Initiating and Chairing a Disciplinary Hearing

Unit 1: The Employment Relationship

• Introduction
• The basis of the relationship. 
• Duties of an employee 
• Duties of employers

• Discipline: An employer’s duty
• Discipline 
• Positive and Negative Discipline within the Workplace
• Procedural aspects

Unit 2 : Discipline in the Workplace 

• Discipline: An employer’s duty
• Discipline
• Positive and Negative Discipline within the Workplace
• Characteristics of a Sound Disciplinary System
• Disciplinary Codes and Procedures

Unit 3: Law of Evidence 

• Evidence vs. Proof
• Submission of Evidence during a Disciplinary Hearing
• Direct and Circumstantial Evidence
• General Types of Evidence
• Evaluating the Evidence

Unit 4: Initiating Disciplinary Action 

• Identifying and Classifying Transgressions
• Investigating before Disciplinary Action
• Procedure for Misconduct
• Procedure for Poor Work Performance
• Procedure for Incapacity
• Implementation of Disciplinary Procedures: Non-dismissible Transgressions
• Record of Disciplinary Action
• Fair Dismissal
• Summary Dismissal
• Practical Steps for Undertaking Investigatory Interviews

Unit 5: Conducting the disciplinary action 

• Preparing for the Hearing
• Choosing the Right Chairperson
• Conduct of the Chairperson during the Disciplinary Hearing
• Disciplinary Hearing Procedure: Introduction
• Opening Statements
• Presenting Initiator Case
• Presenting Employee’s Case
• Closing Arguments
• Findings/Results of the Hearing
• Mitigating and Aggravating Circumstances
• Decision on Sanction and Closing of Proceedings