Drawing up Procedures
Good procedures to deal with disciplinary and grievance matters are important because:
- They provide a mutually beneficial framework for the employment relationship
- Disciplinary procedures should encourage improvements in individual conduct
- Grievance procedures should enable employees to raise appropriate concerns
- Good procedures make for well ordered relations
- Jersey regulations on written statements require an indication of the existence, or otherwise, of both disciplinary and grievance procedures*
What do you need to do?
- Keep the contents simple and easy to understand
- Ensure fairness of treatment at all stages
- Consult managers and employees/representatives about the procedures
- Help employees/representatives and managers to understand how the procedures work
Some of the factors which should apply in drawing up procedures:
- Be in writing
- Deal with issues speedily
- Indicate who has authority to deal with matters
- Give opportunity for individuals to present their case
- Set out the outcomes that can be expected
- Provide for a right of appeal
Many other aspects need to be covered and all procedures should be reviewed after a reasonable period in operation.
Where to go for help
- The Jersey Advisory and Conciliation Service is available to give free advice on this and all other employment relations matters.
- Code of Practice
- Model disciplinary procedure
- Model grievance procedure
- Model capability procedure
*The Written Statement provisions of the Employment (Jersey) Law 2003 cover the provision of disciplinary and grievance procedures.