Wednesday, May 17, 2017

You’ve been called into a discipline meeting . . . Now what?

Get representation. A CLAC steward or representative should be available for the meeting.
Your steward is not your lawyer. Their job is not to argue your innocence. They are there to support you, be a witness, prevent abusive behaviour, and help make sure that you understand what is happening.

Take responsibility. If you’re guilty, don’t try to avoid it. Your attitude in the meeting is one of the factors a manager takes into account when deciding whether to discipline or not, and at what level. A poor attitude usually leads to higher levels of discipline. A positive one only helps. However, if you’re innocent, don’t admit to something you didn’t do!

Be open. This is a time to share information and to ask questions. If you’re having difficulty speaking your mind, ask for a brief break in the meeting and discuss it with your steward.

Grievance timelines. If you disagree with the discipline, tell your CLAC steward or representative right away. Your collective agreement has a timeline for filing a grievance. If you wait too long, your employer can deny the grievance.

Keep it in perspective. You didn’t imagine yourself here and you might be embarrassed. But progressive discipline is there to help employees improve, and you are not alone as it happens frequently. Try to think of it as a learning opportunity.

You’ve been called into a discipline meeting . . . Now what?

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