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Discipline and Grievance Procedures |
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13 May 2008 |
On 2nd May ACAS issued a new draft Code of Practice on discipline and grievance procedures for public consultation. The draft Code of Practice takes into account the changes to workplace dispute resolution proposed by the Employment Bill, currently before Parliament.
On 2nd May ACAS issued a new draft Code of Practice on discipline and grievance procedures for public consultation. The draft Code of Practice takes into account the changes to workplace dispute resolution proposed by the Employment Bill, currently before Parliament. The Bill proposes to repeal the Statutory Dismissal and Disciplinary Procedures which employers are currently bound to observe. The Bill is expected to come into force, subject to any amendments made by Parliament, with effect from 1st April 2009 and the ACAS Code of Practice as amended will have legal force from the same date and Employment Tribunals will expect employers to adhere to it.
The aim of the revised code is to encourage individuals and businesses to resolve disputes internally in a fair and effective way. The new code is considerably shorter than the existing code and provides basic practical guidance to employers and employees. It also sets out the principles for handling disciplinary and grievance situations in the workplace. All of this, in turn, should save money and time.
Hywel Griffiths, an Employment Partner at Kester Cunningham John said 'the new draft ACAS Code of Practice represents a considerable improvement on the existing 'do it by numbers' approach which employers are expected to follow slavishly and where minor infringements can lead to draconian penalties. I would expect the new approach to provide assistance to employers in resolving disputes at an early stage and avoiding litigation'.
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