can your employer do this

bideye

need bit of advice- recently one of my employers informed me around 12 noon that I was having a meeting with them (2 director/owners) at 2pm that day - nothing unusual with this
I am in a managerial position so this is part of my job. just before the meeting it was suggested we take it off site - again can happen - went to local hotel nearby and they walked into a conference area whereby a room was booked under the company name and with that started to reprimand me about my behaviour, attitude, bad form etc and that they had asked other staff members and they had made complaints about my bad humour. How
they had received 2nd hand stories of me saying something extremely bad about one of my
office staff ? I have no idea what I was suppose to have said - asked the office girl she claims I said nothing ? and I get on really well with her.

I defended myself as best I could, do have some personal issues at present trying to work my way through it.

but my question is can they call me aside like this without prior warning so I can prepare myself, I have since apologised to all staff here if I offended anyone - which I don't believe I have - I am not in a position to leave my job. Just wondering about the protocol and do I take this as a verbal warning even though it wasn't stated and also no notes taken at meeting

Mr. Loverman

It sounds like they wanted to chat to you, and were sensitive enough to do it off site.

Tell them you have taken what they said on board and will sort it out...?

_Brian

I'd think this is ok as it seems like it isn't part of a disciplinary process.
Employees must get 24 hours notice of any disciplinary meeting. But regular manager/employee meetings are different.

I'd say thank them for their input, learn and move on.

Mr. Loverman

_Brian wrote: »

Employees must get 24 hours notice of any disciplinary meeting.

Are you sure?

My understanding is just that the employer is required to give written notice of their disciplinary process and follow fair procedures (such as being honest and upfront about the issues).

Eoin

The LRC might give guidelines, but it could be as vague as "reasonable notice".

do I take this as a verbal warning even though it wasn't stated and also no notes taken at meeting

If it was an official warning, they'd have breached a good few rules. It sounds more like a "pull your socks up" conversation rather than anything official.

Bassboxxx

I'm potentially in the same situation. My co-workers and I have been called for a meeting in head office and the suspicion is it's for a disciplinary. We have been told it's for feedback regarding a recent audit on the company.

If it turns out to be an official disciplinary should we have been notified?

skallywag

bideye wrote: »

... and do I take this as a verbal warning even though it wasn't stated and also no notes taken at meeting...

From what you describe I would take it as an unofficial chat to sort out the alleged issues. I don't think an employer needs to give you any notice of this, in fact it could be looked on as doing you the courtesy of giving you the chance to rectify things before one goes down the official route.

skallywag

Bassboxxx wrote: »

If it turns out to be an official disciplinary should we have been notified?

You mean a simultaneous official disciplinary action against a group of people? I've not come across this before ...

_Brian

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Are you sure?

My understanding is just that the employer is required to give written notice of their disciplinary process and follow fair procedures (such as being honest and upfront about the issues).

Well, actually there is no LAW relating to these things. However there is best practice as detailed by the LRC. And employers deviating from these are risking a kick in the hole if the employee brings a case. Most organised tuned in companies with written disciplinary processes will have included the LRC recommendations in their procedures.
The 24 hours would also go along with the facility to have a representative in the meeting with you. Employers denying these options are leaving themselves on the back foot.

bideye

Thanks for all the feedback

I don't have any issue with my bosses telling me to pull up my socks - I did feel annoyed
that they did not give me the notification of what the meeting was about ? I have worked for
this company for 16 years - maybe it time for a move

allibastor

I would actually look on it in a good light.

The company have an issue with your behaviour, you have admitted yourself you have issues at home.
They called you off site to have a frank meeting with you about this, but kept it on the un-official side.

To me that would show they respect you enough to give you the procedure of telling you what is wrong without actually going down a full investigation.