Invitation to an Informal Disciplinary Discussion Meeting

The new Discipline Code of Practice Arrangements which come into force on 6 April 2009 provide informal mechanisms with which an employer can commence disciplinary action, giving more flexibility when handling discipline issues and allowing for informal discipline action to take place to help resolve workplace problems.

The aim of informal discipline action is to hold informal discussions with an employee to help resolve and informally address minor conduct, behavioural or poor performance issues, before they become a major problem.

Typically informal discussions are normally held between an employee and their supervisor or manager and even though such discussions are informal, it is a good idea to keep documentary evidence of informal meetings held with an employee.

This letter helps managers to start documenting informal disciplinary discussions, by:

• inviting an employee to the informal meeting
• confirming meeting arrangements
• outlining the purpose of the discussion
• conveying the next course of action