suspended from work during booked holiday

[divegirl]

Please help....having a really bad day here :O{

I have just been suspended from my job over a customers written complaint, I don't wish to go into detail [unless you need me to], just suffice to say the letter was full of what I believe to be un-justified vitriol.
My main concern is that I have a weeks paid leave booked commencing Friday. I have been suspended on full pay for tomorrow and am then expected to take my holiday as booked while my company carry out an investigation. Can they do this? Should I be expected to take my first holiday in months with this hanging over me?
A colleague who works for the same company has suggested that they can not. If I am suspended, I am suspended, but why should I have to use my holiday time to give them time to carry out their investigation.
I hope this makes sense ....... am feeling a little fragile atm sorry.

Lisa x

[China Doll]

Oh that's a shame love, I hope it's all sorted out soon.

In my (limited) experience of this sort of thing there is usually a set time frame with which the investigation is carried out and then a meeting is arranged to discuss what happened, what your take on it is etc... A report is produced and then if any other formal actions are going to be taken (discplinary/grievance) then you have to go to another meeting. From what I remember, you can have someone with you at both these things. So I think the long and short of my answer is yes, they can investigate without you there as they'll probably have to do that initial part within a set time frame.

Do you have a copy of your disciplinary/grievance procedure as well as a copy of the complaints procedure? Having a read through those might help you anticipate any nasty suprises.

[buildersmate]

All the employer is doing is investigating a claim - nothing else at this time. Suspension is a pretty standard thing to happen in many organisations whilst it is investigated.
I agree it is a bit unfortunate you had a holiday booked - because otherwise it might appear that you could get a bit of 'free' time off.
There is no reason why you can't be suspended whilst on holiday (just as there's no reason why one can't be suspended when sick).
If you are not actually going away / not fussed whether you have the holiday or not - you could ask to cancel the time off - use the reason that they might wish to interview you shortly (they will want to do this at some point to hear your side of the story). But they might decline your offer.

I'm afraid that I feel they had no other choice - the employer can hardly decline to investigate the circumstances until you return from your holiday.
Good points made by CD above for you to consider.

[Eve]

ACAS have some good advice you can help follow to make sure everything is done properly.

http://www.acas.org.u...x.aspx?articleid=1364

[divegirl]

Thank you all for your advice.

I am aware of my companys disciplinary procedure [sp] as I have been on the giving end of it before now :o[
I just don't think it's fair that I should spend my earned holiday time with an axe hanging over me soto speak.
But I have my action plan ready! Early morning call to my HR dept, followed by a visit to CAB. I have a good friend who is also a manager within the same company and he has offered to be my witness/note taker at any subsequent interviews and attend CAB with me tomorrow.

Once again thank youfor taking the time to reply.

Lisa x

ps....China Doll....if you come back to this thread....my neighbours are gonna hate me in the morning.....I feel a good, very loud couple of hours of thd Foos coming on....you gotta laugh or you'll cry!

[China Doll]

You go for it... Neighbourly relations are overrated anyway! ;0)

Honestly love, you know in yourself they have to do it and chances are it'll probably come to nowt if you're right about most of it being unjustified but the company still has to follow procedure which is usually suspenision while an investigation takes place. Chin up, I reckon you'll be ok.... And play a bit of 'When the wheels turn round' extra loud for me, I'm quite liking that at the moment.

And listen to Them Crooked Vultures if you haven't done already.