Go from good to great… by
DISMISSING and TERMINATING
employees effectively
London HR and Training
2016
Introduction
Page 2
Intro - London HR and Training
• London HR and Training is a specialist human
resources and training consultancy headed by Timothy
Holden
• 10 years in banking
• 20 years in training and human resources
• Business owner since 2007
• The core services provided by London HR and Training
are:
- Reducing costs and saving time through bespoke HR
initiatives and projects
- Training course design and delivery
- Services for job seekers
Page 3
Contents
5-6 Definitions
7-8 Reasons to have procedures in place
9-10 Types of dismissal
11-13 Steps involved when conducting an internal investigation
14-15 Areas to consider with investigations
16-17 Poor performance
18-19 Instances where a disciplinary system may be used
20-21 Stages of the disciplinary process
22-25 Key considerations with disciplinary interviews
26-27 Potential outcomes following a disciplinary interview
28-29 Facing an unfair dismissal claim?
30-31 Unfair dismissal and qualifying periods
32-33 Recent case; disability discrimination and unfair constructive dismissal
34-35 Potentially fair reasons for dismissal
36-37 Rules to remember with dismissals and terminations
38-40 Best practice with dismissals and terminations
41-42 Best practice with investigations
43-44 Grievance policy and practice
45-46 Formal grievance procedures
47-48 Exercise
49-50 To sum up…
Definitions
Page 5
Definitions
• Dismissal
• Termination
• Firing
• Sacking
• Grievance
Page 6
Reasons to have procedures
in place
Reasons to have procedures in
place
• Disciplinary
• Grievance
Page 8
Types of dismissal
Types of dismissal
• Wrongful dismissal
• Unfair dismissal
• What constitutes fair
Page 10
Steps involved when
conducting an internal
investigation
Steps involved when conducting
an internal investigation 1 of 2
• Be open to and encourage complaints of
harassment, discrimination or other
inappropriate conduct
• Treat all complaints seriously
• Immediately investigate all such complaints by
interviewing the complaining employee, the
alleged harasser and all potential witnesses
• Document the investigation interviews
• Review HR files and other relevant
organisational documents for the employees
involved
Page 12
Steps involved when conducting
an internal investigation 2 of 2
• Evaluate the information gathered, make a
determination about hat is believed to have
happened based on this information and
document the determination
• If needed, implement remedial measures
designed to eliminate the problem conduct and
prevent similar situations in the future
• Communicate the results of the investigation to
the complaining employee and the alleged
harasser
• Follow up to check for ‘workplace healing’
Page 13
Areas to consider with
investigations
Areas to consider with
investigations
• Matters relating to conduct
• Matters relating to poor performance
Page 15
Poor performance
Poor performance
What an employer needs as evidence
• Clear communication about standards of
performance
• Provision of adequate training and support
• Reasonable standards
• Warning was given
• Reasonable time was given to correct
performance
• The employee failed to meet the standards
Page 17
Instances where a
disciplinary system may be
used
Instances where a disciplinary
system may be used
• Capability/performance
• Conduct
Page 19
Stages of the disciplinary
process
Stages of the disciplinary
process
• Letter
• Meeting
• Appeal
Page 21
Key considerations with
disciplinary interviews
Key considerations with
disciplinary interviews 1 of 3
• Ensure all the facts are investigated in
advance and plan how the meeting is to be
approached
• Make sure the employee knows from the
invite letter the reason for attending and the
right to have a companion present
• Make sure reasonable notice is provided
• Provide appropriate statements from people
involved in advance of the meeting, plus key
information to be relied upon
Page 23
Key considerations with
disciplinary interviews 2 of 3
• Make sure another member of management
can be available to take notes and help with
the interview
• Never pre-judge the outcome of the interview
before hearing from the employee
• Start the interview by stating the complaint
to the employee and refer to appropriate
statements
• Give the employee ample opportunity to put
forward their side of the story
Page 24
Key considerations with
disciplinary interviews 3 of 3
• Employers can call witnesses but they need to
leave the room after their input
• Adjournments can prove useful to use
• Deliver the decision, confirm review period
and provide details of the appeal process
• Confirm the decision in writing
• Make sure everyone involved in disciplinary
action is aware of the correct procedure to be
followed
Page 25
Potential outcomes
following a disciplinary
interview
Potential outcomes following a
disciplinary interview
• No action
• Warnings
• Dismissal
Page 27
Facing an unfair dismissal
claim?
