In any organisation it is essential that certain standards and levels of performance are maintained to ensure the smooth running of the Company and the well being of employees. The disciplinary procedure is designed to help and encourage all employees achieve and maintain acceptable standards of conduct, attendance and job performance. The aim is to ensure consistent and fair treatment for all employees.

Failure to meet standards of conduct by the employee may, initially, be brought to the employee’s attention by their Manager in informal conversations, if this is appropriate.

In cases of poor job performance, the Company may elect to discuss this informally at first with the employee concerned. The employee’s Manager would conduct this meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to establish the reasons for the poor job performance and identify and agree a mutually acceptable way forward. Such activities may include re-training, coaching or changing working procedures.

In all cases where disciplinary action is being considered, no decision will be reached and no disciplinary action will be taken, until such time as the matter has been fully investigated and the employee has been given the opportunity to state their case and to offer explanations. At all formal stages, employees have the right to be accompanied and will be given the opportunity to appeal against any disciplinary action taken.

Depending on the seriousness of the case, the disciplinary procedure may be entered into at any of the stages outlined below. In certain circumstances, the Company reserves the right to not follow the disciplinary procedure. Except in cases of gross misconduct, dismissal is unlikely to be the first step.

INFORMAL PROCEDURE

The Company will endeavour to deal with issues that arise with employees informally in the first instance. If an issue relating to performance or conduct arises, your Manager or a member of the management team will attempt to speak to you on the day on which the issue arises or as soon as possible thereafter. If necessary the issue may be investigated and the outcome discussed with you. A note may be placed on your file recording the meeting or outcome of any investigation or discussions, or it may be confirmed to you by letter.

Where a disciplinary meeting is to be held, employees will be given notice of the disciplinary meeting. Although this will normally be not less than twenty-four hours, circumstances may demand that a meeting is held sooner.

The employee is entitled to be accompanied at a disciplinary meeting by a fellow employee or a trade union official. If the employee’s chosen companion is not available at the time proposed for the meeting, the employee may delay the meeting provided that they propose an alternative time. The alternative time must fall within five working days of the date of the original meeting and must be at a time that is reasonable.

STAGES OF THE DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE

Stage 1 – Verbal Warning
If conduct or performance does not meet acceptable standards, employees will normally be given a formal verbal warning. A brief note of the warning will be kept on the employee’s personal file but, under normal circumstances, will become inactive after six months, subject to ongoing satisfactory conduct and performance.

Stage 2 - Written Warning
If there is a repetition of an offence (for which a verbal warning has been given), or the offence is a more serious one, a Written Warning will be given. The employee will receive a letter recording the nature and outcome of the disciplinary meeting. This will give details of the complaint, the improvements required and, if appropriate, the time scales for review. It will warn that action under Stage 3 will be considered if there is no satisfactory improvement and will advise of the right to appeal. A copy of this warning will be held on the employee’s personal file but, under normal circumstances, will become inactive after 12 months, subject to ongoing satisfactory conduct and performance.

Stage 3 - Final Written Warning
If there is a failure to improve conduct or performance is still unsatisfactory, or if the misconduct is sufficiently serious to warrant only one written warning, a Final Written Warning will be given. Again this will give details of the complaint, will warn that dismissal will result if there is no satisfactory improvement, and will advise of the right to appeal. A copy of this warning will be held on the employee’s personal file but, under normal circumstances, will become inactive after 12 months, subject to ongoing satisfactory conduct and performance.

Warnings will be recorded on the employee’s file but will be disregarded for disciplinary purposes after the stated periods, subject to continuous satisfactory conduct or performance, unless otherwise stated in warning letters. In exceptional circumstances, where repeated poor conduct or poor performance could not be tolerated in the future, the Company reserves the right to place written warnings on file for a longer period. In such cases employees will be advised of this.

Stage 4 – Dismissal
If conduct or performance is still unsatisfactory and the employee fails to reach the prescribed standards, dismissal will normally result. This will first be discussed with the employee. The decision will then be confirmed in writing, detailing the person to whom any appeal should be made.

SUSPENSION

In certain circumstances an employee may be suspended from work pending further investigation. Suspension will normally be with pay. However, the Company may reserve the right to suspend without pay or on reduced pay where there are serious allegations which may amount to gross misconduct or where the disciplinary procedure is delayed through no fault of the Company. During any period of suspension, you will not attend the Company’s premises, contact any employees, associates, clients or suppliers, except with the prior consent of the Board of Directors. Access to IT, Company premises, clients or suppliers, employees or associates may be restricted or withdrawn during any period of suspension.

GROSS MISCONDUCT

Generally, gross misconduct includes any serious breach of conduct or duty which brings the Company into disrepute, or actions that are inconsistent with the relationship of trust and fidelity required between the Company and its employees. If the Company, after conducting a full investigation, is satisfied that gross misconduct has occurred, the result will normally be instant dismissal without notice or a payment in lieu of notice.

The following list, which is not exhaustive, outlines the offences normally regarded as gross misconduct. Theft; fraud; deliberate falsification of records, expense claims, timesheets or other documentation; making untrue statements with the intent of deceiving or defrauding; fighting or assault on another person; being on Company premises under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs; deliberate damage to property; unauthorised absence; breach of the Business Ethics and Anti-Bribery Policy; serious acts of insubordination; misuse of Company property; breach of the No Smoking Policy; communicating confidential information outside of the Company; any violation of Health and Safety rules; breach of social media policy; breach of the bullying and harassment policy and non-compliance with the Company’s policy on equal opportunities.

RIGHT OF APPEAL AND APPEAL PROCEDURE

At the conclusion of the Disciplinary Procedure all employees have the right to appeal against any disciplinary action taken against them. Employees have the right to be accompanied by a fellow employee or trade union official at appeal meetings. The Appeal Procedure is outlined below.

APPEAL AGAINST A WARNING
• An appeal against disciplinary action must be made in writing within five working days of the disciplinary action
• An appeal against a warning should be made in writing to a Director stating the reasons for non-acceptance of the warning. A nominated Director will then fully review the facts
• The employee will be asked to attend an appeal meeting with the nominated Director, within five working days
• The employee will be informed of the decision in writing within five working days of the meeting.

APPEAL AGAINST DISMISSAL
• An appeal against dismissal should be made in writing to a Director within five working days
• A full review of the facts will be carried out and the employee invited to attend an appeal meeting
• The employee will be informed of the decision in writing within five working days of the meeting. The Director’s decision is final.

OVERLAPPING DISCIPLINARY AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

If an employee wishes to raise a grievance during a disciplinary process, the Company reserves the right to deal with both issues concurrently. The employee will be informed in writing of how the Company will be handling their individual circumstances and should be aware that any disciplinary decision may not be delayed.