What is the latest advice when it comes to disciplinary or grievance investigations? Is it best to separate the role of investigator from decision-maker at the disciplinary/grievance hearing? Our procedures are silent on this – are we likely to come unstuck at the EAT or Equality Tribunal etc. if the person who carries out an investigation also convenes a formal meeting that might lead to dismissal etc.?

There should be a clear distinction between the investigation procedure and the decision making process. The investigation must be confined to make of findings of facts only, whereas the decision maker in a disciplinary process will determine if the employee should be subject to disciplinary sanction.

To avoid a suggestion of bias on the part of the investigator/decision maker, it is preferable that the individual conducting the investigation is separate to the person making the decision on any disciplinary sanction.

However, the Employment Appeals Tribunal has at time permitted an element of flexibility at the investigative stage of a disciplinary procedure. It is accepted that the