Verbal Warnings

Stephen P

Should an employer actually tell you verbally that you have received a verbal warning following a formal meeting? Or does it suffice that they notify you in writing that you have received one?

Eoin

Disciplinary procedures are defined by your employer, not by law (although some industries might sign up to a common code). All the law says that the procedures should be in place, not what the exact steps are.

Stephen P

Putting aside the law for a moment, shouldn't a verbal warning be actually given verbally? At the meeting there was no indication that a verbal warning was going to be given.

bbam

I think it would be good practice but not required under statute.
There is also the problem that if you were to appeal it would be one person's word against the other regarding what was said/issued.

There is probably more substance to the argument as to if it was warranted or not... If it was, probably best let it go
We would have always issues paperwork with verbal warnings to ensure all parties were clear... Company policy of course

Joe10000

Stephen P wrote: »

Putting aside the law for a moment, shouldn't a verbal warning be actually given verbally? At the meeting there was no indication that a verbal warning was going to be given.

But did you get a warning at the meeting ?

Stephen P

Joe10000 wrote: »

But did you get a warning at the meeting ?

No there was no warning issued at the meeting, well it wasn't made clear which is where I have the problem.

doolox

They would have to use the words discipline, correction, performance etc and it would become clear that your work performance wasn't meeting their requirements.

If a lot of note-taking was going on esp. with witnesses then it is serious. If you were on your own and with less than 6 months, on probation, then a boss can more or less act unilaterally and let you go for no reason or a vague "does not fit in" which is impossible to challenge.

neris

In our company we have a meeting/hearing before issuing the outcome. Its not just decided on the spot. A verbal warning in our company is a minor warning but it is put down in a letter to the staff that they have received a verbal warning.

Stephen P

It's become clear that they didn't even follow their own procedures which are very clearly laid out. It will be appealed on that basis