Thanks beefy some good information there. What would be the outcome of not being given 7 days notice of the meeting and putting in a grievance.
Edited: just found on ACAS website that I should of been invited in writing but doesn’t say what the outcome would be if they didn’t write to me.
beefy4605:
An investagatory meeting is the perunner to a disiplinary meeting . What you say at one of these meetings will be analised and if you have admitted doing anything thats not in line with company policy you are in effect shafting yourself .
1 - you should have been given 7 days notice by letter which should have advised you what this meeting is about .
2- you have the right to be accompanied by a work mate or a unoin rep.
if those terms have not been met - I’d lodge a greivance immediately - make no mistake - if you admitted something in that meeting your next step is to a disiplinary meeting .
Remember Human Resourses are there to get the best outcome for the company not you do not be fooled by the plastic smiles and the "friendly chat "
minimum 48 hrs notice to " chat to me! " 
and all the above ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
LASHHGV:
Thanks beefy some good information there. What would be the outcome of not being given 7 days notice of the meeting and putting in a grievance.
If you can prove the company did not stick to their own policy then any further action as a result of anything that happens because of that meeting has to be set aside and a new investigation must take place .
Every company has a different policy - ask for the lastest copy of company disiplinary procedures and read it . Advance notice time etc should all be in that policy - if they havent met their own standards then you have a case that they are not doing things by the book . Often this policy is agreed with the union (if there is one ). It would sound like you have been put under pressure to attend an investagatory meeting with no notice , no chance to prepare , no chance to consult a union rep and unable to have someone there of your choosing. The right union rep would see that as intimidation or/ and harassment and your manager/ company causing you undue stress at work .
Ive been through this sort of nonsence and let me assure you if you can throw the book at them do it because given half a chance they will throw it at you .
Here’s the story without naming things etc
Blue chip company (not stobarts love saying that 
)
Incident/accident 5/7 months ago
Off work most of that time
Ive been going straight to HR about certain things.
Manager didn’t like this and with no notice whatsoever and 5/7 months down the line said investigatory meeting now.
We have union that I’m in but not on site.
Get your union rep involved in this NOW , get on the phone tomorrow morning tell them what has happened and request a copy of your companies disiplinary code and their greivance procedure . Every company has a slightly different code / procedure so you need these to see where or if the company has broken their own code / procedure . It is of the utmost importance that YOU do things by the book as regards starting a greivance . Usualy these codes and procedures are full of loopholes and getout clauses but you can be dam sure that the company won’t tell you about them . You must find them and use them to your advantage - your union rep should be able to find them and use them in your defence . That said be wary of the unions - if your rep shows any reluctance to create a fuss start asking why , sometimes the unions are more interested in keeping the company happy instead of fighting your corner which is what they are there to do .
Thanks Beefy me and the wife are just making notes for my phone call to union rep in the morning.
All the best mate I had something similar happen a few months back in work, it’s not pleasant!
Thanks for that.
Turns out you don’t need any notice for an investigation meeting. And USDAW are just in my companies pockets. A snippet from conversation with union rep. ‘I was in your place the other day’ and ‘I think you’ve just upset your manager’. The union rep is supposed to back me not my manager.
Can’t wait for claim to be over going to UNITE this is the second time USDAW screwed me.
Usdaw have a no strike policy so pretty much makes them ■■■■■■■ pointless if you ask me.
It’s a bit like a lion with no teeth or claws.
It’s a bit like having nuclear weapons but declaring you’ll never use them. (jeremy corbyn)
I’m with unite, we have a really good rep and the management fear him. You can be with any union going but if your rep is a hopeless walkover you may aswell stop paying your dues each week.
beefy4605:
An investagatory meeting is the perunner to a disiplinary meeting . What you say at one of these meetings will be analised and if you have admitted doing anything thats not in line with company policy you are in effect shafting yourself .
1 - you should have been given 7 days notice by letter which should have advised you what this meeting is about .
2- you have the right to be accompanied by a work mate or a unoin rep.
if those terms have not been met - I’d lodge a greivance immediately - make no mistake - if you admitted something in that meeting your next step is to a disiplinary meeting .
Remember Human Resourses are there to get the best outcome for the company not you do not be fooled by the plastic smiles and the "friendly chat "
Err no - Your line manager has the right to speak to you about anything they like. They do not have to give you any notice at all. However you do not have to say anything either.
If you are invited to a disciplinary meeting you should be given 5 working days notice in writing. You are entitled to be accompanied but usually you will be required to advise your manager in writing who will be attending with you. Family and friends are usually not allowed but union reps and work colleagues are.
You cannot put a grievance in for anything that has not yet happened. As for HR yes they will always be on the companies side so be savy.
Union are rubbish so will how I go for now. Some management has been poor and this has gotten back to me so the thick plottens 
USDAW are a waste of space, got to be the worst Union I’ve ever come across, as has been said they just seem more interested in not upsetting the company, if I was in your position I’d be putting a call into the regional rep and see what their opinion is on the situation you find yourself in.
You are allowed someone of your choice to come in with you and if that person isn’t available then any meeting has to wait until they are available.