Disciplinary meetings: Do’s and Dont’s

Don’t: 

• Don’t panic! 

• Don’t talk about it with your colleagues - confidentiality is important in these processes

• Don’t wait until the last minute to contact us - the most notice is best!

Do:

• Call your organiser! This is what we are here for

• Send your organiser all the info you have regarding the issue

• Be straight up with your organiser about what happened - we can’t help unless we know everything 

What to do when you’re in trouble at work:

Whoops - you’ve received an invitation to a disciplinary or investigation meeting. This can be scary, nobody likes getting in trouble, especially when your livelihood is at risk. Here is what you should do if this happens to you.

First, don’t panic! Please contact your local organiser ASAP. It’s our job to make sure the process is handled correctly to give you a fair go, and bringing us in at the start of the process gives us the best opportunity to resolve it smoothly. Don’t delay, contact us straight away.

Send your organiser the disciplinary letter, any evidence attached, and your explanation of what happened via email. If you don’t have the contact details for your organiser, send the email to support@unite.org.nz and this will be passed onto the right person. The more info, the better. We will want to see this before discussing on the phone - that way we can provide the best advice.

You do not have to attend any meetings alone - you are entitled to representation and support, even if it means you need to reschedule the meeting until your organiser or delegate can attend. It’s better to reschedule than attend a meeting alone, especially if you are facing potential disciplinary action. A Union Organiser or Delegate can ensure the correct process is followed and that you get a fair hearing. If you feel pressured to attend regardless, or if your employer isn’t keen on having us attend, let us know ASAP so we can step in.

Don’t discuss this with your colleagues - confidentiality is expected from you, except for your representative or support person. If you need to vent, keep it out of the workplace. 

Make sure you are being honest with your organiser - if you have messed up big time, being straight up with us is super important. Don’t try to gloss over the worst bits or sweep it under the rug when talking to us about the situation. We will still support you, even if you made a mistake. Honesty is the best policy and can go a long way when it comes to resolving issues between you and your employer.

If you have been experiencing difficulties at work, but it hasn’t escalated yet, it can be very helpful in the future if you start taking notes about the issue - who, what, where, when, why, and how. Timestamped notes (email them to yourself!) can provide valuable evidence for if an issue needs to be raised with the employer formally. 

Need help? Email support@unite.org.nz or call 0800 286 483