Managing disciplinary procedures and dismissals can be challenging for any business. If the right approach isn’t taken, these situations can lead to costly legal disputes, damage to your company’s reputation and a negative impact on team morale.
That’s why Vero HR provides expert support and guidance to help you handle these sensitive matters and navigate complex employment issues with confidence and compliance. From misconduct to performance issues, our experienced, professional HR team can help you manage the disciplinary process from start to finish.
HR Disciplinary Procedures Services
Drafting disciplinary policies
The team at Vero HR will help you draft clear and precise disciplinary policies that contribute to a fair and transparent workplace. We’ll work closely with you to ensure your disciplinary policies are not only legally compliant but also reflect the values of your company, helping your employees to understand the expected standards and the consequences of any infringements.
Conducting investigations
It’s vital that thorough and impartial investigations are held if and when disciplinary issues arise. We offer practical and fair support to ensure investigations are rigorously conducted. We’ll help plan and structure your investigation, gathering and documenting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and collecting all the relevant information, always maintaining impartiality and objectivity.
Disciplinary hearings
Disciplinary hearings are a critical part of the HR disciplinary process, and we’ll guide you through the procedure ensuring that matters are handled fairly whilst maintaining legal compliance. We’ll ensure the hearing is conducted in accordance with your disciplinary policies and employment law, including advising on who should be present and the appropriate way to reach a decision.
HR Dismissal Process Services
Advising on grounds for dismissal
We’ll help you identify appropriate grounds for dismissal, whether it’s for gross misconduct, capability issues, redundancy or another legitimate reason. We’ll assist in gathering and evaluating evidence to support your decision and explore any potential alternatives, such as redeployment or additional training and development.
Following dismissal procedures
Even when the grounds for dismissal are clear, it’s important that the proper procedures are followed for dismissal. We’ll support you through employment tribunals and disciplinary hearings, ensuring matters are conducted fairly, objectively, and with the proper records kept. We can also help you manage the appeal process, ensuring it’s handled impartially and in line with best practices and legal requirements.
Drafting settlement agreements
In some cases, a settlement agreement can be an effective way to conclude employment, offering a clean break for both parties. We can help you to manage settlement agreements so they’re fair and mutually beneficial, including negotiating financial settlements, reference terms, and confidentiality clauses. We’ll ensure your agreement is comprehensive and legally binding, protecting your business from any further liabilities.
It is not legally required for HR to be present in a disciplinary hearing, but it is usually considered to be best practice to involve an HR representative. If HR is not present, there is a higher risk of not following disciplinary procedures properly and also not documenting the hearing correctly, which could lead to legal vulnerabilities for the business.
HR ensures fairness and compliance throughout a disciplinary hearing, reassuring all parties that the process is being managed transparently. An HR representative will provide a neutral, impartial perspective, which helps to keep the hearing objective. They will know the correct procedures and can guide the hearing chair to keep in line with company policies and employment law. In addition, HR will play a key role in documenting the hearing, taking notes and keeping a clear record of what was discussed and decided, so it can be referred back to in the future.
HR can support line managers by providing guidance on disciplinary procedures, ensuring processes are compliant with employment law, and offering advice for fair and consistent decision-making. HR can help to prepare documents, conduct investigations, gather evidence and be present during disciplinary hearings to make sure it’s handled properly and impartially.
At Vero HR, as well as prodiving practical support and guidance throughout a disciplinary prodeure, we can also provide training for line managers to help build confidence and competency in handling disiplinary matters.
Dismissing an employee is a complex process and it’s vital procedures are carried out properly to keep things fair and legal. Vero HR can help you to navigate employee dismissal sensitively and objectively, from identifying a legally fair reason for dismissal to disciplinary hearings, appeals, and employment termination. We’ll ensure company policies and employment law and adhered to throughout the process, keeping matters fair and consistent.
An employee can be dismissed without warning in cases where there has been gross misconduct, such as theft, violence, or other illegal activity. However, even in these extreme cases procedures must still be followed. Evidence should be collected and provided, and the employee must be given a chance to respond before a final decision is made. Vero HR can assist you with following the correct HR disciplinary actions to ensure matters are handled fairly and legally.
