Law Updates

 

Workers' Right to be Accompanied

All workers now have the right to be accompanied, in most circumstances, at disciplinary and grievance hearings.

The right applies to any disciplinary hearing where disciplinary action is a possible outcome and to any grievance hearing where the employer's legal duties towards the worker are involved.  It is for the worker to request to be accompanied, but we advise employers to draw a worker's attention to that right in order for the employer to avoid subsequent problems. The right applies to all workers, whether employees or otherwise and to full and part-time workers.

The person who accompanies the worker may be a fellow worker or a trade union official at the discretion of the worker, even if the trade union concerned is not recognised by the employer.

Refusal to allow such accompanyment gives the worker the right to complain to an Employment Tribunal.