grievance hearing, who to take

Dick_Van_Dyke

At the end of the day what does not having a companion mean?
Mainly you need to take your notes yourself and be more on the mark with disputing any minutes discrepancies.

The fact you took someone intimidating and I strongly suspect this was deliberate from what you have posted has meant you are unlikely to get to choose anyone outwith the statutory pool now. Although you lose nothing by asking.

Alternatively ask the employer if they would be willing to nominate a few colleagues to attend with you and make it clear to the colleague you choose they are simply there to take your notes and will not be in anyway prejudiced by attending.

missprice

!!!!!!_Van_Dyke wrote: »

At the end of the day what does not having a companion mean?
its very scary on your own the other side has 2 people and theres a reason your allowed to take someone
Mainly you need to take your notes yourself and be more on the mark with disputing any minutes discrepancies.
agree and will prob record what i can on mobile, can dispute stuff later

The fact you took someone intimidating and I strongly suspect this was deliberate from what you have posted has meant you are unlikely to get to choose anyone outwith the statutory pool now. Although you lose nothing by asking.
he is my boss in a different job and he works with children so if kids are not scared of him why should the company be? i suspect its because they want to delay until nothing else can be done

Alternatively ask the employer if they would be willing to nominate a few colleagues to attend with you and make it clear to the colleague you choose they are simply there to take your notes and will not be in anyway prejudiced by attending.

good idea and will try that, as its easier than trying to convince someone that there job is safe plus i will get done for harrasment if i carry on badgering people (JOKE)

good points DVD

did you read my last post, the companion can in fact speak at the hearing, and if nec put the case forward.
thats news to me and good news

emmell

The mere fact that you raised a grievance on your own, and not backed by any work colleagues, surely means that you can stand on your own in a meeting.
My son had to attend a disiplinary hearing a couple of years ago, he chose to go in on his own. He was suspended on full pay, this is the worst thing they could have done because he treated it as extra holidays. I think he was thought of very highly by his Dept. Manager,
so much so he got promoted while on suspension (I've never heard of that before) but he is a very confident individual and not scared to speak his mind.
So I suggest, if you've had the guts to speak out, have the guts to stand up for yourself.
ML.

missprice

emmell wrote: »

The mere fact that you raised a grievance on your own, and not backed by any work colleagues, surely means that you can stand on your own in a meeting.
My son had to attend a disiplinary hearing a couple of years ago, he chose to go in on his own. He was suspended on full pay, this is the worst thing they could have done because he treated it as extra holidays. I think he was thought of very highly by his Dept. Manager,
so much so he got promoted while on suspension (I've never heard of that before) but he is a very confident individual and not scared to speak his mind.
So I suggest, if you've had the guts to speak out, have the guts to stand up for yourself.
ML.

thank you emmell

is there a time when you did this?
what did you do to stop the nerves showing?
how well did you get your point across?

just for further info many others have offered to go with me, ex employees of the same company included just not a useful person

i am ok speaking up for myself in normal situations, but this is not normal for me, its the first grievance i have ever made.its therefore scary

DVardysShadow

I think you need to dig your heels in a little. You have a right to a companion. But if all of the acceptable candidates to the employer are not willing, it means that the employer can deny you your rights by intimidation. So, I would suggest you email all candidates employed by the company who you would trust and ask them. When you get a resounding silence, you at least have some form of evidence that you did ask for a companion. And then you go to the hearing, ask for an adjournment and for your preferred companion to be allowed to attend.

I don't know where it goes from there, But don't get bounced into going in alone if you don't want to, just keep the grievance on the table.

emmell

It was my son who had the disciplinary but my Husband took advice from his companies solicitors and they said he would have to either take in a union rep or a fellow employee but he chose to go on his own. He has no nerves whatsoever, as a matter of fact he's a bit big headed and know it all (so he thinks). That's what got him into trouble in the first place, there was no excuse for what he did except for the amount of hours he had been working and the fact he needed to chill (a shortage of staff had him working days, nights, weekends), he needed time out and the suspension on full pay gave him the time he needed. I personally think he was lucky to not lose his job, but he was confident all along that they wouldn't get rid of him. For a 23year old (at the time) he was very wise but hot headed, but he knew, and still knows that they struggle without him.
I think the best thing to do is go in on you own, be confident and listen to what they are saying, put your point across without being confrontational and remember they are no better than you. They are paid to do a job just like you are.
ML.

viktory

missprice wrote: »

my problem still remains that no one from the company on that site will go with me,and i dont know anyone else on another site they are too scared of losing thier job, nothing i say can change thier mind.
they also wont band with me, we all have the same manager (but that was a fab suggestion

I fully understand your frustration as my husband had exactly the same problem - despite the fact the management were treating all staff badly no one other than him was prepared to stand up to them. He has attended all the meetings alone, and I have written several letters on his behalf. My husband's company are tying themselves up in knots, as they don't have a clue, which is quite amusing.

missprice

will be arranging the new grievance meeting today, for early next week
will give them a list of people that will go with me (all officially unsuitablle)
and they can say if they dont want any

if none ok i shall attend on my own, have decided it now makes no difference to me and if i give up now then all the other staff will have to put up with the behaviour forever.

ACAS say if they really wont let anyone come with me, there will be a case to answer for as its more bullying, but i should just try and attend on my own if none of the others are allowed, and make it clear in the meeting that i am attending alone and why

will be taking stuff from ACAS website that says companion is in fact allowed to speak at meeting.
company may just realise they should have continued on tues cos it would all be over with now

thanks to you all for the brilliant suggestions and anecdotes
cross your fingers for me,

emmell

Fingers well and truly crossed.
ML.