Disciplinary tomorrow advice

[Leeem]

I've a disciplinary tomorrow and I've emailed the company to ask my deputy manager to accompany me and they still haven't advise if he is going

I'm unsure on the outcome however I know I am innocent I feel the company want me out of the business- I've been there 4 yrs and I'm not in a union and I have a clean record.

When did you send this email?

Did the person you emailed actually respond and say yes they would ask your deputy manager if he/she would accompany you? That would be unusual. Usually if you want someone to accompany you, it's up to you to ask that person and then tell whoever is in charge of the disciplinary hearing that you are bringing someone and who you're bringing.

What time is the hearing? I suggest if possible you speak to this person directly this morning and ask if they are prepared to accompany you. If they are not able to or don't want to, you could try asking for a postponement so that you have time to arrange an alternative colleague to accompany you, but really you need to take responsibility for arranging to be accompanied yourself.

What's the accusation? If you are "innocent" can you demonstrate that?

You should have a copy of your company's disciplinary procedure - have a read of it and make sure your company follows the procedure fairly (it should also advise on the right to be accompanied).

The hearing itself must include an opportunity for the company to hear your account of what's happened. They should not, for example, have made their mind up prior to the meeting, and time should be spent after the meeting considering what action, if any, they need to take, before notifying you. You should also have the opportunity to appeal a decision you do not regard as fair.

As flowery says - speak directly to the deputy manager, and request a postponement if they can't come.

All the best.

I think that if you don't manage to find someone to accompany you, that you will be asked at the outset of the hearing if you are happy to proceed without a "representative". If you've not managed to find anyone by that time, then say "No I am not happy to proceed. I want a representative." At the very least that will have to be minuted and if its against company policy (definitely go through their disciplinary policy very very carefully) to proceed with a hearing when you have said you wish to be accompanied by a colleague, then you will have some ammunition against them for not following the correct procedure.

You say you're not in a union, but some union reps are still happy to come to hearings with you even if you're not in the union - worth a try.

If you feel you want to ask for the meeting to be postponed until you have found someone to accompany you - email the request and make sure you keep a copy - more possible ammunition.

How much notice of the disciplinary were you given and when did you email asking the deputy to accompany you?