Note-takers
[ch 7: pages 47-48]It is very important to have an accurate and full record of the meeting. This will be the main source of information as to what was said for any appeal panel or employment tribunal.
The member and rep should agree a system for taking a note of key points, which could include issues like any admissions, any suggestion of bias or any indication that the panel have already made their mind up, any reliance on irrelevant past incidents or activities (such as acting as a union member or rep), any suggestion of discrimination or victimisation, or any inappropriate or bullying comments.
It is not unusual for disputes to arise when agreeing the minutes, which are usually prepared by a representative from Human Resources (HR). Especially where lots of issues are disputed, one idea is to ask for a photocopy of the written meeting notes to be handed over as soon as the meeting is finished, with the pages numbered. After the meeting, a typed version should be agreed as quickly as possible. It is important not to sign off on minutes that contain significant mistakes.