal. Let us know what happens.

kirstiex

blue_monkey wrote: »

Wow. It does sound a lovely place to work but more than anything I'd like to congratulate you on lasting 6 years, working every day with idiots like that! I think I'd have been out the door 5 years 11 months ago personally.

:rotfl:Couldn't agree more ........ I would have lasted equally as long! I think it is perhaps time to find yourself a job where you will be respected in the workplace. Wot a bunch of a*******s! I know it is easier said than done in this economic climate but quite frankly you deserve better.

Where I work we do have a grievance policy which is available to all staff. It also sets out that an employee would be invited to attend an 'investigatative' (not disciplinary) meeting first to discuss the concerns and employer might have. I had to follow this for a member of staff once who misued the internet/email policy. I invited them to an investigatative meetings, stating the concerns I had, gave them a week's notice and they were offered to bring someone with them as support. The employee admitted the misuse of policy, they were given another copy of the policy to read and the notes of the meeting which basically said if they did it again they could face disciplinary action. Unfortunately for them they did breach the policy again, they were invited to the disciplinary meeting and were given a copy of all the evidence we had against them which would be discussed at the meeting. A rep from HR had to be present at the disciplinary too. Disciplinary is an unpleasant business for all (unless you like that sort of thing!) and fortunately for me the employee resigned on the morning of the hearing so I haven't had the exp to follow it through.

Fortunately for you, it sounds as though they they don't know their bums from their brains so you may stand a good stance at a tribunal. Do make sure everything that you put across at the meeting is recorded accurately - you may want to follow up the meeting with a memo if you think they can't be trusted to record the meeting accurately. You may want to ask them before the meeting formally starts, exactly what meeting this is (discciplinary or investigative) as it was not clear from the letter, nor had you seen a copy of the grievance policy or believe you had been given reasonable notice of the meeting and that you would like your concerns formally recorded. You may also wish to express your anger that this matter has not remained confidential between yourself and your manager - if they question this (and I'm sure they will!) then it the time to say you know that discussions have taken place on facebook and you have evidence to proof so (make sure you have a screen print to produce should it come to that).

It sounds to me as though they are making it up this process as they go along - I wish you the best of luck tomorrow - be strong and remember there is a better job out there for you somewhere! Don't let them walk all over you

Do let us know how you get on.

DCFC79

OP hope you get this sorted soon,

lexielou7

Hope all goes well for you tomorrow and let us know how you get on.

lex

blue_monkey_2

I kind of get the impression they are not overly bothered about 'procedures' hence them treating their employees like crap.

At the end of the day you spend more time at work than you do at home and you'd not live with a boyfriend for 6 years who never spoke to you and treated you like crap. You should really enjoy going into work and it sounds like you do not.