Can a verbal warning be given over the phone?

Question

Can an employer give a verbal warning over the phone or should it be done face to face?

Answer 1

i personally think it is more proper face to face but i guess if you have been with the company for a while then they might consider it ok to tell you over the phone.

Answer 2

First of all, was this informal action, or was the formal disciplinary procedure invoked?

If this is a formal warning then they have to follow the statutory disciplinary procedures. They must have told you at the outset what the grounds for disciplinary action were and have invited you to a meeting. The meeting should be used to discuss the reasons why disciplinary proceedings have commenced, you have the right to be accompanied by a TU rep or fellow employee. You must be given an opportunity to give your version of events, and to sufficient opportunity to respond to the management case during this meeting. After this meeting, the employer must inform you of the outcome and advise you of your right to appeal. There doesn't seem to be anything in the statutory procedure that says how the outcome should be communicated, however most employers will adjourn the meeting you have been invited to, make a decision and then call you back in to inform you of the decision. The outcome of the meeting is then usually confirmed in a letter.

So strictly speaking, yes, they can inform you over the phone. Indeed, sometimes disciplinary proceedings can take place in the person's absence - for instance if they have repeatedly failed to attend for meetings without giving any reason.

If the warning is informal, then they don't need to have followed the procedure, but the warning also doesn't carry as much weight as a formal verbal warning

Answer 3

In a perfect world it would all be done face to face. But a verbal warning can definitly be given over the phone. People can get fired over the phone as well. It's really up to how the company or manager decides what is best.

Answer 4

I agree with scouse and tellygon. It's incredibly unprofessional and probably reflects that your supervisor is not a good one but, unless you have a union, you can't do much about it. In places where I've worked, we had to get a signed acknowledgement, from the employee, that a verbal warning was given, if you can understand that--a written verbal warning. (It's called Progressive Discipline). Depends on what the personnel policies say. If there aren't any written policies, that's another good sign you should get out if you can. If not, lay low and try not to do it again. :)

Answer 5

The company's disciplinary procedure should include how many verbal or written warnings are needed before a final warning or dismissal. You should be given a written warning, or if the warning was verbal a written confirmation of it, saying what it was for and how long it will remain in force

Answer 6

It depends what the circumstances are , and if possible all such warnings should be given face to face with the opportunity that you have a witness
Nut it can be done by phone , and should be followed up with a short confirmation note of exactly why you were warned

Answer 7

verbal warnings are ok as intracompany disiplinary measures, however they have no legal standing unless both parties agree that it happened i can give you 10 warnings, you can say i only gave you one and i can say i gave you twenty, it is hard to prove and if its the only evidence then the case will probaly loose, as far as procedure goes, its best to get the warning in writing and have the offender sign the document saying tha they have been warned and that way you can fire them later on for continuing to do what ever it was that they were doing and not have to worry about a wrongful termination suit and the burden of proving you said something

Answer 8

I think a verbal warning is ok, but a written warning should be placed in the associates file. If you have problems in the future, then you have proof of the warning.

Answer 9

Unfortunately the more stupidest of management and human resource personnel allow this to happen. Is it illegal? Nope. They can totally do it. Is it smart? No it is not. Even verbal warnings need to be put in writing and I HOPE you will be called into the office to sign off on this verbal warning. You are to be given the opportunity to defend yourself in writing and this response would then be attached to the verbal warning.

Answer 10

I find that verbal warnings are generally not worth the time taken to utter them. A sound thrashing is the only language most members of the lower orders understand- preferably in front of the other staff.

"Spare the whip, spoil the accounts clerk "

Answer 11

Good policy would be face to face.. But the very word "verbal" says there is no reason why it could not be over the phone