Managing Disciplinary and Grievances

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Managing Disciplinary and Grievances
Every business needs to have managers who are able to deal with disciplinary issues and grievance issues in the workplace effectively. Poor management of discipline, grievances and dismissal can be very costly in time, money and damage to employee relations. A thorough understanding of the legal environment, including how to apply the law correctly, is essential for good management.
Ensuring your people know what is expected of them and the rules within which they operate is key to getting the best results from your employees. Achieving this focus and helping others in the workplace understand this perspective is very important.
Who the course is for
This course is suitable HR and personnel professionals, employee relations managers, directors and senior managers, business owner, line managers, supervisors, anyone involved in managing staff and need to have a grasp of discipline, grievance, investigations, hearings and appeals. They are fundamental in helping to promote orderly employment relations at work as well as fairness and consistency in the treatment of individuals.
We have a range of one to three day courses, which will depend on the need of the organisation and the level on management taking the course.

Course Content
By the end of this session you will have an understanding of what discipline and grievance means and see the benefits of good practice, especially when it comes to dismissing someone and how the ACAS Code of Practice and the law underpins the whole process. This session includes practical exercises with role-play and case studies, which encourage delegates to share ideas and experiences, in a confidential environment.
Course Outline
Introduction and background to grievances & discipline
- The employment law environment
- Contractual and statutory contexts
- The ACAS Code of Practice and guidance
A focus on grievance procedures
- What is a grievance?
- Handling grievances quickly and fairly
- Conducting grievance interviews and the right to be accompanied
A focus on disciplinary procedures
- When does a disciplinary situation arise?
- Examining the disciplinary process and procedures: a best practice overview
- The investigation: a comprehensive, structured approach
- Formal disciplinary hearings: an overview
- Using documentation: effective warning letters
- Role play: conduct an investigatory meeting when represented by a trade union rep
Key aspects of dismissal law
- The basics of dismissal: 'wrongful', 'unfair' and 'constructive'
- Statutory reasons for dismissal
- Considering essential elements of unfair dismissals
- What are fair reasons for dismissal?
- Fairness: the essence of 'reasonableness'
- Examining automatically unfair dismissals and group dismissals
- Role play: disciplinary appeal hearing, presenting the investigation report
Alternative processes
- Formal or informal
- Mediation
- Settlement agreements
Employment tribunal claims
- What are the current tribunal rules?
- An overview of terminology and forms
- The cost regime