Grievance - arrangements for meeting as part of this process

Where an alternative date and time is requested to allow a representative or work colleague to attend, the Council will make reasonable efforts to accommodate this.
Where a representative is unable to attend a meeting, either as part of an investigation, the Formal Meeting or Appeal Hearing, 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.
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. Managers are strongly advised to seek advice from HR before taking this action.