Disciplinary and Investigations

Facing a disciplinary process at work can be stressful and confusing. At Employee First NZ, we provide expert employment advocacy to ensure your rights are protected. With our state-of-the-art AI assistance available anytime, anywhere, we empower employees with preliminary advice to navigate workplace challenges with confidence.

What is Disciplinary Action?

Disciplinary action is a corrective measure taken by employers to address unacceptable employee behaviour, with the goal of preventing further misconduct. It can range from verbal or written warnings to more serious actions like dismissal. Other forms of disciplinary action may include counselling, suspension, removal of privileges, mandatory training, reassignment, or, in rare cases, demotion.

Employers must have a valid reason for taking disciplinary action and follow a fair and reasonable process. Failure to do so may give employees grounds to raise a personal grievance, ensuring their rights are upheld in the workplace.

What Are Your Rights in a Disciplinary Process?

As an employee in New Zealand, you have specific rights during a disciplinary process to ensure fairness and transparency, including:

• Clear Communication: Your employer must inform you in writing about the issue, the process, and potential outcomes, such as warnings or dismissal.

• Right to Representation: You can bring a support person or representative, such as a trusted colleague, friend, or professional advocate, to any disciplinary meetings.

• Opportunity to Respond: You must be given a reasonable chance to explain your side of the story and respond to allegations before any decision is made.

• Fair Investigation: Your employer must conduct a thorough and unbiased investigation, considering all relevant evidence and your response.

• Reasonable Process: Any disciplinary action must be proportionate to the issue, and employers must adhere to agreed workplace policies or a fair process if none is specified.

If these rights are not upheld, you may have grounds for a personal grievance. Employee First NZ can guide you through this process to ensure your workplace rights are protected.

How Employee First NZ Can Assist You

At Employee First NZ, we specialise in supporting employees facing disciplinary action. Our unique approach combines expert employment advocacy with cutting-edge AI assistance, available 24/7, to provide preliminary guidance. Here’s how we can help:

• Instant Support: Get preliminary advice anytime, anywhere, through our state-of-the-art, specially programmed platform, designed to answer your questions and clarify your rights regarding a disciplinary process.

• Expert Advocacy: Our experienced team provides professional representation to ensure your voice is heard, helping you navigate meetings, respond to allegations, and achieve a fair outcome.

• Personalised Guidance: We offer tailored strategies to address your unique situation, empowering you to confidently manage workplace challenges.

• Stress-Free Process: We take the complexity out of disciplinary processes, offering clear, actionable advice to reduce stress and protect your employment rights.

Whether you’re facing a warning, suspension, or more serious action, Employee First NZ is here to support you every step of the way. Our AI-driven tools provide instant insights, while our advocacy team works to secure the best possible outcome for you.