Attendance Of Meeting Whilst On Maternity Leave

[crazygirly]

Hi All

Does anyone know if work can request I attend an investigative interview whilst I am on maternity leave.

All advice much appreciated.

[Maydup]

Its hard to say with such little information, but with reasonable notice I think they probably can.

Can you tell us anymore?

[crazygirly]

Hi Maydup and thanks for the reply. I'm not sure if you can see questions I have posted on here previously. If you can view my previous questions, the date I posted the question was back in 2007 and titled "suspension from work". Basically, it is in regards to internet usage whilst at work. I have been on maternity leave for 5 months and received the letter yesterday asking me to attend an "investigative interview".

[woofgang]

Is there a really good reason why you shouldn't go? I mean a really really good reason?

[murraymints]

Seems odd after all that time..presumably you were not sacked back then....so why drag it up again unless there has been a recurrence ? Is it related to the old stuff ?... I'd go !

[Maydup]

Hi CG, sorry I couldn't scroll back to find the post, but either way, I think you should go to the interview. And yes they can write to you about it while you're on Mat leave as you are still an employee.

You're probably entiled to request a change of time if you cannot make the appointment, but you should go otherwise your fate will be decided for you and you will be recorded as not offering an explanation.

[albaqwerty]

it was this thread Maydup, if that's of any help

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Law/Question480821.html

[factor-fiction]

Is the 'investigate interview' definitely related to the matters for which you were suspended in 2007 or is there a suggestion that they have further concerns about more recent internet usage?
The former would seem very odd.

[Maydup]

Thank you Alba

CG- what was the outcome in 2007?

[tonywiltshire]

You should attend if possible, it will probably be in your interest, if it is impossible for you to attend write and explain why and ask them to re-schedule.

[vodkancoke]

I don't know what the law is, but if it were me I would go. Why give them an excuse to have a go at you?

[Peter Pedant]

HI C G

TW has said yes go and he is always right......

but (not being a lawyer and he is always right) leave is leave
and if they can call you back - it aint leave is it ?

You see if you were sick, that is on sick leave - I would say no.

I wonder if TW has understood how different pregnant women feel
and I wonder if you attend without a keeper you may say something you would not say if you werent pregnant.

the other thing is that if they are investigating you whilst you are pregnant, they must be thinking of firing you

and so my inclination would be..... to write and say you are more than ready to co operate with your employer but that you are pregnant and on leave and that it should be routed for when you return.

Make sure you take post-partum maternity leave as well.

[brandyrose]

It is worth checking the policy as it may mention that in certain circumstances a member of staff may be asked or invited to attend a meeting while on leave.

Have they aleady requested or are you afraid they may request?

Surely you would know if you were being investigated - surely you would be made aware of this first in writing (I would have thought) and then you would expect some enquiry to follow. ... 2007 seems too far back to be dealing with now and this does not seem logical at all. What was the upshot then?

I would never attend an investigative interview about something without knowing a bit of detail first. You need a few facts including who in attendance,
if you can have union rep with you and this needs to be booked, length of time to expect to be in the meeting and where.

If you think that you may have (intentionally or not) breached a policy while at work (eg IT/Confidentiality/dataprotection/Internet usage - whatever) then
do they know?

If a matter is being investigated and it involves you then it is unlikely to go away so you need to know what it is about and then you can work with the employer to help them sort it. They should have to follow procedure so it is important to be abreast of this so you know what to expect and it should be the same for any other member of staff.

Take one thing at a time.

[Peter Pedant]

good advice BR

[crazygirly]

Hi All

Maydup and Brandyrose, the outcome of the internet usage incident in 2007 was a final written warning for 12 months. No verbal or written warning.

[DJHawkes]

then that is spent and this new interview, which is at the investifative stage, is to answer perhaps accusations made by other employees/management, which they probably have a certain amount of evidence for. Has there perhaos been either a repeat of the behavior or is someone making accusations against you over that or another breach?

[crazygirly]

Hi DJHawkes,

In the letter asking me to attend an investigative interview re the internet, it says that an audit trail has been done and shows inappropriate and excessive use of the internet.

[woofgang]

You had a final written warning and you did it again??? Oh dear.

[crazygirly]

Wolfgang....I take it you think that they will use previous warning, even though it has expired?

[brandyrose]

Crazygirly - OK...so they have a trail. I'm just concentrating on the most recent event for now. Inappropriate and excessive use of the internet. The thing is - if I were you I would really think hard about what you may/may not have done. Say if using facebook other than at lunch time when you are on your break is deemed inappropriate - and you went over that time by 2mins or 5 mins and did that alot - they may see that as inappropriate but you may have intended to log out and got distracted with customers etc.. I would be inclined to say - if you like your job and need it - fight and give yourself the best chance you can.

You will know best what they might be referring to. Regarding the "excessive" - it depends on their definition of excessive and the policy may have changed on this since 2007/8. Just try to work it out as best you can. I would like to think they will see this as a "fresh" matter however there is a risk they may refer to previous events but referring is ok if perhaps you really took note and listened then - it could bring positive aspects out too. 2008 is nearly 5 years ago. You may have this "excessive" thing happening but in actual fact it might have been one intense period on-line (you should't be doing it) so it will be about arguing your case very well and getting all the support you can if you want to get through this and give yourself the best chance of success. They may have to give you a warning again and that might be it - it really depends on the outcome of the investigation and their policy and sometimes who deals with it.
With modern technology companies can track everything. You are not going to be the first person in this position. Good luck.

[crazygirly]

Thanks Brandyrose!