Facing an unfair dismissal claim
Approaches to strengthen the employer’s
position
• Timely investigation
• Consistent and fair procedure
• Follow procedures to avoid dismissal if
possible
• Clear rules and procedures are available to
all managers
• Ensure rules and procedures are understood
by all members of the workforce
Page 29
Unfair dismissal and
qualifying periods
Unfair dismissal and qualifying
periods
• Before 6 April 2012
• On or after 6 April 2012
• Exceptions
Page 31
Recent case: disability
discrimination and unfair
constructive dismissal
Recent case: disability
discrimination and unfair
constructive dismissal
• Private Medicine Intermediaries Ltd.
and others v. Hodkinson
Page 33
Potential fair reasons for
dismissal
Potentially fair reasons for
dismissal
Employment Rights Act 1996
• Redundancy
• Capability or qualifications
• Breach of statutory restriction
• Conduct OR
• Some other substantial reason
Page 35
Rules to remember with
dismissals and
terminations
Rules to remember with
dismissals and terminations
• Remember the golden rule
• Be considerate
• Be reasonable and fair
• Be savvy and strategic
• Be classy, be careful, be cautious…
Page 37
Best practice with dismissals
and terminations
Best practice with dismissals
and terminations 1 of 2
• Think about the day in the week
• Involve the supervisor and have the letter
available
• Complete the process in a business-like
manner
• Request the return of the organisation’s
equipment
• Consider dignity for collecting personal
belongings
Page 39
Best practice with dismissals
and terminations 2 of 2
• Care is needed over confidential information
• Locks and access codes may need to be
changed
• Decide on how the information should be
conveyed to colleagues, and possibly consult
the employee about this
• Provide a complete record of employment the
next working day
Page 40
Best practice with
investigations
Best practice with
investigations
• Deal with issues promptly, fairly and
consistently
• Carry out required investigations to
gather the relevant facts of the case
• Communicate facts and findings to
the employee
• Allow the employee to put forward
their response
Page 42
Grievance policy and
practice
Grievance policy and practice
• Informal handling
• Formal handling
Page 44
Formal grievance
procedures
Formal grievance procedures
Steps typically involved
• The employee should be asked to give
details of their grievance to their
employer in writing
• The employer should investigate the
employee’s grievance
• The employer should then send a letter
to the employee inviting them to a
meeting to discuss
• There should be a right of appeal
Page 46
Exercise
Exercise
Page 48
To sum it up…
To sum up…
• Conclusion
• Summary
• Videos
• Useful links
Page 50

Dismissals and terminations 2016

  • 1.
    Go from goodto great… by DISMISSING and TERMINATING employees effectively London HR and Training 2016
  • 2.
  • 3.
    Intro - LondonHR and Training • London HR and Training is a specialist human resources and training consultancy headed by Timothy Holden • 10 years in banking • 20 years in training and human resources • Business owner since 2007 • The core services provided by London HR and Training are: - Reducing costs and saving time through bespoke HR initiatives and projects - Training course design and delivery - Services for job seekers Page 3
  • 4.
    Contents 5-6 Definitions 7-8 Reasonsto have procedures in place 9-10 Types of dismissal 11-13 Steps involved when conducting an internal investigation 14-15 Areas to consider with investigations 16-17 Poor performance 18-19 Instances where a disciplinary system may be used 20-21 Stages of the disciplinary process 22-25 Key considerations with disciplinary interviews 26-27 Potential outcomes following a disciplinary interview 28-29 Facing an unfair dismissal claim? 30-31 Unfair dismissal and qualifying periods 32-33 Recent case; disability discrimination and unfair constructive dismissal 34-35 Potentially fair reasons for dismissal 36-37 Rules to remember with dismissals and terminations 38-40 Best practice with dismissals and terminations 41-42 Best practice with investigations 43-44 Grievance policy and practice 45-46 Formal grievance procedures 47-48 Exercise 49-50 To sum up…
  • 5.
  • 6.
    Definitions • Dismissal • Termination •Firing • Sacking • Grievance Page 6
  • 7.
    Reasons to haveprocedures in place
  • 8.
    Reasons to haveprocedures in place • Disciplinary • Grievance Page 8
  • 9.
  • 10.
    Types of dismissal •Wrongful dismissal • Unfair dismissal • What constitutes fair Page 10
  • 11.
    Steps involved when conductingan internal investigation
  • 12.
    Steps involved whenconducting an internal investigation 1 of 2 • Be open to and encourage complaints of harassment, discrimination or other inappropriate conduct • Treat all complaints seriously • Immediately investigate all such complaints by interviewing the complaining employee, the alleged harasser and all potential witnesses • Document the investigation interviews • Review HR files and other relevant organisational documents for the employees involved Page 12
  • 13.
