Grievance - unable to attend meetings/hearings

3.    Unable to attend meetings/hearings

The employee raising the complaint should make all reasonable attempts to attend the meetings arranged under the procedure and provide adequate information in relation to their complaint within a reasonable timescale.

Where the employee is unable to attend a meeting, either as part of an investigation, the Formal Meeting or Appeal Hearing, due to the unavailability of their TU representative or work colleague, every effort should be made to re-arrange the meeting to a mutually convenient date and time, within the set timescales.

If management have made every reasonable effort to meet with the employee, but a mutually agreed date and time cannot be reached because of unavailability of the employee or representative, the meeting/hearing may take place in absence of either or both and an outcome determined on the resolution in their absence. 

The reasons and likely duration for the representative not being able to attend a meeting/hearing should be considered and a minimum of one alternative date and time must have been offered before this action is considered. 

Where an employee is off sick and unable to attend a meeting(s), the procedure should continue as far as possible in the absence of the employee. 

When the employee is on long-term sickness leave, the manager should refer them to Occupational Health Services (OHS). The referral to OHS should include seeking advice on whether the employee is fit to attend meetings/hearings and/or fit to submit written documentation to be considered in their absence.