What is this disciplinary invite letter template?
The basics: This disciplinary invite letter template formally invites an employee to attend a disciplinary hearing. It serves as a crucial communication tool in the disciplinary process, informing the employee of the allegations against them, the evidence, the hearing details, and their rights. Additionally, it outlines the possible outcomes of the hearing.
Invite letter: This letter would be used at the beginning of the disciplinary process and depending on how the meeting goes, would be followed either by a written warning letter or a dismissal letter.
Content of the letter: A disciplinary letter invite confirms when the initial meeting with the individual potentially subject to disciplinary action will be held. This letter also includes who will be in attendance and the location of the meeting. It’s particularly important to clearly explain why the employer is taking disciplinary action – there should be no confusion regarding what will be discussed during the disciplinary hearing. Clear and consistent communication is key when embarking on a disciplinary procedure with a member of staff - ensure you are communicating in this way by using this disciplinary invite letter template.
Benefits of using this disciplinary (invite) letter template
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Clarity and formality: The template provides a structured and formal way to communicate the need for a disciplinary hearing, ensuring that the employee clearly understands the situation and the process that will follow.
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Fairness and transparency: The letter promotes fairness and transparency by detailing the allegations, summarising investigation findings, and providing the employee with an opportunity to openly discuss the allegations and investigation findings while also listing the witnesses who will be called to the hearing.
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Preparation: It encourages both the employee and the employer to prepare for the hearing by discussing witnesses and relevant documents, contributing to a well-organised and fair process.
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Accommodates employee needs: The template includes a provision for the employee to request any necessary accommodations, such as adjustments due to disabilities or language difficulties, promoting inclusivity and fairness.
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Legal compliance: It helps ensure compliance with employment laws by clearly outlining the allegations, evidence, and the employee's right to be accompanied, which should be well-documented in case of future legal disputes.
Key sections within this disciplinary (invite) letter template
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Purpose of this letter: the introductory section provides an overview of the letter's purpose, which is to inform the employee of the need to attend a disciplinary hearing regarding allegations of misconduct.
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The allegations: This section describes the specific allegations against the employee, providing clarity about the issues under consideration.
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Investigation materials: This section summarises the investigation findings and the inclusion of anonymised witness statements and evidence, ensuring transparency about the information available.
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The hearing: This section requests the employee to provide the names of any witnesses they plan to call and any relevant documents they wish to submit, promoting preparation and fairness.
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Possible outcomes: This section lists the possible outcomes of the disciplinary process, preparing the employee for potential consequences. For more information about disciplinary actions, read this blog.
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Next steps: This section clarifies the next steps in the disciplinary process and what action may be required from the employee.
The ACAS Code of Practice and its impact
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (known as Acas) Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures sets the minimum standard of fairness that workplaces should follow.
If an employee brings a case to the employment tribunal, the employment tribunal will consider if the employer followed Acas' Code of Practice and can adjust awards by up to 25% if either party unreasonably fails to comply with the Code of Practice. For this reason, an employer should always ensure that its disciplinary process aligns with the minimum standard of fairness as specified in Acas’ Code of Practice.
Disciplinary process in short: While your business is likely to benefit from the hard work and talent of your team, there will be instances when a disciplinary process is required. In this instance, you’ll need a series of letters: a disciplinary letter invite, a disciplinary written warning letter, and a dismissal letter. These letters should be used where an employer has begun a formal disciplinary process (in accordance with its disciplinary policy).
Why choose Docue?
Created by lawyers: Docue’s disciplinary letter invite template is lawyer-made, lawyer-maintained, and has lawyer-crafted guidelines to steer you through every stage of drafting your document.
Easy to use: To create your disciplinary letter invite with confidence and speed, simply click through the intelligent tick box options and text box answers in Docue's disciplinary invite letter template and you’ll have a ready-to-use letter in no time. With Docue you can also collect signatures electronically, and store all of your documents in Docue's storage vault, Docue Drive, to ensure you always have quick and easy access to your documents in one place.
Affordable: At Docue, we believe in transparent and cost-effective pricing without any hidden fees. You can check out our pricing here.
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