Code of Practice on Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures

What is the code of practice on grievance and disciplinary procedures and when should you use it?

Codes of Practice are sets of written rules which define how persons or companies must act in given situations.

The drafting of these Codes rests with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

Any Code of Practice has a statutory basis.

The WRC code of practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures is an Irish code of practice for employers to follow when handling disciplinary issues and employee complaints in the workplace.

This Code of Practice covers the stages required in dealing with grievance and disciplinary matters and the sanctions allowed under the Code from an oral warning to disciplinary hearings to dismissal.

Although the Code of Practice isn’t legally binding, if a grievance procedure does not comply with the WRC Code of Practice, this can be used in evidence against the employer in WRC adjudications, Labour Court hearings or other court proceedings.

This means that the WRC may draw on relevant Codes of Practice when adjudicating on any matter, so it is important that you have an understanding and knowledge of the various Codes in existence as they relate to a specific issue.

Therefore, you should ensure that when drafting your disciplinary policy it draws from and follows this code of practice.

Our disciplinary policy template does this.