We are recognised by the recommendation website Three Best Rated as one of the top three employment law firms in Bristol.
Patch Law
Station Road Workshops
Station Road
Kingswood
Bristol
BS15 4PJ
Patch Law is a law firm authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Disciplinaries
Are you facing a disciplinary hearing?
This is most likely to respond to misconduct allegations, but can also be due to concerns about your performance or because of your absence from work.
Whatever the reason, the prospect of losing your job is worrying and distressing, and it is important to get swift expert advice on handling the process.
Thank you so much for your help and, in particular, the speed at which you dealt with this matter.
Care Home Manager
Bristol
Misconduct
It may be reasonable for your employer to suspend you on full pay, depending on the nature and seriousness of the allegations and to enable a full investigation to take place. You may be required to have an investigation meeting: this may happen before or after any suspension. The employer is not obliged to give advance notice or this or provide full information, documents or other evidence at this stage.
If your employer decides that there is a case to answer, and assuming your employer is complying with the ACAS Code of Practice (and it should!), then you will receive a letter prior to a Disciplinary Hearing setting out the allegations against you. They should also supply the evidence that will be relied on and letting you know the possible outcome of the hearing, for example a particular level of warning or dismissal, depending on the seriousness of the allegations and whether you already have unexpired warnings on your file.
The most serious allegations may be regarded as ‘Gross misconduct’. This may result in summary dismissal (termination of your employment without notice), but this should only happen after a hearing at which you have had an opportunity to understand the allegations and evidence and to state your case.
I hope I don't find myself in this situation again, but if I was I would use you again. Thanks for helping me navigate this situation.
Display Director
London
Performance
Your employer may think you are not doing your job well enough. Depending on the employer, this may be dealt with under the disciplinary procedure or a performance management or capability procedure. Disciplinary ‘warnings’ are sometimes called ‘cautions’ in a performance procedure. The employer’s complaints about inadequate performance may or may not be justified, and may depend on whether you have received sufficient training, and whether you have sufficient resources and support to fulfil your duties, some of which may not be within your control.
Gillian immediately grasped the details of my situation and advised me accordingly, even though I was feeling rather stressed and therefore unable to express myself very coherently at a difficult time. Extremely prompt communications and excellent value for money. I have already recommended Patch Law to a friend for their excellent service.
Head of Policy
South Gloucestershire
Absence
Sickness absence, whether several short absences or a longer term single period of absence, may trigger a formal meeting under the employer’s attendance/absence management procedure. A few employers use their disciplinary procedure, although recognising that sickness absence, unlike misconduct, is not an employee’s fault.
Nonetheless, ‘capability’ (which includes ill health as well as performance) is a potentially fair reason for dismissal. A long term condition may be regarded as a disability, triggering the employer’s ‘duty to make reasonable adjustments’ under the Equality Act 2010.
- It is nearly always a good idea to take someone with you to a formal meeting which may result in a warning or termination of your employment.
- You have a statutory right to be accompanied by a trade union representative or a work colleague. In certain circumstances your employer may extend this to a family member or friend (but very unlikely a solicitor!).
- It can be very useful to have someone present during the meeting – as well as being a companion to support you, you should ask them to take notes for you and they may also be able to act as a witness if required in the future.
I want to thank you for your time to listen to me, the interest you have shown and the excellent guidance you have offered to me.
Head of Project Management
Wiltshire
What can you do to protect your position?
- Prepare thoroughly by:
- Obtaining and reading the disciplinary procedure,
- carefully reading the allegations in the letter, and
- looking at the evidence your employer provides;
- Consider whether there are any witnesses or other evidence that you think your employer should take into account;
- Attend the hearing, taking in a prepared written statement (this avoids important points being forgotten or left out of the notes);
- Take a companion;
- Appeal if you believe you have been unfairly sanctioned or dismissed.
The advice I received was very clear and simple to understand, but more importantly, honest and frank, allowing me to understand clearly my position. Gillian was excellent from start to finish and extremely personable to deal with, but also clearly very experienced which gave me confidence throughout the process that she was always acting with my best intentions and position at heart. Thanks for all your help. You have been brilliant.
Operations Manager
Bristol
How can we help?
Our experienced solicitors are well-placed to advise you on your particular circumstances. We will give you honest, impartial advice about your situation, including letting you know at an early stage as to the strength or weakness of your position.
If there is time, taking advice from us as soon as you know that you will be facing a disciplinary hearing can be very beneficial , so that you can be best equipped to prepare and deal with the hearing.
