Disciplinary hearing invitation letter: what to do

What this kind of letter means

Your employer has called you to a disciplinary hearing about being late 11 times. It's on Thursday 19 November at 10am. You can bring a colleague or trade union rep, and the worst outcome mentioned is a formal warning.

You have a legal right to be accompanied at a disciplinary hearing by a work colleague or a trade union representative (section 10, Employment Relations Act 1999). If they can't make the date, you can propose another time within five working days. Employers should follow the ACAS Code of Practice: they should tell you the allegations, give you the evidence in advance, let you explain, and tell you the outcome in writing with a right of appeal. The letter says possible outcomes are no action or a formal warning, which suggests dismissal isn't being considered at this stage.

Things worth checking

• Check the 11 dates against your own records, rota or messages.
• If health, disability or caring duties caused the lateness, say so: it can change the outcome.
• You can appeal any warning in writing.

Your options

• Bring a companion. A colleague or a trade union rep. They can speak for you, but not answer for you.
• Get free advice. ACAS: 0300 123 1100. Your union, if you're a member.
• Prepare your side. Reasons, context and anything that has changed since.

If you ignore it

The hearing may go ahead without you, and a decision would be made without hearing your side.

What usually decides this

Usually goes better if you have good reasons for some lateness, or it has stopped. Usually harder if the records are accurate and you haven't raised any problems before.

The rules

• You have a legal right to bring a work colleague or trade union rep to a disciplinary hearing. If they can't make it, you can propose another time within 5 working days.
  England, Wales, Scotland. Source: Employment Relations Act 1999, section 10
• Employers should follow the ACAS Code: tell you the allegations, share the evidence, let you respond, and offer an appeal. Tribunals take the Code into account.
  England, Wales, Scotland. Source: ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures
• For things that happened on or after 1 October 2026, most employment tribunal claims must start within 6 months, and you must contact ACAS early conciliation first.
  England, Wales, Scotland. Source: Lewis Silkin: Longer time limits for tribunal claims

Rules last checked 13 November 2026.

Words you might see

• Right to be accompanied: Your legal right to bring a colleague or union rep to a disciplinary or grievance hearing.
• ACAS Code: Official guidance on fair disciplinary procedures that tribunals take into account.
• Formal warning: A written record kept on your file for a set time.

An example reply

From our worked example. Letter Clear writes one for your own letter, in your name.

Dear [Manager's name],

Thank you for your letter of 12 November 2026. I confirm I will attend the disciplinary hearing on Thursday 19 November 2026 at 10:00.

I will be accompanied by [name], who is [a work colleague / my trade union representative].

Kind regards,
[Your name]

Have a letter like this?

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