Disciplinary Hearings

Disciplinary proceedings occur when an employee is required to answer a case brought forward by the employer or another member of staff. The case will first be put in writing before a meeting is arranged to discuss the issue. Disciplinary hearings typically relate to the standard of work or conduct of an employee.

A business may choose to have a number of representatives at a disciplinary hearing. A senior manager, HR representative or member of the senior management team may be well placed to attend. The employee may also request the presence of a colleague, line manager, HR representative or union representative. Both parties are recommended to have legal service providers in attendance for such a matter. It is important to note that staff cannot be penalised for supporting each other in a tribunal.

A disciplinary hearing may result in anything from a formal warning or suspension to a demotion or even dismissal. If a hearing or tribunal find in favour of the employee, however, the case will be dismissed and the employee will receive no disciplinary action.

It is worth considering a number of factors when choosing a legal expert to assist with your company’s disciplinary procedures. You may wish to consider the location, reputation and cost of a firm before making your decision. As your business may require a legal service provider to attend hearings, you may wish to choose a firm based in close proximity to your business premises.

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Legal fees for dealing with a disciplinary case will vary between legal service providers. It is more than likely that you will be charged on an hourly rate for such a case due to the fact that disciplinary proceedings can vary in complexity and the resources required.