We can help you:
- Understand your employer’s Disciplinary or other formal procedure (e.g. capability, attendance management);
- Draft statements for hearings;
- Navigate through the Disciplinary process, including the Hearing;
- Appeal – including drafting appeal letters and statements, and tips on how to handle the Appeal Hearing;
- Initiate or Respond to ‘Without Prejudice’ settlement proposals and negotiations;
- Decide whether to issue proceedings in the Employment Tribunal. Strict time limits apply to such claims.
If ever the situation arises, we will always refer people to your superb, knowledgeable and professional services. We are eternally grateful.
Site Warden
Devon
You have given me a glimmer of hope in what seems a very black hole. You are like my guardian angel! You have given me the strength to keep going with this whole horrible situation.
Teacher
Dorset
If you have already been dismissed, you may have one or more claims that you can take to an Employment Tribunal, including Unfair Dismissal, and we can advise you on the merits of these and how to take the matter forward.
Thanks Gillian for a great service and sticking to a fixed price agreement.
Deputy Director
Bristol
Many new employee clients take advantage of our Initial Advice service for quick, pragmatic and cost-effective advice.
For immediate employment law advice please either call us on 0117 290 0905 or complete a Free Online Enquiry and we will soon be in touch with you.
This is fantastic news - what a great sense of relief I feel! I would like to say a huge thank you for all your help and kind support through out this matter, like I said to you before I am so glad that I chose you to deal with this affair.
Sales Executive
Bristol
Get in touch
If you need help with an employment law issue then please don't hesitate to contact us. An initial enquiry is free and without obligation.
Call us on 0117 290 0905 or fill out the form below and we will contact you within 24 hours.
When your form is submitted you will receive an automatic email from Patch Law confirming receipt.
Why choose us?
- Expert and Practical Advice
You Can Trust - Prompt and Friendly Service
- Consistently Positive
Client Feedback
Some of our Google reviews
Very easy to deal with, efficient in returning calls and emails. Were very professional and helped me to understand the implications of the settlement agreement I was signing in plain English.
Pete Wonnacott11/14/2019
Gillian is professional and knowledgeable whilst being empathetic.
She ensured the details that were important to me were addressed and resolved.
I would highly recommend the services of Patch Law for employment issues.
Claire Turner12/05/2019
I used Patch Law to help me with a Schedule of Loss needed for a Tribunal hearing They were very speedy about gathering all the info they needed and I had phone calls to clarify details. I felt supported and reassured and received guidance from Gillian as to where I might gauge any offer made to me by the Respondent. All in all a good experience in what has been a stressful time for me.
Caroline Hobbs6/08/2020
Disciplinaries
and Dismissals
- advice for
employees
Are you facing a disciplinary hearing?
This is most likely to respond to misconduct allegations, but can also be due to concerns about your performance or because of your absence from work.
Whatever the reason, the prospect of losing your job is worrying and distressing, and it is important to get swift expert advice on handling the process.
Thank you so much for your help and, in particular, the speed at which you dealt with this matter.
Care Home Manager
Bristol
Misconduct
It may be reasonable for your employer to suspend you on full pay, depending on the nature and seriousness of the allegations and to enable a full investigation to take place. You may be required to have an investigation meeting: this may happen before or after any suspension. The employer is not obliged to give advance notice or this or provide full information, documents or other evidence at this stage.
If your employer decides that there is a case to answer, and assuming your employer is complying with the ACAS Code of Practice (and it should!), then you will receive a letter prior to a Disciplinary Hearing setting out the allegations against you. They should also supply the evidence that will be relied on and letting you know the possible outcome of the hearing, for example a particular level of warning or dismissal, depending on the seriousness of the allegations and whether you already have unexpired warnings on your file.
The most serious allegations may be regarded as ‘Gross misconduct’. This may result in summary dismissal (termination of your employment without notice), but this should only happen after a hearing at which you have had an opportunity to understand the allegations and evidence and to state your case.
I hope I don't find myself in this situation again, but if I was I would use you again. Thanks for helping me navigate this situation.
Display Director
London
Performance
Your employer may think you are not doing your job well enough. Depending on the employer, this may be dealt with under the disciplinary procedure or a performance management or capability procedure. Disciplinary ‘warnings’ are sometimes called ‘cautions’ in a performance procedure. The employer’s complaints about inadequate performance may or may not be justified, and may depend on whether you have received sufficient training, and whether you have sufficient resources and support to fulfil your duties, some of which may not be within your control.
Gillian immediately grasped the details of my situation and advised me accordingly, even though I was feeling rather stressed and therefore unable to express myself very coherently at a difficult time. Extremely prompt communications and excellent value for money. I have already recommended Patch Law to a friend for their excellent service.
