Podcast: Companions at disciplinary hearings - tricky scenarios for HR

In this week's podcast, we explain what HR should do when faced with some tricky scenarios related to the right to be accompanied at disciplinary hearings. The seven scenarios discussed include a worker requesting a companion with a history of disruptive behaviour, and a worker asking for a postponement at the last minute to find a companion.

The scenarios cover:

• a line manager holding a performance review meeting with a probationer who is underperforming, without allowing the probationer to be accompanied;
• a request to be accompanied at an investigatory meeting;
• a request to be accompanied at a disciplinary hearing by a former colleague;
• an employee wishing to be accompanied by a family member at an ill-health capability hearing;
• a request for legal representation at a disciplinary hearing;
• an employee requesting that a hearing be postponed at the last minute to find a companion; and
• an employer's wish to bar a trade union official who has a history of disruptive behaviour from acting as a companion.

Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Stephen Simpson. Edited and produced by Claire Scullin.