Bit of background: DH works for a contractor who is employed by the military. Every few years the military puts the contract out for renewal, and if the contractor changes, all the employees are automatically switched over to the new contractor and they are all guaranteed to keep their current jobs, pay, working conditions etc under TUPE.
Last year the contractor changed. The new one has issues. They keep trying to change things, drop benefits, deny holidays. There have been a series of letters going back and forth between the employees' solicitor and the contractor, trying to sort out the mess. 90% of the current employees have not yet signed their contract, as so many clauses in it are wrong.
Things are a bit fraught.
A mass email was sent to all employees, requesting their presence at a meeting. The date for the meeting was ridiculously wrong - for example, the letter is dated 1 June 2014 and states the meeting is on 15 May 22104. Not only the wrong year (which could be a typo) but the actual day/month was earlier than the letter date.
DH replied something along the lines of, "sorry I won't be attending as I don't think I'll be available in 20150 years 11 months and five days. Assuming you meant XX date instead, I won't be available then either as I am (away working at a different area for the same contractor)".
He's just been handed a notice of a disciplinary hearing for this Friday, where they intend to give him a formal written warning to be placed on his file. The offence is "not giving due respect" or similar wording.
Fair enough, it was cheeky. But it was meant to be amusing. I think the main part of the problem was that his reply (as was everyone's) was sent to the whole list - so every other employee saw it.
Should he just go, accept the warning, and remember never to try and be funny again? Or does he have any kind of chance of fighting it?
The other (minor) issue is that the notice of the disciplinary hearing has some details wrong - they "quote" his reply to their mass email, but have the wrong dates - the wrong wrong dates, if that makes sense.
Also, can he request a delay as they've only given him two days notice which isn't really time to get any kind of professional legal advice?