Challenging an attendance review trigger?

[britwrit]

Hi, Obviously I'm going to talk to my rep about this but it's a bank holiday. Just curious if anyone has been in my situation?

I've had four absences in the last year. One for Covid. The last one in December. Was issued with a letter from management in late January stating the review was not triggered because of the Covid absence didn't count.

To repeat, no absences since that December one,. Got issued with a letter inviting me to a formal interview yesterday. Among the documentation was a form showing that the last consecutive-day absence was split into two for some reason. Hence the new trigger.

Without the Covid absence, and the "new" one, I'm at three absences and eleven days. Close, but my first was at the end of May as well.

My question is, can I challenge the trigger? And if so - if a quiet word with the manager doesn't help - when do I do it? At the meeting? Before it?

[Sir Henry]

Go in to the meeting with your rep as a witness. Have them write down your objections to the issuing but the received wisdom is that a challenge can't take place to any stage warning until stage 3. It's a TOTAL dick move on RMs part and makes a mockery f them saying the attendance procedure isn't punitive if they can make you walk around under the sword of Damocles for months on end. Keep your paperwork and the reasons for objecting safe, dates, names of screw, rep etc

[redlen]

Must disagree, you can issue a grievance once a stage has been issued

Not against the process or trigger, but the reasoning why the manager issued it.
Things like contrary to the Equality Act etc

In reality there is no stage 3, that is a dismissal procedure

How a disciplinary procedure that has sanctions attached cannot be appealed simply does not make sense. What was the reasoning of the CWU?
That is denying access to justice

[rainbowwarrior72]

An Attendance review trigger is just that it's automatically triggered by HR re the stage warning from it is down to your manager and he can knock it back as it is their decision which you can point out once you have had that meeting. If he issues it I would put in a grievance regardless. I was told that re the notes make sure that its in writing why they issued it and the reason they give if not refuse to sign it as you will need it for later reference if you should get a RTU. But a tip for anyone if the notes are not right do not sign them as they are technically the proof what happened at the meeting and its for the managers benefit as much as yours that they are correct

[britwrit]

Update. Talked to a higher-up manager last night. Was told that it was a false trigger and not to worry, everything was normal, no meeting, nothing.

Apparently, I'll get the updated letter in a few days. But wow, what a tension-filled weekend. I always wondered at how folks can go sick with stress and now - even with something as pretty minor as this - I completely understand.