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WORKPLACE ISSUES
Disciplinary Meetings
Been Invited to a Disciplinary Meeting?
Being invited to a disciplinary meeting can be stressful, particularly when you are unsure what is going to happen, what you should say or how the situation might affect your job.
You may have received a letter or email from your employer setting out concerns about your conduct, performance or behaviour. You may have been asked to attend a formal meeting and feel uncertain about how to prepare or what your employer expects from you.
You don't have to work through that uncertainty on your own.
Work Resolve Can Help You Prepare
Work Resolve provides independent, practical support to help you understand the situation you are facing and prepare for the next step.
We can help you:
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Understand what your employer is raising as a concern
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Review the information or documentation you have been given
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Identify the key issues you need to consider before the meeting
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Prepare what you want to say
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Organise your thoughts, evidence and questions
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Think through how you can respond calmly and clearly
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Understand the potential next steps in the process
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Prepare for difficult questions or conversations
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Consider whether there are wider workplace issues that may be relevant
The aim isn't to tell you what decision to make. It is to give you a clearer understanding of your situation and help you approach the process feeling better prepared.
Already Attended a Disciplinary Meeting?
Work Resolve can also provide support if you have already attended a meeting and are unsure what happens next. Perhaps you have received an outcome letter, been given a warning, been asked to attend another meeting or simply don't know how to respond to what your employer has said.
We can help you work through the information, understand the practical options available to you and identify your next steps.
Independent Workplace Support
Work Resolve is independent of your employer. We provide practical workplace support and guidance, but we are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice or legal representation.
Where your situation requires specialist legal advice, we can help you understand when it may be appropriate to seek support from a qualified employment solicitor or other appropriate professional.
Not Sure What to Do Next?
If you have been invited to a disciplinary meeting and want to talk through your situation before deciding what to do, you can book a confidential 45-minute Initial Consultation with Work Resolve.
Your consultation provides an opportunity to explain what has happened, discuss the situation with an independent workplace support professional and identify practical next steps. A personalised written outcome report is provided following the consultation.
Grievances
Do You Have a Problem at Work That Needs to Be Addressed?
If something has happened at work that you feel is unfair, inappropriate or unresolved, you may be considering raising a formal grievance.
Perhaps you are experiencing problems with a manager or colleague, feel that you have been treated unfairly, have concerns about workplace behaviour, or have tried to resolve an issue informally without success.
Knowing whether to raise a grievance, how to approach it and what to include can feel difficult, particularly when you are already under pressure.
Work Resolve Can Help You Prepare
Work Resolve provides independent, practical support to help you understand your situation and prepare for the next step.
We can help you:
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Understand the situation you are dealing with
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Identify the key issues and concerns you want to raise
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Review relevant emails, letters, messages or other documentation
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Organise the facts and timeline of what has happened
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Think through whether an informal or formal approach may be appropriate
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Prepare your written grievance
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Prepare for a grievance meeting
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Think through the questions you may be asked
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Consider what outcome or resolution you would like to achieve
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Prepare for possible next steps following the grievance
The aim is to help you communicate your concerns clearly, calmly and effectively, while ensuring that you have properly considered the situation before taking action.
Already Raised a Grievance?
If you have already submitted a grievance, Work Resolve can also help you understand what happens next.
You may have been invited to a grievance meeting, received a response from your employer or been given an outcome that you are unhappy with.
We can help you work through the information you have received, consider the issues that remain unresolved and identify practical next steps.
If you are considering an appeal, we can also help you prepare and organise your thoughts before responding to your employer.
When Workplace Problems Become Difficult
Workplace problems can sometimes become more complicated when communication breaks down or when the people involved have different views about what has happened.
Getting independent support at an early stage can give you an opportunity to step back from the situation, understand the issues more clearly and consider your options before the situation escalates.
Work Resolve provides practical workplace support and guidance. We are independent of your employer, but we are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice or legal representation.
Where your circumstances require specialist legal advice, we can help you recognise when it may be appropriate to seek advice from a qualified employment solicitor or other appropriate professional.
Not Sure Whether to Raise a Grievance?
You don't necessarily need to have everything worked out before asking for support.
If you are unsure whether your situation should be raised as a grievance, what you should include or how to approach your employer, you can book a confidential 45-minute Initial Consultation with Work Resolve.
Your consultation gives you the opportunity to explain what has happened, talk through your concerns with an independent workplace support professional and identify practical next steps. A personalised written outcome report is provided following the consultation.
Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs)
Understanding PIPs and What You Can Do
A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is a formal process used by an employer when there are concerns about an employee’s performance. A PIP will usually set out what needs to improve, what is expected, the timescale for improvement and how progress will be reviewed.
Being placed on a PIP can feel stressful, particularly if you are unsure what it means or what may happen next. It does not automatically mean that you are going to lose your job, but it is important to understand what your employer is asking of you and how the process is being managed.
What might a PIP cover?
