Attendance review leads to grievance *UPDATE*

[Broxi51]

Just a quick question as I have decided to put in a grievance regarding my getting an Attendance review 1.
I was given this by a graduate manager. Does a manager/graduate manager have to do a course before they can
do Attendance reviews?
I was speaking to an ex-manager who told me that there used to be a course that had to be completed
before they could do an Attendance review

I feel that I have a strong case and was just looking to see if there was extra ammo to throw in

Many Thanks

[rehabron]

Just a quick question as I have decided to put in a grievance regarding my getting an Attendance review 1.
I was given this by a graduate manager. Does a manager/graduate manager have to do a course before they can
do Attendance reviews?
I was speaking to an ex-manager who told me that there used to be a course that had to be completed
before they could do an Attendance review

I feel that I have a strong case and was just looking to see if there was extra ammo to throw in

Many Thanks

Yes they should have received training on the procedure as with the conduct procedure.
Did you not have representation with you at the review meeting?
Whether this would be enough to wipe out the stage1 review is debatable as more inclined to be based on the particular merits of your case that has led to the stage1.
Should you unfortunately reach a stage3 review which has an appeal stage and heard by an appeals manager who has received the appropraite training you can bring up your stage1 review and challenge the issuing of it.

[spilie]

depending on circumstances I would always raise a Grievance against a Stage 1 being issued, remember they should only issue a Stage 1 if they feel it is necessary and they have no choice given the circumstances, Stage 1 issues are meant to be corrective not punitive much like a Conduct so to issue they should be convinced that issuing is the only option. Another reason you should raise a Grievance is if you get to a Stage 3 it may help, as it would go towards your hearing and the Grievance may have some details that will be valuable also if you were to be dismissed it would be part of your ET bundle should you chose to take it to Tribunal. Lastly it is a severe pain in the a£$e for RM to allocate a manager to hear a Grievance so for that alone its worth it

[Creditshampoo]

Grievance. The manager has to be 100% sure that the correct process has been followed.

[fishtank]

From what I hear it's going to be irrelevant soon anyway, Royal Mail want to automatically issue review 1 and 2 and leave any mitigation until review 3.

I would suggest everyone starts keeping a diary, hold onto any fit notes, OH reports, back to work plans and ask for everything in writing.

[elm24]

Just a quick question as I have decided to put in a grievance regarding my getting an Attendance review 1.
I was given this by a graduate manager. Does a manager/graduate manager have to do a course before they can
do Attendance reviews?
I was speaking to an ex-manager who told me that there used to be a course that had to be completed
before they could do an Attendance review

I feel that I have a strong case and was just looking to see if there was extra ammo to throw in

Many Thanks

Do you know for certain he hasn't done the relevant course?

[Creditshampoo]

From what I hear it's going to be irrelevant soon anyway, Royal Mail want to automatically issue review 1 and 2 and leave any mitigation until review 3.

I would suggest everyone starts keeping a diary, hold onto any fit notes, OH reports, back to work plans and ask for everything in writing.

They can’t issue stages to being covered under the equality act though. Well I say can’t, I mean shouldn’t. Maybe it’s under the ACAS guidelines

[fishtank]

The Equality Act would have no effect on automatically issuing stage 1 and 2 reviews as long as the disability was taken into account at the consideration for dismissal review. It's only likely to be unlawful to dismiss someone for absences related to a disability although even that isn't a given. It's not likely to be unlawful to put them on the attendance review stage.

That's the whole point of their argument

[Broxi51]

Just a quick update.
Was given my attendance review 1 for gall bladder surgery.
I put in a grievance 1 as I felt that being given it for having corrective surgery was wrong and unfair. I received no reply within the 14 days.
I phoned HR and updated grievance to a stage 2. Was told my area manager or one of his managers would
be in touch within 28 days.
The area manager phoned my office and enquired about me early on and then nothing.
After 28 days, I wrote a letter to my area managers boss asking why no one had been in touch and that when I phoned HR
after the 28 days, I was told there was nothing else they could do. I pointed out that the new grievance policy had just started in January 2018
and what happens when an area manager decides not to deal with your grievance and HR don't want to know.
A few days later I received an invitation from a manager to discuss my concerns.
I pointed out that it was corrective surgery. My union rep pointed out that an AR1 was not meant to be punitive
and that my surgery was to stop me going off with gall stones again. He asked a few questions and left.
This grievance has been going on since July and only now am I maybe getting somewhere.
Obviously, I would like a positive result on my grievance but it is now more about me being ignored by the area manager
who was supposed to deal with it or get someone to do so.
Will update again when I get any more news.

[patrickstar14]

I suggest you call their bluff and raise an Employment Tribunal claim over this as the internal procedures are not being followed and in reasonable timescales.

[General Mannerheim]

I suggest you call their bluff and raise an Employment Tribunal claim over this as the internal procedures are not being followed and in reasonable timescales.

He might be out of time already.

[Broxi51]

After 98 days. I finally received a SD letter informing me that my grievance was not applicable and that Royal Mail had followed correct procedures. It's good to know that a manager can decide that giving me an attendance warning for corrective surgery was the correct procedure.
I have decided to appeal against that decision and we are now approx. 40 days into the appeal without hearing anything.
I am not bothered about being given an attendance warning so much as being ignored by RM. I think it is appalling for a company the size of RM to behave in this manner and I will certainly take different steps should I be off again rather than listen to any so called helpful advice from an RM manager.

[Navalron]

Good on you mate. Stand up for what you believe is the right thing....just watch your back as they tend to find things against people who stand up for themselves....we have all saw it happen.