The Advice Thread

[Stan Hullis]

A453 is a nightmare at the minute though

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Depends on the time of day. I drove there on Tuesday at about 10 in the morning, and had a clear run.

 

[ROVERT47]

Thanks Frank, i've got at least three options, i'll probably see what 'Bossy Belle' has to say. (name my Grandaughter has given the Sat Nav voice)

 

[Wolf Hunting]

What's the best prog or way of transferring all your contacts & Messages from your old mobile phone to a new one?

I should be getting my new free phone tomorrow..!

Anyone done this process easily?

 

[MARKakaJIM]

The last two phones i've purchased had a feature where they'd connect to your old phone via bluetooth and just steal whatever bits across that you told it to, not sure how common that is though.

 

[Jolemai]

There should/might be an app for it. I know that Motorola do one.

 

[Wolf Hunting]

The last time I updated my phone I used the software that came with it Sony something or other and whilst it did copy everything across, it shortened everything...
So I had about 10 entries for Greystones... library, car repairs, veg shop, police station, railway station, pet supplies etc...
But afterwards I just had 'Grey...' 10 times!
Really annoying...

 

[Sniffer]

Not sure if anybody can help but a colleagues wife has an employment related issue. Her boss wants her to leave and claims that he has a case for gross misconduct against her, but at the same time is offering her a sum of money to go. The money offered is less than a statutory redundancy payment would be. She has been suspended from work subject to disciplinary procedures and has asked that she attends a disciplinary meeting in Norwich. Her work is office based in Birmingham, she lives close by but the office in Norwich is a different business owned by him and is nothing to do with the company she works for.

Can she be forced to travel to Norwich to attend the meeting?

 

[So Long Architect]

Not sure if anybody can help but a colleagues wife has an employment related issue. Her boss wants her to leave and claims that he has a case for gross misconduct against her, but at the same time is offering her a sum of money to go. The money offered is less than a statutory redundancy payment would be. She has been suspended from work subject to disciplinary procedures and has asked that she attends a disciplinary meeting in Norwich. Her work is office based in Birmingham, she lives close by but the office in Norwich is a different business owned by him and is nothing to do with the company she works for.

Can she be forced to travel to Norwich to attend the meeting?

Sounds like the employer is being unreasonable by holding it in Norwich and she would be within her rights to ask for it to be moved to a different location. I'd recommend she calls the ACAS helpline - http://www.acas.org.uk/helpline I've used them several times as an employer and they really are excellent.

And there are rules around Settlement Agreements, which is what she is being offered by the sounds of it - she should take some advice before agreeing to it - http://www.acas.org.uk/settlementagreements

 

[The Bear]

I don't think he can make her travel all the way to Norwich just for a disciplinary meeting, especially if that is a different company. Also, she is entitled to representation at that meeting either by a fellow colleague or a union representative if she is in one.

If he genuinely has a gross misconduct case then he wouldn't be offering a payoff as gross misconduct is a sackable offence.

I also seem to remember that you should get full pay whilst suspended pending a disciplinary matter. I'm not sure if that is standard practice though.

 

[Sniffer]

Thanks for the replies and I think that we are all singing off the same song sheet. Her problem is that she works for a small company with only 5 employees and no Union representation. Her colleagues, in fear of what has happened to her, don't seem keen to be seen to be taking sides.

I've told him previously that a meeting in Norwich is unreasonable and that a meeting either at her workplace or a neutral venue nearby to her work should be requested.

 

[darlowolf64]

Thanks for the replies and I think that we are all singing off the same song sheet. Her problem is that she works for a small company with only 5 employees and no Union representation. Her colleagues, in fear of what has happened to her, don't seem keen to be seen to be taking sides.

I've told him previously that a meeting in Norwich is unreasonable and that a meeting either at her workplace or a neutral venue nearby to her work should be requested.

It doesn't have to be a work colleague who attends the hearing with her, she can give advance notice that she intends to have someone attend with her and this can be either a union rep (no union though) or she can have a friend, purhapse a solicitor sit in.
If she has a friend who is a solicitor and is willing to help out (or can afford to hire one) I'd go for the solicitor and scare the shit out of her employer.....

 

[lemonjelly]

Requiring travel to Norwich is unreasonable, & could be argued to be bullying.

If he had evidence of gross misconduct, he would have dismissed her, secure in the knowledge that he had a water tight case. Gross misconduct is instant dismissal, so is severe. He really doesn't have any proof at all.

Sniffer, does she have legal protection cover on her car/house insurance? This doesn't just cover car accidents, it is for any legal issue. Use this! They'll get you a specialist employment law solicitor who'll get more than statutory redundancy pay.

Oh, & get her to start a diary of events immediately. & she MUST write everything down.

 

[lemonjelly]

I don't think he can make her travel all the way to Norwich just for a disciplinary meeting, especially if that is a different company. Also, she is entitled to representation at that meeting either by a fellow colleague or a union representative if she is in one.

If he genuinely has a gross misconduct case then he wouldn't be offering a payoff as gross misconduct is a sackable offence.

I also seem to remember that you should get full pay whilst suspended pending a disciplinary matter. I'm not sure if that is standard practice though.

Full pay whilst suspended is a contractual matter. However if the written T&C's of employment do not allow suspension without pay, then the suspension has to be with pay.

 

[The Bear]

Cheers, I wasn't sure on that one.

 

[Sniffer]

Thanks again all. She is currently receiving full pay and is paying for legal advice, which to me doesn't seem to be doing her much good at the moment. The legal expenses part of her home insurance kicks in if the case goes to court.

 

[lemonjelly]

If she signs a compromise agreement, the employer has to pay those legal fees.

 

[Sniffer]

Not sure if anybody can help but a colleagues wife has an employment related issue. Her boss wants her to leave and claims that he has a case for gross misconduct against her, but at the same time is offering her a sum of money to go. The money offered is less than a statutory redundancy payment would be. She has been suspended from work subject to disciplinary procedures and has asked that she attends a disciplinary meeting in Norwich. Her work is office based in Birmingham, she lives close by but the office in Norwich is a different business owned by him and is nothing to do with the company she works for.

Can she be forced to travel to Norwich to attend the meeting?

Thanks to all for the comments from before. After deciding that the so called legal expert that they had hired was not up to much they managed to get a retired Union official to take on their case for them. The meeting venue was changed to a local neutral location but didn't happen as they settled for redundancy, costs and a reference in advance of the meeting.

 

[Sniffer]

Not sure if anybody can help but a colleagues wife has an employment related issue. Her boss wants her to leave and claims that he has a case for gross misconduct against her, but at the same time is offering her a sum of money to go. The money offered is less than a statutory redundancy payment would be. She has been suspended from work subject to disciplinary procedures and has asked that she attends a disciplinary meeting in Norwich. Her work is office based in Birmingham, she lives close by but the office in Norwich is a different business owned by him and is nothing to do with the company she works for.

Can she be forced to travel to Norwich to attend the meeting?

Thanks to all for the comments from before. After deciding that the so called legal expert that they had hired was not up to much they managed to get a retired Union official to take on their case for them. The meeting venue was changed to a local neutral location but didn't happen as they settled for redundancy, costs and a reference in advance of the meeting.

 

[lemonjelly]

Sounds like the boss had no case against her whatsoever imo...