    Steps involved whenconducting an internal investigation 2 of 2 • Evaluate the information gathered, make a determination about hat is believed to have happened based on this information and document the determination • If needed, implement remedial measures designed to eliminate the problem conduct and prevent similar situations in the future • Communicate the results of the investigation to the complaining employee and the alleged harasser • Follow up to check for ‘workplace healing’ Page 13
  • 14.
    Areas to considerwith investigations
  • 15.
    Areas to considerwith investigations • Matters relating to conduct • Matters relating to poor performance Page 15
  • 16.
  • 17.
    Poor performance What anemployer needs as evidence • Clear communication about standards of performance • Provision of adequate training and support • Reasonable standards • Warning was given • Reasonable time was given to correct performance • The employee failed to meet the standards Page 17
  • 18.
  • 19.
    Instances where adisciplinary system may be used • Capability/performance • Conduct Page 19
  • 20.
    Stages of thedisciplinary process
  • 21.
    Stages of thedisciplinary process • Letter • Meeting • Appeal Page 21
  • 22.
  • 23.
    Key considerations with disciplinaryinterviews 1 of 3 • Ensure all the facts are investigated in advance and plan how the meeting is to be approached • Make sure the employee knows from the invite letter the reason for attending and the right to have a companion present • Make sure reasonable notice is provided • Provide appropriate statements from people involved in advance of the meeting, plus key information to be relied upon Page 23
  • 24.
    Key considerations with disciplinaryinterviews 2 of 3 • Make sure another member of management can be available to take notes and help with the interview • Never pre-judge the outcome of the interview before hearing from the employee • Start the interview by stating the complaint to the employee and refer to appropriate statements • Give the employee ample opportunity to put forward their side of the story Page 24
  • 25.
    Key considerations with disciplinaryinterviews 3 of 3 • Employers can call witnesses but they need to leave the room after their input • Adjournments can prove useful to use • Deliver the decision, confirm review period and provide details of the appeal process • Confirm the decision in writing • Make sure everyone involved in disciplinary action is aware of the correct procedure to be followed Page 25
  • 26.
    Potential outcomes following adisciplinary interview
  • 27.
    Potential outcomes followinga disciplinary interview • No action • Warnings • Dismissal Page 27
  • 28.
    Facing an unfairdismissal claim?
  • 29.
    Facing an unfairdismissal claim Approaches to strengthen the employer’s position • Timely investigation • Consistent and fair procedure • Follow procedures to avoid dismissal if possible • Clear rules and procedures are available to all managers • Ensure rules and procedures are understood by all members of the workforce Page 29
  • 30.
  • 31.
    Unfair dismissal andqualifying periods • Before 6 April 2012 • On or after 6 April 2012 • Exceptions Page 31
  • 32.
    Recent case: disability discriminationand unfair constructive dismissal
  • 33.
    Recent case: disability discriminationand unfair constructive dismissal • Private Medicine Intermediaries Ltd. and others v. Hodkinson Page 33
  • 34.
  • 35.
    Potentially fair reasonsfor dismissal Employment Rights Act 1996 • Redundancy • Capability or qualifications • Breach of statutory restriction • Conduct OR • Some other substantial reason Page 35
  • 36.
    Rules to rememberwith dismissals and terminations
  • 37.
    Rules to rememberwith dismissals and terminations • Remember the golden rule • Be considerate • Be reasonable and fair • Be savvy and strategic • Be classy, be careful, be cautious… Page 37
  • 38.
    Best practice withdismissals and terminations
  • 39.
    Best practice withdismissals and terminations 1 of 2 • Think about the day in the week • Involve the supervisor and have the letter available • Complete the process in a business-like manner • Request the return of the organisation’s equipment • Consider dignity for collecting personal belongings Page 39
  • 40.
    Best practice withdismissals and terminations 2 of 2 • Care is needed over confidential information • Locks and access codes may need to be changed • Decide on how the information should be conveyed to colleagues, and possibly consult the employee about this • Provide a complete record of employment the next working day Page 40
  • 41.
  • 42.
    Best practice with investigations •Deal with issues promptly, fairly and consistently • Carry out required investigations to gather the relevant facts of the case • Communicate facts and findings to the employee • Allow the employee to put forward their response Page 42
  • 43.
  • 44.
    Grievance policy andpractice • Informal handling • Formal handling Page 44
  • 45.
  • 46.
    Formal grievance procedures Stepstypically involved • The employee should be asked to give details of their grievance to their employer in writing • The employer should investigate the employee’s grievance • The employer should then send a letter to the employee inviting them to a meeting to discuss • There should be a right of appeal Page 46
  • 47.
  • 48.
  • 49.
    To sum itup…
  • 50.
    To sum up… •Conclusion • Summary • Videos • Useful links Page 50