Planning Not Prejudgment: The Use Of Scripts In Disciplinary Hearings

In the context of employment law, one of the biggest risks to employers is the, often overlooked, two-pronged nature of unfair dismissal; a need for a valid reason for dismissal and procedural fairness. The requirement to ensure fair process ensures employees are given advance notice of performance or conduct issues and opportunity and support to either turn things around, where possible, or defend themselves. To avoid the risks of failing to meet these standards, employers need to plan and implement disciplinary procedures, which include an opportunity for the employee to hear the case, respond to it and present their side. This usually takes place in the context of a formal disciplinary hearing.