DRAFT!: Chairperson’s checklist for a formal disciplinary hearing:

If maximum penalty in Disciplinary Code is: (mark appropriate option)

Dismissal / FWW ________

No Dismissal / FWW ________

The disciplinary process is: (mark appropriate option) ________

Disciplinary hearing ________

Formal investigation ________

Before the hearing (mark yes or no where appropriate)

Check: are you sufficiently objective to chair the hearing? ___________

Has the employee been given sufficient notice of the hearing? ___________

Does the notice clearly describe the alleged misconduct? ___________

Is the proposed date, time and venue suitable for all parties, including witnesses? ___________

Is an interpreter / fellow employee conversant in the languages available, if required? ___________

Is the employee a shop steward, and if so, has the trade union been consulted? ___________


During the hearing (mark if done, where appropriate)

Open the hearing and introduce yourself (if necessary).___________

Check that the employee is present. ___________

Read out to the employee:

⦁ His / Her full name:

⦁ His period of service:

2.2.3 His/ Her job title: “you are employed as a ……………….” ……………………

⦁ Request parties to sign an attendance register.

Introduce the parties if necessary.

⦁ Advise parties if you are recording proceedings.

(If employee requests permission to also record proceedings, this would normally be granted.)

⦁ If employee is not present, determine why and whether a postponement is required or whether the hearing will proceed in the employee’s absence.

⦁ If employee is present:

⦁ Check if employee has or requires a representative. ___________

⦁ Check whether the employee requires an interpreter / fellow employee conversant in the required languages. ___________

⦁ Check that the employee received the notice of the hearing. ___________

⦁ Check that the employee understands the allegations.___________

⦁ Check that the employee had sufficient time to prepare.___________

Read the employee’s rights: 2.6.6.1. An interpreter if necessary ___________

2.6.6.2. To state his side of the case ___________

2.6.6.3. To be represented by a co-employee ___________

2.6.6.4. To bring in witnesses ___________

⦁ To put questions to employer’s witnesses ___________

⦁ To a finding from the Disciplinary Committee ___________

2.6.6.7. To hear the maximum penalty ___________

2.6.6.8. To put forward mitigating circumstances ___________

2.6.6.9. Decision on the penalty ___________

2.6.6.10. In case of dismissal – appeal ` ___________

⦁ Briefly outline the procedure to be followed in the first stage of the hearing, as follows: ⦁ Read the allegations and ask the employee to state separately whether or not s/he has committed the misconduct as alleged. I.e. ask the employee to plea on the charges against him / her.

⦁ If the employee acknowledges having committed the misconduct, ask for background from both parties and then move to point 2.11.

⦁ If the employee denies having committed the misconduct, ask for opening statements from both parties.

⦁ Company leads evidence of its witnesses.

⦁ Cross-examination of each witness by the employee / representative.

⦁ Re-examination of the witness by the company.

⦁ Employee leads evidence.

⦁ Cross-examination by employer representative of employee’s witnesses (if any).

⦁ Re-examination of employer’s witnesses by employer’s representative.

⦁ Delivery of closing argument.


⦁ Follow procedure as outlined, then adjourn in order to consider the evidence and make a finding. Determine how long the adjournment should be, based on complexity of issues, and advise parties.


⦁ To Analyse the facts: (mark if done)

Concentrate on: ⦁ Oral evidence ………………….

⦁ Real evidence ………………….

⦁ Documentary evidence ………………….

⦁ Admissions / confessions ………………….

⦁ Circumstantial evidence ………………….

⦁ Corroboration …………………..

Ignore: (mark if ignored)

⦁ Previous verdicts ………………….

⦁ Character ………………….

⦁ Opinion ………………….

⦁ Hearsay ………………….

⦁ Privileges ………………….

⦁ Make a finding whether or not to uphold one or more of the allegations (separate finding on each separate allegation). Parties to be advised of finding on resumption of proceedings.

⦁ If none of the allegations have been proved by the employer, the hearing ends.

⦁ If one or more allegations have been proved, set out the procedure to be followed in the second stage of the hearing:

⦁ Evidence in mitigation (lessen) of sanction (see hereunder factors to be considered);

⦁ Evidence in aggravation of sanction (see hereunder factors to be considered);

Mitigating:

⦁ Long service record

⦁ Clean service record

⦁ Isolated incident

⦁ Has the rule been enforced in the past?

⦁ Did the employee know of the disciplinary rule?

⦁ Circumstances relating to the commission of the infraction

⦁ The contribution of management to the commission of the infraction

⦁ The personal circumstances of the employee

Aggravating:

⦁ Poor service record

⦁ Position of trust

⦁ Cost to the Company

⦁ Adjourn to consider the sanction.

Determine how long the adjournment should be, based on complexity, and advise parties.

⦁ Decide on the sanction / recommendation of sanction (depending on your mandate from the employer).

⦁ If the sanction is dismissal, determine whether summary dismissal or on notice.

⦁ If a recommendation is required, advise the employer of the recommendation and allow the employer to take a final decision on this.

⦁ Where the employer wishes to impose a more serious sanction than that recommended by the chairperson of the enquiry, the employer should notify the employee of this.

⦁ Advise the employee in writing of the outcome of the hearing.

Note: the law does not require that an appeal process should follow, but if the employer provides for a right of appeal in the employer’s disciplinary policy / procedure, then this should be communicated to the employee.

⦁ If the employee is dismissed, ensure that s/he is advised in writing of his/her right to refer an unfair dismissal dispute to the CCMA / bargaining council within thirty (30) days of the date of dismissal (or 30 days of the date of outcome of an appeal, if any).

⦁ After the hearing

⦁ Check minutes for accuracy.

⦁ Where minutes are available ensure that a copy of the minutes is given to the employee. The employee should be asked to sign a copy of the minutes to confirm receipt and accuracy. Where the employee refuses to sign for receipt of the minutes, a witness may sign to confirm that the minutes were given to the employee.

3.4 Ensure that all documentation relating to the enquiry is kept safely, in the event of the outcome of the enquiry being challenged.