Work Disciplinary

[wormatron]

I currently work full time at a science communication center to which I am not contracted. Having failed to turn up to work on Friday for personal reasons and not contacting them until after mid-day due to the nature of the problem, the hierachy have decided, following a meeting this morning that they will be holding a disciplinary meeting. The reasons for this, detailed in a formal letter were that my sighting 'personal reasons' and refusing to elaborate on the issue was deemed non-satisfactory enough for said hierachy.
To get to the point, is one and a half days an acceptable period of notice for myself?
Are my employers allowed under working law to do this or are there procedures that should be followed as 'best practice?
Your help is much appreciated.

[Mumof2]

look here this may help

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=82 0

[bednobs]

why dont you just tell them why you couldn't ring?

[wormatron]

Wonderfully helpful Bedknobs! I haven't told them due to the personal nature of the reaon. I would hope that this would be grounds enough for them to excuse me but clearly this is not enough. I've also had a look at the link but this is mainly from the perspective of the employer, I was hoping for some more employee related articles

[buildersmate]

No, its not unlikely to be good enough, Wormatron. Its 'best practice' to let your employer know that you are not coming in as soon as possible after the event. Its then fair enough to explain the reason when you get back to work, keeping in touch with the employer every few days if it is prolonged period.
All your employer is asking is for you to explain why you were not able to contact them for 1.5 working days after the 'problem' arose. As a former personnel manager, I would want to know more.

[meglet]

Can you not tell them something other than the real reason so it sounds plausible? Without giving them a decent explanation you aren't leaving them much choice but to envoke a disciplinary.

[bednobs]

ok, you don't want to tell them, but "PERSONAL REASONS" is such a crappy excuse. It culd mean anything from my partner is dying of aids to i couldn't be bothered to get out of bed. If it was the former, they should give you some leeway, the latter and they wont, but how are they supposed to know which end of the spectrum your "personal reasons" are?
I dont know what your terms and conditions of employment are, but mine includes a paragraph about who to contact if you are unable to attend for your work and it says something like cntacting them before your shift starts. If yours is the same, then they have given you fair warning of what to expect, and like i say they might give some leeway, if only they knew what the problem was

[buildersmate]

Precisely, Bedknobs. And the reason for why no contact for 1.5 days needs explaining, as well as a better reason for the absence. A reasonable employee phones within 4 hours of the start of the absence - however sometimes that's not possible.

[bednobs]

i read it that he/she in formed them on the same day, but after midday. I think the 1 1/2 days is when the meeting will be held, and the poster was asking if thats enough notice to give of a disciplnary meeting

[wormatron]

Bednobs is right, i'm not asking for opinion from anyone, I dont need strangers opining as to my decision, I simply asked for a point of legal clarification. \\\my question relates to the period of time my employer has gien me to prepare for the meeting, 1.5 days does not seem enough.

[wormatron]

To add Buildersmate, I was meant to start at 9, I phoned in at 12:42 to tell them making it 3 hours and 42 minutes leaving me 18 minutes spare within your reasonable time limit but thanks for your uppety remarks.

[bednobs]

hmm,it seems a bit much that you didnt give them any notice of your side of the contract (ie turning p for work) yet you are upset they are not giving you much notice on their side. i still maintain that if you gave them some clue (dnt have to go into details) about the nature of your absence you might be looked upon more favourably. unless of course it really was "cant be bothered to get up!!" :-)

[meglet]

Wormatron - so what happened anyway?

[wormatron]

Thanks for asking Meglet, a verbal warning was decided as best course of action having taken into account the severity of the situation. Without going into too many details they thought I was ignoring their phones calls to my mobile. When I told them I had had to rush from home without it they were understanding.

XxX

[meglet]

Good, glad to hear it wasn't severe.