Disciplinaries at Work

[Moomin1]

I was told on Dec 9th that I may be facing a discipilinary at work for a few small mistakes made over the past year. It is not gross misconduct as my employer has pointed out. Anyway our work policy states that after the informal investigation the matter should progress to formal (if it is found to be necessary) within 21 days UNLESS there is a valid reason which MUST be given to the employee in question promptly.

I heard nothing whatsoever from my employer other than a few days before xmas had a voicemail to say that although he had 'tried' to sort it 'it just hadn't happened. No explanation other than that. I then carried on working until 4th Jan when I went off with work related stress, and have been since. I hadn't heard anything whatsoever about the disciplinary until the day I went off with stress, when AFTER I told my employer he then said "Oh I need to ask you a few further questions on the informal stage again, it will only take a few minutes".

Since being off with work related stress (still off now) my employers haven't contacted me at all, and all contact has been from me to them keeping them updated on sick notes. On two occassions when I have rung my employer he asked me to submit work and when I said I couldn't he said in a very abrupt manner "RIGHT THANKYOU" and hung up on me. In their policy for work related stress it says they should promptly try to figure out how best to get me back to work and address the issues. They have not done this until today, when FINALLY I had a call from a senior manager.

(Just to point out that I did tell them I was stressed on 9th December too).

Any one out there been through similar or any thoughts on whether this is an appropriate level of care/duty of care from an employer. Just also to point out they are a very large and well known organisation, so not a small company.

 

[Mrs C]

I used to be a manager and conduct these types of meetings. If a set discaplinary procedure is in place and the manager has failed to adhere, it probably wouldn't stand up. There should be an appeals process in place of anything formal takes place so you would be able to appeal then if a written warning was given. I'd appeal if this does happen as warnings tend to stay on your file for at least 6 months and can usually be stated on employers references if you decided to leave. You manager doesn't sound very empathetic to your depression so id be tempted to speak to someone senior and ask to deal with another manager who you feel comfortable with. At the end of the day, they should be supporting you and helping you get in the frame of mind to return. Good luck x

 

[Moomin1]

Thanks for your advice, I do feel they have failed in their duty of care towards me. I will definately appeal against it if it goes further. I will take my mistakes on the chin but the allegations are in relation to me not following procedure, and yet they haven't followed their own procedures!!