Written Warning

[Im a BusyBee]

am i right in thinking you have to get 2 verbal warnings before you get a written warning? then the written warning is the final straw and the next step is dismissal? in other words you cannot be given written warning if you havent had 2 verbal ones.

[ummmm]

I thought it was one verbal and two written.

[another-view]

All depends on the seriousness of the incident. We will need the full story in order to advise.

[Teleph0ne]

You can receive a written warning for a more serious incident regardless of how many verbal warnings you have received and you acn also be dismissed for gross misconduct without verbal or written warnings. verbal warnings are usually only for minor breaches and it would also depend on your companies discliplinary proceedure

[Im a BusyBee]

a friend has asked me to find out and i dont actually have the whole story - her question was how long after the incident can you get a written warning? how quickly does it have to be dealt with? but aside from that i thought you had to have 2 verbal first?

[another-view]

Nonsense.

"I punched the boss but it's ok, I'll just get a verbal warning"

[Teleph0ne]

you could get 2 verbals and a written on the same day if you are dumb enough to continue whatever you are doing wrong!

[chelle7272]

In our company it is one verbal and then a written, if it for the same type of offence. And as Teleph0ne has said, it depends on the company policy.

[Im a BusyBee]

ok so im wrong on that - and if you punched the boss i would think instant dismissal would be in order! so do you know how long after the event a written warning can be given?

[chelle7272]

Again depends on company policy - ours doesn't specify but I don't think they could get away with leaving it too long as often verbal wqarnings become spent after so many months

[buildersmate]

Teleph0ne's answer is the most correct and complete one.

[Im a BusyBee]

ive just found out a bit more...a delivery driver drove off after dropping off a parcel and as she went round roundabout the back door came open, it broke windscreen of another vehicle she stopped and exchanged details. when she got back she told her manager what had happened (nothing was said at the time), this was about 6 weeks ago. this week she was given a written warning - it does seem a bit late???

[buildersmate]

Sounds serious enough to warrant a Written Warning. But we don't have very many of the facts.
The company should have investigated the circumstances, undertaken a disciplinary interview and depending on what they found, determined what to do. 6 weeks isn't necessarily a long time - perhaps needed to talk to few members of the public who were caught up in the street in the incident. Because of that, access to such people isn't directly easy - because they need to trace them.
If your friend is thinking of appealing it, doing so on the grounds of 'why did it take so long' isn't a good idea.

[daftgrandad]

Was she told that she was actually being given a written warning,for this particular
incident ?

[Im a BusyBee]

i think its more a case of no indication or mention was given at the time of reporting it and then hearing no more and this coming out of the blue this week she was just given a letter no talking or discussions. shes been there years and she was surprised no one told her what they were giving her and she wasnt told this was still bubbling away in the office. hard to explain on here hope you understand what i mean!

[daftgrandad]

As the driver of the vehicle,she would be totally responsible for safety and security of same.
Having caused an accident,through her own negligence,her employers could have considered gross misconduct,which can mean instant dismissal,but I think took a slightly more lenient approach.

[buildersmate]

No that is not acceptable if she was merely hauled in to receive her warning. That is not in line with the ACAS Code of Conduct on such matters, which employers are well-advised to follow.
At the very minimum it is important that employer asks her for her side of the story before coming to a decision - not just dole out a written warning.
She could consider invoking the grievance procedure on this point alone - it's a flawed process.

[Teleph0ne]

The delay may be due to the insurers taking time to get in contact, more details could have come to light from the insurance claim against the company such as the manor of driving etc. This should be subject to some sort of disclinary hearing before a writte warning is issued though. I would say that leaving the door open and losing a parcel, hitting another car with the parcel would count as gross misconduct so they are lucky to still have a job!

[buildersmate]

Yes, but many an employer has failed to win at an Employment Tribunal, hearing a case for unfair dismissal, not because they reached the wrong decision but because they failed to follow the rudiments of a correct process.

[Teleph0ne]

which is probably why they are issuing a written warning rather than dissmisal. I would say more info has come to light with the insurance claim which is why they didn't initially take any action

[buildersmate]

Still should interview the 'accused' to get the other side of the story - BEFORE issuing a warning. Flawed process.