Have you ever gone through a disciplinary process at work?

Question

I wrote a letter of appeal for an 18 year old male who had be sacked for gross misconduct for not following the company sickness policy. (he couldn't get through on the phone so he didn't let them know - twice). He has been invited to a meeting on Monday. Has anyone been successful from this point on? If so, how did you manage to persuade them to reconsider?

Answer 1

The company will explain why they viewed these lapses' as serious and ask if he fully understood his conditions of employment - which will be re-stated to him. he will be given the chance to explain again why he did not phone in.  I have represented the company in many of these hearings and his excuse that he could not get through would be treated with some scepticism. Their phones would not have been permanently engaged and he could have set auto-redial until he was connected. Short of being carted off in an ambulance to the hospital, few people are that sick that they cannot make a 2 minute phone call.

His overall conduct and attitude during his employment will have been  taken into consideration and while previous decisions can indeed be reversed, and have been many times, they are likely to consider that there are no good reasons for over riding the original decision.  

Answer 2

Not being able to get through on the phone, twice, is not an excuse.  He will not be successful.  (retired IBM exec mgr)