Disciplinary appeals
Independent consideration of appeals against disciplinary outcomes, including serious disciplinary action.
SERVICES & APPEAL PROCESS
The Appeals Chair provides an independent appeal chair service for SMEs dealing with grievance and disciplinary appeals, including appeals against dismissal.
THE PRINCIPLE
Where possible, an appeal should be handled impartially by someone who has not previously been involved in the matter. For smaller organisations, bringing in an external appeal chair can provide that separation.
WHEN I CAN HELP
In a small organisation, the people who have investigated a matter or made the original decision may also be the people available to hear an appeal. That can make genuine separation difficult.
ACAS guidance says an appeal should be dealt with impartially and, wherever possible, by someone who has not previously been involved. It also recognises that an external person can be brought in where this is not possible internally.
My role is to provide an independent review of the appeal grounds, consider the relevant evidence and conduct the appeal process in a structured and impartial way.
THE APPEALS I HANDLE
The service is designed around the circumstances of each case rather than a one-size-fits-all process.
Independent consideration of appeals against disciplinary outcomes, including serious disciplinary action.
Appeals against dismissal, including cases involving allegations of gross misconduct.
Independent review where an employee believes a grievance outcome or the process followed was wrong or unfair.
Appeals involving several grounds, substantial evidence or matters that require a more detailed review.
THE APPEAL PROCESS
The exact approach will depend on the appeal and the organisation’s own policy. The aim is to provide a clear and properly structured process throughout.
We discuss the circumstances, the original outcome, the appeal grounds and the organisation’s policy.
I review the relevant documentation and evidence to understand the original decision and the issues raised on appeal.
The appeal is conducted in a structured and impartial manner with the employee given the opportunity to explain their grounds.
Where necessary, further evidence or clarification can be considered before the final decision is reached.
The appeal is concluded with a reasoned outcome communicated in writing in line with the organisation’s procedure.
PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS
Hearings can be held online via Microsoft Teams or in person, subject to location and the circumstances of the case.
The service can accommodate a straightforward single-issue appeal or a more involved multi-issue case.
The Appeals Chair is a single-chair consultancy. Your appeal is handled personally by one independent chair from the initial discussion through to the outcome.
The process, information required and next steps are explained clearly so that everyone understands what happens next.
START A CONVERSATION
A 30-minute initial consultation is available free of charge to understand the circumstances and discuss how I can help.