Croner Training

Handling disciplinary and capability issues effectively

Date	20 October 2010
Duration	1 Day
Price	GBP 649 + VAT Membership Price: 324.5 + VAT
Location	London
Venue	Rubens Hotel
Registration	9.00-9.30
Close of Seminar	5.00
Our code	35470
Also held on	16 November 2010, Manchester 17 February 2011, London

• Why you should attend this seminar
• Who should attend?
• Key benefits
• Programme
• Seminar presenter
• Quotes from past delegates
• In-house training
• Are you a Croner publications subscriber?
• A total compliance solution
• Outsourcing and event management service

Why you should attend this seminar

The Employment Act 2008 sets out revised standards for dealing with disputes in the workplace. While you as an HR professional are reasonably familiar with how disciplinary and capability issues should be dealt with, many of the people involved in your business may need further guidance if your organisation is to remove the risk of things going wrong. This one day seminar will help you understand the policies and procedures involved in disciplinary, conduct and capability issues from recognition of a problem to interview stage.

Who should attend?

• Line managers and HR staff who are required to operate disciplinary procedures according to their own organisation’s policies and procedures and within the law
• This seminar is particularly relevant to newly appointed managers or HR staff
• Managers at any level

Key benefits

By the end of this seminar, you will be able to:

1. State the relevance of statutory and contractual disciplinary procedures and the ACAS Code of Practice in carrying out disciplinary procedures
2. Recognise the key management responsibilities involved in carrying out disciplinary procedures
3. Identify the role undertaken by those who are asked to act as companions to their colleagues at disciplinary hearings
4. Use informal action effectively and recognise when formal procedures are necessary
5. Identify the key skills and processes involved in disciplinary interviewing

Programme

1 Introduction and objectives

2 Disciplinary policies and procedures

• Discipline in context
• The relevance of current legislation
• Statutory obligations
• Contractual procedures
• The ACAS Code of Practice
• Warnings – appropriate stages
• Varying procedures when necessary
• The ‘life’ of warnings
• The role of employment tribunals
• Knowing where to get help
• Behaving reasonably as an employer
• Identifying the management responsibilities involved in dealing with disciplinary issues
• The statutory right to be accompanied
• The role of the ‘companion’
• The appeal procedure
• Grounds for appeal
• Appeal hearings

3 Dealing with conduct and capability issues

• Identifying the nature of disciplinary problems and the appropriate course of action
• Defining ‘capability’
• Defining ‘conduct’
• Where absence cases fit in
• ‘Borderline’ cases
• Using probation periods effectively
• Using informal discipline effectively
• Recognising the need for a more formal approach
• Working with policies and procedures
• Coping with stress, absence and grievance issues in relation to disciplinary matters
• The importance of investigation
• Suspending employees
• Using witnesses and witness statements
• The ‘burden of proof’
• The balance of probability

4 Case studies: Dealing with conduct and capability issues

5 The disciplinary interview

• The role of the disciplinary interview
• The preparatory stage
• Inviting the employee to a disciplinary hearing
• Ensuring that the employee is able to prepare adequately for the interview
• Structuring the interview to ensure procedural correctness
• Facilitating witness input into disciplinary interviews
• Making notes of the meeting
• Ensuring co-operation from employees and their companions
• What happens when the employee does not attend the interview
• Imposing sanctions
• Considering mitigating circumstances
• Arranging for follow-up action
• Writing warning letters
• Keeping a record

Seminar presenter

Lesley Myland is an experienced HR consultant and an accomplished trainer and facilitator. She began her management career working for Marks and Spencer, and later went on to work for the Industrial Society and for Habitat and Mothercare, before founding her own consultancy in 1983. She specialises in advising business owners and managers at all levels on human resource and employment law issues. Over the last twenty-six years she has built an impressive client list, ranging across the public sector (e.g., local authorities, police authorities and care organisations) and the not-for-profit sector (e.g., professional institutes and independent schools) as well as businesses in the manufacturing, construction, retailing, financial and service sectors.

A lay member of the Employment Tribunal, Lesley is an awardwinning author, with two books and several hundred articles to her credit. She sits on the editorial board of a well-established HR journal. Lesley is a member of the Hampshire Valuation Tribunal and the Isle of Wight Education Appeals Panel.

Quotes from past delegates

“Very informative. Nice personable presentation style” Emily Bates, London Fields Woodberry Down Federation

“Excellent trainer - very experienced - gave me confidence to manage issues. Well paced days, with loads of examples” Jean Mockford, Headteacher, Torfield School

In-house training

This seminar can be presented exclusively for your organisation on an in-house basis. You can:

• Have the programme designed for your specific needs
• Choose your preferred date and location
• Save on staff travel, time and accommodation costs
• Maximise the impact of the training by putting an entire team through the same programme

For more information about this service - and a no-obligation quotation - please call 0845 076 0679 or e-mail incompany@cronertraining.co.uk

Are you a Croner publications subscriber?

If so then you are entitled to an additional 5% discount on your booking. Simply enter your Croner BP number on our online booking form to qualify (offer applies to online bookings only).

If you are interested in subscribing to any Croner title and receiving this and other benefits then call 020 8547 3333 for more information.

A total compliance solution

Whether you’re an HR professional in a multi-national, managing personnel issues in a medium-sized organisation or running a small business we have the HR information you need to get the most out of your staff and comply with the law. From consultancy, and comprehensive online information services to books we have you covered. Simply visit www.croner.co.uk for more information.

Outsourcing and event management service

Kaplan Hawksmere has over 10 years experience in running outsourced and managed training contracts both in the private and public sectors. Our highly skilled team will work with you to effectively manage your events, conferences and training programmes to maximise delegate numbers and revenue.

If you would like any further information on this service please contact Neil Vincent on 020 7960 5677 or e-mail neil.vincent@kaplan.co.uk

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