Leading Disciplinary Meetings and Investigations

Disciplining employees can be a daunting prospect for managers, but doing so fairly and objectively is crucial for making sure that your employees meet the standards you require. 


Organisations can face a wide range of disciplinary issues, from relatively minor problems like poor timekeeping and excessive chatting to more serious problems such as bullying and harassment, theft, fraud or the misuse of company equipment. If left unaddressed, even minor issues can have a profound impact on productivity, morale and working relationships - so it’s essential to address them as quickly and effectively as possible.


Informal disciplinary conversations
aren’t part of an organisation’s formal disciplinary procedure - but they can be a very effective way of tackling issues at an early stage before they become more serious, with a focus on helping the employee to improve rather than imposing sanctions. This course looks at:


Common situations
where informal resolution can be effective


How to
prepare
for the conversation


Exploring your
concerns
in a constructive way


How to avoid common
pitfalls


Agreeing steps for
improvement
and
monitoring progress


Some more serious disciplinary matters may require
investigation
, and this will require the appointment of an investigator whose role it is to gather evidence, interview witnesses to the alleged misconduct and determine whether or not there is a case to answer. If the investigator decides that this is the case, there will need to be a
formal
 
disciplinary meeting
 at which the employee is present and the investigator's report into the misconduct will be presented. As chair of a formal meeting, you’ll need to ensure that you follow the correct procedure and deal with the allegations fairly and consistently. This course looks at:


When an investigation might be necessary


How to gather evidence and collect witness statements
What to include in an investigation report


How to
prepare
for a formal disciplinary meeting


Who should
attend
and what their roles are


How to

deal with the
allegations
 

What to consider when deciding an appropriate
sanction






Who this course is for:
Anyone who faces the challenge of handling disciplinary issues at work, from informal conversations to conducting investigations into more serious matters and chairing disciplinary hearings.
The course will be of particular interest to managers, team leaders and business owners.