Head of Policy
South Gloucestershire
Absence
Sickness absence, whether several short absences or a longer term single period of absence, may trigger a formal meeting under the employer’s attendance/absence management procedure. A few employers use their disciplinary procedure, although recognising that sickness absence, unlike misconduct, is not an employee’s fault.
Nonetheless, ‘capability’ (which includes ill health as well as performance) is a potentially fair reason for dismissal. A long term condition may be regarded as a disability, triggering the employer’s ‘duty to make reasonable adjustments’ under the Equality Act 2010.
- It is nearly always a good idea to take someone with you to a formal meeting which may result in a warning or termination of your employment.
- You have a statutory right to be accompanied by a trade union representative or a work colleague. In certain circumstances your employer may extend this to a family member or friend (but very unlikely a solicitor!).
- It can be very useful to have someone present during the meeting – as well as being a companion to support you, you should ask them to take notes for you and they may also be able to act as a witness if required in the future.
I want to thank you for your time to listen to me, the interest you have shown and the excellent guidance you have offered to me.
Head of Project Management
Wiltshire
What can you do to protect your position?
- Prepare thoroughly by:
- Obtaining and reading the disciplinary procedure,
- carefully reading the allegations in the letter, and
- looking at the evidence your employer provides;
- Consider whether there are any witnesses or other evidence that you think your employer should take into account;
- Attend the hearing, taking in a prepared written statement (this avoids important points being forgotten or left out of the notes);
- Take a companion;
- Appeal if you believe you have been unfairly sanctioned or dismissed.
The advice I received was very clear and simple to understand, but more importantly, honest and frank, allowing me to understand clearly my position. Gillian was excellent from start to finish and extremely personable to deal with, but also clearly very experienced which gave me confidence throughout the process that she was always acting with my best intentions and position at heart. Thanks for all your help. You have been brilliant.
Operations Manager
Bristol
How can we help?
Our experienced solicitors are well-placed to advise you on your particular circumstances. We will give you honest, impartial advice about your situation, including letting you know at an early stage as to the strength or weakness of your position.
If there is time, taking advice from us as soon as you know that you will be facing a disciplinary hearing can be very beneficial , so that you can be best equipped to prepare and deal with the hearing.
We can help you:
- Understand your employer’s Disciplinary or other formal procedure (e.g. capability, attendance management);
- Draft statements for hearings;
- Navigate through the Disciplinary process, including the Hearing;
- Appeal – including drafting appeal letters and statements, and tips on how to handle the Appeal Hearing;
- Initiate or Respond to ‘Without Prejudice’ settlement proposals and negotiations;
- Decide whether to issue proceedings in the Employment Tribunal. Strict time limits apply to such claims.
If ever the situation arises, we will always refer people to your superb, knowledgeable and professional services. We are eternally grateful.
Site Warden
Devon
You have given me a glimmer of hope in what seems a very black hole. You are like my guardian angel! You have given me the strength to keep going with this whole horrible situation.
Teacher
Dorset
If you have already been dismissed, you may have one or more claims that you can take to an Employment Tribunal, including Unfair Dismissal, and we can advise you on the merits of these and how to take the matter forward.
Thanks Gillian for a great service and sticking to a fixed price agreement.
Deputy Director
Bristol
Many new employee clients take advantage of our Initial Advice service for quick, pragmatic and cost-effective advice.
For immediate employment law advice please either call us on 0117 290 0905 or complete a Free Online Enquiry and we will soon be in touch with you.
This is fantastic news - what a great sense of relief I feel! I would like to say a huge thank you for all your help and kind support through out this matter, like I said to you before I am so glad that I chose you to deal with this affair.
Sales Executive
Bristol
Get in touch
If you need help with an employment law issue then please don't hesitate to contact us. An initial enquiry is free and without obligation.
Call us on 0117 290 0905 or fill out the form below and we will contact you within 24 hours.
When your form is submitted you will receive an automatic email from Patch Law confirming receipt.
Why choose us?
- Expert and Practical Advice
You Can Trust - Prompt and Friendly Service
- Consistently Positive
Client Feedback
Patch Law
Station Road Workshops
Station Road
Kingswood
Bristol
BS15 4PJ
Patch Law is a law firm authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under SRA number 572782.
© Copyright 2019 Gillian Patch, trading as Patch Law, or original authors. All rights reserved.
Patch Law Privacy and Transparency Notice
Complaints
Site design: StanfordGraphics
Patch Law
Station Road Workshops
Station Road
Kingswood
Bristol
BS15 4PJ
Patch Law is a law firm authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under SRA number 572782.
© Copyright 2019 Gillian Patch, trading as Patch Law, or original authors. All rights reserved.
Patch Law Privacy and Transparency Notice
Complaints
Site design: StanfordGraphics