A PIP may identify:
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Specific areas where your employer believes your performance needs to improve
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The standards or objectives you are expected to achieve
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A timescale for demonstrating improvement
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The support, training or resources that may be available to you
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How and when your progress will be reviewed
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What may happen if the required improvement is not achieved
How Work Resolve can help
Work Resolve can provide independent, practical support if you have been placed on a PIP or are concerned that your employer may be moving towards a formal performance process.
We can help you understand what is being asked of you, prepare for meetings, organise your thoughts and identify questions or points that you may wish to raise with your employer.
We can also help you consider whether the objectives and expectations have been clearly explained and whether you have been given an appropriate opportunity and support to demonstrate improvement.
Where appropriate, we can help you prepare a constructive response and support you throughout the process, including preparation for review meetings and discussions with your employer.
You don't have to deal with it alone
Performance concerns can become difficult to manage when communication breaks down or expectations are unclear. Getting independent support early can help you approach the situation calmly and constructively.
Work Resolve provides practical workplace support and guidance. We do not provide legal advice or legal representation.
If you are facing a Performance Improvement Plan and would like to talk through your situation, Work Resolve can help you understand your options and prepare for what comes next.
Reasonable Adjustments
Understanding Your Options for Workplace Support
Sometimes a person needs changes to the way they work in order to do their job effectively. These changes are known as reasonable adjustments.
Reasonable adjustments can be particularly important where a disability or health condition creates a barrier at work. The adjustment might relate to working hours, the working environment, communication, equipment, responsibilities or the way a person is expected to carry out their role.
What might a reasonable adjustment involve?
Every situation is different. Depending on the circumstances, adjustments might include:
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Changes to working hours or start and finish times
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Flexible or altered working arrangements
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Changes to the physical working environment
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Adjustments to how meetings, instructions or information are provided
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Additional equipment, software or workplace support
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Changes to certain duties or the way tasks are carried out
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Additional time or flexibility for particular tasks
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Changes to how performance or attendance is managed where appropriate
An adjustment does not necessarily mean reducing expectations or removing responsibilities. Often, it is about removing a particular barrier so that an employee has a fair opportunity to carry out their role.
What if you are struggling to get the support you need?
It can be difficult to know how to approach your employer, particularly if you have already raised concerns and feel that you are not being listened to.
Work Resolve can help you prepare for conversations with your employer, think through what adjustments may be helpful, organise relevant information and prepare for meetings. We can also help you communicate your needs clearly and constructively.
If you have been asked to attend a meeting about your attendance, performance or capability and believe that your circumstances have not been properly considered, independent workplace support can help you prepare.
Getting support early can help
You do not have to wait until a situation becomes a formal workplace dispute before seeking support. If you are finding work increasingly difficult because of a health condition or disability, getting help to understand and communicate your needs can make the situation easier to manage.
Work Resolve provides independent, practical workplace support. We do not provide legal advice or legal representation.
If you are unsure how to approach a reasonable adjustments request or need help preparing for a workplace conversation, Work Resolve can help you work through the situation.
Redundancy
Understanding the Process and Your Options
Being told that your role may be made redundant can be unsettling, particularly when you are unsure what the process means or what happens next.
Redundancy is a specific situation in which an employer’s need for employees to carry out work has reduced or changed. It can happen for a number of reasons, including organisational changes, restructuring, changes in the way work is carried out or financial pressures.
Being placed into a redundancy process does not necessarily mean that your employment will end. Employers will generally follow a process involving consultation and consideration of the circumstances before a final decision is made.
What might the redundancy process involve?
Depending on the circumstances, you may be asked to:
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Attend individual or collective consultation meetings
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Discuss proposed changes to your role or workplace
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Consider alternative roles within the organisation
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Respond to information provided by your employer
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Take part in a selection process where appropriate
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Attend further meetings before a final decision is made
The process can generate a lot of information and important conversations, making it difficult to know what you should ask, what you should record and how best to respond.
How Work Resolve can help
Work Resolve can provide independent, practical support while you are going through a redundancy process.
We can help you prepare for consultation meetings, organise your thoughts and questions, understand the information your employer has provided and prepare points you may wish to raise.
We can also help you think through your options if you are offered an alternative role or if you are concerned about how the process is being handled.
Having someone independent to talk things through with can help you approach difficult conversations calmly and make sure you are prepared.
Don't face the uncertainty alone
Redundancy can affect much more than your working life, and the uncertainty can be difficult to manage. Getting independent workplace support early can help you understand what is happening and prepare for the next stage.
Work Resolve provides practical workplace support and guidance. We do not provide legal advice or legal representation.
If you have been told that your role is at risk of redundancy, or you are about to enter a consultation process, Work Resolve can help you prepare and understand your options.
Discrimination
When You Feel You’re Being Treated Unfairly at Work
Everyone should be able to work in an environment where they are treated fairly and with respect. If you feel that you are being treated differently because of who you are, or because of a particular personal characteristic, it can be difficult to know what to do or who to turn to.
