Appealing a Written Warning? Advice?

[Nobodysproblem]

I was given a written warning last week, for something completely unreasonable, and that I didn't even do. They're convinced I did.

I want to appeal it but i'm scared if I appeal this- can they give me a worse outcome, like a final warning instead?

Read your staff handbook for the process for warnings and appeals. Seek advice from your union rep, if you have one.

Yes your sanction can be increased at Appeal although this is rare IMHO.

You need to set out your grounds for appeal e.g:

Employer has not followed the their own disciplinary policy and/ or the ACAS code of practice.
Insufficient or no investigation.
Not interviewing key witnesses.
Sanction is not withing reasonable range of sanctions for that type of conduct.
You were not aware that you were doing something wrong (e.g. you'd not had any guidance about it or there were no rules communicated to staff)
Someone else could have committed the misconduct.

Remember, the employer works on the principle of "Reasonable belief" (and not "beyond all reasonable doubt" like criminal courts) so you need to show that the Appeal manager cannot reasonably believe the allegations against you.

Good luck!