meeting minutes

[EllyD]

When minutes are taken at meetings of a small department, should they be approved by all attending before they are passed on to the General Manager who insists on seeing them? The problem is that the minute taker has been "colouring " things in his favour and passing them up the line before all concerned have had a chance to read them.

[shero101]

Hi Elly, interesting question but not really related to law more processes and procedures. Usually the minute taker would distribute minutes to all that attended and to any other interested parties. If there are concerns about the contents then in my experience this is fed back to the distribution list to clarify or correct any of the points made. As a manager myself I am interested in facts and who is doing what and when. I can usualy see through any 'colouring' that goes on and I expect your general manager would be able to do the same. If I was in your shoes I would have a polite word with the individual to let them know your feelings if they take no note of any general feedback. Clearly this is something that is bothering you, maybe talk to your line manager as leader's are interested in staff morale. Good luck.

[Rock'n'Roll]

You don't specify what kind of meeting. If it's a union meeting,it sweet FA to do with your manager. Normally Ass Sec would take minutes and distribute them as decided,all union members or just reps. Next meeting,the minutes of previous meeting should be read out and the attendance asked if it is a true account of previous. If not,then say so and try to clarify were the minutes differ from what was actually said.

[Roughquest]

Any minutes taken should not be altered whatsoever! It is up to the chair person to approve the minutes and even throughout the whole meeting the chair should give pointers to the minute taker as to what is to be minuted and what is to be omitted at that time, 'tweaking' the minutes after a meeting is very underhand and very rude and would certainly be a very false account of what was said at that meeting and therefore would deem unsatisfactory.

[THECORBYLOON]

If the meetings are on a regular basis, can you not correct them at the subsequent meeting or raise the matter as a specific issue or under AOB?

[sue11]

Another suggestion is to record the minutes on a voice activated recorder. I do this at meetings I attend, with the agreement of all attendees. Recorded minutes cannot be tampered with.