Workplace discrimination can take different forms. It may involve how someone is treated, the opportunities they are given, decisions made about their employment, or behaviour from colleagues or managers.
Under UK equality law, certain personal characteristics are protected, including age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment and marriage or civil partnership.
What might discrimination look like?
Concerns can arise in many different workplace situations, including:
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Recruitment, promotion or access to opportunities
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Pay, benefits or other employment decisions
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Unfair treatment compared with colleagues
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Offensive or inappropriate comments or behaviour
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Bullying or harassment connected to a protected characteristic
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Being treated unfavourably after raising a concern
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Workplace policies or practices that create particular difficulties for certain employees
Not every disagreement, difficult management decision or instance of unfair treatment will necessarily amount to unlawful discrimination. Understanding what has happened, keeping appropriate records and considering the wider circumstances can be important.
How Work Resolve can help
If you are concerned about how you are being treated at work, Work Resolve can provide independent, practical support to help you make sense of the situation.
We can help you organise what has happened, identify the issues you want to raise, prepare for a meeting with your employer and communicate your concerns clearly and constructively.
We can also help you prepare if you are considering raising a formal workplace grievance or have already been asked to attend a meeting about a concern you have raised.
You don't have to work it out alone
Experiencing behaviour or treatment that concerns you can be stressful, particularly when you are unsure whether to challenge it or how to do so.
Getting independent support can help you take a step back, understand the situation and prepare for your next conversation with your employer.
Work Resolve provides practical workplace support and guidance. We do not provide legal advice or legal representation.
If you are concerned about discrimination or unfair treatment at work, Work Resolve can help you prepare, understand your options and decide what you want to do next.
Suspension
When You’re Asked to Step Away from Work
Being suspended from work can be unsettling, particularly if you have not been given much information about why it has happened or what will happen next.
A suspension may be used by an employer while they look into a workplace concern or carry out an investigation. Being suspended does not, in itself, mean that you have been found to have done anything wrong.
During a suspension, you may be asked not to attend your workplace, carry out your normal duties or contact certain colleagues while the employer considers the situation.
What can suspension involve?
Depending on the circumstances, you may be asked to:
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Remain away from the workplace for a period of time
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Avoid contacting particular colleagues or clients
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Attend investigation or other formal meetings
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Provide information or respond to questions
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Follow specific instructions from your employer during the suspension
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Remain available to discuss the matter or attend meetings
Being suspended can leave you with many questions about what is happening and what you should do next.
How Work Resolve can help
Work Resolve can provide independent, practical support while you are suspended or facing a formal workplace investigation.
We can help you prepare for meetings, organise the information you have, think through the questions you may want to ask and prepare how you would like to respond.
We can also help you understand the practical steps involved in participating in an investigation and help you approach meetings in a calm and constructive way.
If you are unsure about what you can or cannot do while suspended, it is important to follow your employer's instructions and seek appropriate professional advice where necessary.
Don't face the uncertainty alone
Being removed from your normal working environment can be isolating, particularly when you do not know how long the process will take or what the outcome might be.
Independent workplace support can give you somewhere to talk through what is happening and help you prepare for the next stage.
Work Resolve provides practical workplace support and guidance. We do not provide legal advice or legal representation.
If you have been suspended from work or are about to attend an investigation meeting, Work Resolve can help you prepare and work through the situation.
Appeals
When You Want a Decision to Be Reconsidered
Sometimes a workplace decision does not feel right, or you believe that important information or circumstances have not been properly considered.
Depending on your employer's procedures, you may have the opportunity to appeal a formal decision. This could relate to a disciplinary outcome, grievance, capability or performance decision, or another formal workplace process.
An appeal is generally an opportunity to explain why you believe a decision should be reconsidered and to provide any relevant information that may not have been properly taken into account.
What might an appeal involve?
Your employer may have a specific procedure and timescale for submitting an appeal. You may need to:
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Submit your appeal in writing
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Explain the grounds for your appeal
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Identify information or evidence you believe was overlooked
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Explain where you believe the process was not handled appropriately
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Attend an appeal meeting
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Respond to questions about your appeal
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Consider the outcome once the appeal has been reviewed
It can be difficult to know what to include, particularly when you are dealing with a significant workplace decision.
How Work Resolve can help
Work Resolve can provide independent, practical support to help you prepare an appeal.
We can help you organise your thoughts, review the information you have available, identify the key points you want to raise and structure your response clearly.
We can also help you prepare for an appeal meeting, including thinking through questions you may be asked and the points you want to make. The aim is to help you present your position clearly, calmly and constructively.
Preparing your appeal
If you are considering an appeal, check your employer's relevant policy and any correspondence you have received carefully. Pay particular attention to the deadline for submitting your appeal.
If you are unsure about your legal rights or the legal merits of an appeal, you may wish to seek independent legal advice.
Work Resolve provides practical workplace support and guidance. We do not provide legal advice or legal representation.
If you have received a formal workplace decision and are considering an appeal, Work Resolve can help you prepare for the next step.
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