Work disciplinary meeting

mo82_2

Hi everyone, just looking for some advice.

My friend has a disciplinary meeting coming up for :
Refusing a reasonable request
Not wearing the correct PPE

He's admitted to both the allegations in his statement and gave his reasons. He has been working there for about 15 months through the agency.

In the letter for the disciplinary meeting with the agency manager it does say on there it could lead to summary dismissal. What would be the best strategy for him in the meeting. Defend his actions or admit his mistake and plead for his job?

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Tahlullah

What was the reasonable request he refused and why?

iammumtoone

why was he not wearing the correct PPE I can't think of any reason you could defend this with.

Some people have to wear special PPE due to medical requirements but even if the special equipment is not available this does not allow them to go into areas it should be worn, the correct procedure in this instance is to inform supervisor/HR you can't enter those areas and it is down to the company to find you work you can do until such time your needed equipment is available or to send you home (its normally the former even if this means filling in the office)

mo82_2

He was asked by the team leader to do a job on another section. He didn't explicitly refuse but told the team leader someone else is already on the job and they should be doing it. He felt the other person wasn't pulling their weight and the team leader was making him do their work.

mo82_2

He wasn't wearing the specific PPE because nobody else including the team leaders wore it when they were in that section.

robatwork

mo82 wrote: »

He wasn't wearing the specific PPE because nobody else including the team leaders wore it when they were in that section.

Yes this is the "speeding" defence. When you're done for speeding by the police and you say "everyone else was speeding too". Guess what? You're still guilty and get the points.

Pleading is the only option.

ohreally

iammumtoone wrote: »

why was he not wearing the correct PPE I can't think of any reason you could defend this with.

There is a hierarchy of control measures, PPE is always the last resort but many make it the first and stop there.

Op, what was the PPE? What control measures beside PPE did the assessment identify?

xapprenticex

Sounds like he got a little too comfortable there. He can say what he wants, if his previous attitude has made his managers not want him then they wont have him.

iammumtoone

ohreally wrote: »

There is a hierarchy of control measures, PPE is always the last resort but many make it the first and stop there.

I think that depands on the industry you are working in and the extent to what not wearing PPE could effect ie just yourself, your collegues or the customer.

mo82_2

ohreally wrote: »

There is a hierarchy of control measures, PPE is always the last resort but many make it the first and stop there.

Op, what was the PPE? What control measures beside PPE did the assessment identify?

The PPE was a safety hat for that particular section. He was only there for a couple of minutes since he wasn't working there and also wore all the other necessary PPE required.

xapprenticex

mo82 wrote: »

What would be the best strategy for him in the meeting. Defend his actions or admit his mistake and plead for his job?

To answer the question, He has no rights plus he is temp agency staff. There is no point going over PPE and the rest of it.

He best bet is to pretend to be sorry as i get the impression he is not (defending his actions wouldn't be an option otherwise) and plead for his job.

Like i said, if the company tell the agency they don't want him then it doesn't matter what he says. If he does somehow manage to keep his job then he had better start listening to the hand that feeds him.

But he should also realise that he has pretty much destroyed the chance of getting a permanent role at that company, so if he is looking for that, he will have to go elsewhere and learn from his mistakes.