Conducting Effective Disciplinary Hearings Training

The programme

Programme overview

The Chairing Disciplinary Hearings course equips participants with the practical knowledge and procedural skills required to effectively participate in and chair disciplinary inquiries.

Upon completion, delegates will have a clear understanding of the South African labour legislative framework governing employee discipline, including the current Code of Good Practice: Dismissal. Participants will be able to interpret and apply relevant labour legislation, regulations, and case law to ensure that disciplinary processes are conducted lawfully, fairly, and consistently.

The Conducting Effective Disciplinary Hearings programme strengthens participants’ ability to manage hearings with confidence, procedural fairness, and impartiality while ensuring decisions are legally sound and properly documented.

Who should attend

Who is this programme for?

• HR Managers and HR Practitioners
• Employee Relations Officers
• Labour Relations Practitioners
• Line Managers and Supervisors
• Departmental Heads
• Operations Managers
• Compliance and Risk Officers
• Union Representatives
• Shop Stewards
• Legal and Governance Practitioners
• Public Sector Managers and Officials

Learning outcomes

What you will learn

• Conduct and manage disciplinary hearings professionally and efficiently
• Apply fair procedures when handling non-dismissible offences
• Hear and assess pleadings objectively
• Evaluate evidence and determine appropriate sanctions
• Communicate outcomes clearly and professionally
• Record proceedings and decisions accurately and comprehensively
• Apply relevant South African labour legislation and case law correctly, including the current Code of Good Practice: Dismissal
• Ensure procedural and substantive fairness throughout the process

Explore the programme

Detailed programme outline

1-Day Essentials — Training Outline

• Informing the employee clearly of allegations and procedural rights
• Conducting hearings in a firm, structured, and procedurally fair manner, applying the current Code of Good Practice: Dismissal (effective September 2025, which replaced the previous Schedule 8 framework)
• Maintaining neutrality and avoiding bias
• Allowing parties adequate opportunity to present mitigation or aggravation
• Weighing evidence based on probability and relevance, aware of current CCMA case law such as De Wet v CCMA on the fairness of disciplinary delays
• Applying consistency and fairness in decisions
• Communicating decisions clearly and professionally, with well-reasoned and substantiated outcomes
• Proper documentation of procedures, evidence, findings, and deliberations

3-Day Comprehensive — Training Outline

• Verifying that proper procedures were followed prior to the hearing
• Asking relevant and objective questions for clarification
• Ensuring professional conduct throughout proceedings
• Applying progressive discipline principles
• Considering alternatives to dismissal
• Ensuring procedural fairness in corrective actions
• Aligning actions with organisational policies and labour legislation
• Managing representations professionally
• Eliciting relevant mitigating and aggravating circumstances where necessary
• Weighing evidence based on probability and relevance, aware of current CCMA case law such as De Wet v CCMA, which confirmed that delays in taking disciplinary action are not automatically unfair and that fairness depends on context, the nature of the allegations, and employer justifications
• Considering all relevant factors before determining sanctions
• Aligning sanctions with legal and organisational standards
• Communicating decisions clearly and professionally
• Providing well-reasoned and substantiated outcomes
• Informing employees of their rights and next steps
• Proper documentation of procedures and deliberations
• Accurate recording of evidence and findings
• Maintaining compliant and auditable disciplinary records

Learning approach

How you will learn

Our diverse instructional approaches ensure effective learning:

– Lectures & Presentations: Engage with expert-driven, stimulating content.– Course Material: Access well-crafted supporting resources.– Group Work: Collaborate on discussions and case studies for practical insights.– Workshops & Role-Play: Participate in immersive, scenario-based activities.– Practical Application: Focus on applying theoretical knowledge in real situations.– Post-Training Support: Receive extensive support after training for skill implementation.

Discuss your requirements

Dates, duration & arrangements

Contact Ratomac to confirm dates, duration, delivery format, entry requirements and any applicable assessment or certification before booking.