Support Staff in Schools' Collective Agreement

8.1.1 The following principles shall be used in addressing complaints against employees and matters of discipline to ensure that such matters can in the interests of the parties be fully and fairly addressed. Many complaints will be able to be resolved by discussion between the principal and the employee concerned without the need to take the matter any further.  Boards should, wherever appropriate, seek to resolve complaints in this manner in the first instance. Questions of conduct and/or discipline should be handled in a manner which as far as possible protects the mana and dignity of the employee concerned.  Employees may seek whanau, family, professional and/or NZEI Te Riu Roa or E tū support in relation to such matters.

8.2.1 Me tuku reta atu ki te kaimahi hei whakamā rama atu i nga raruraru kua puta noa. Mehemea he pai ki te kaimahi rāua tahi ko tona tumuaki, e āhei ana ki te whakahaere tonutia ngā whakaritenga i raro i ngā tikanga Māori.

8.2.2 Anei ra ētahi momo tikanga hei kōwhiringa mā rātou:

1. he huihuinga kei te marae;
2. he whakawhiti kōrero kanohi ki te kanohi;
3. ka hui mai te whānau hei tuarā mō te katoa; ā
4. ka hui mai ngā kaumātua kuia hei arahi hei tohutohu i ā rātou katoa.

8.2.3 Mēnā ka whakaaetia te kaimahi rāua ko tōna tumuaki ō rāua kaihautū rānei, kia oti pai ai te kaupapa, mā rāua mā ngā kaihautū rānei e hainatia ngā whakaaetanga i tūhia. Makaia atu tētahi kape o ngā whakaetanga nei ki te kōnae o te kaimahi.

8.2.4 He māmā noa iho ēnei whakawhiringa mehemea hiahia ana tētahi taha kia waiho tārewa ake ngā tikanga Māori kia huri ke ia ki ētahi (te katoa rānei) o nga whakaritenga, arā 8.2.1 me 8.2.2 e whai ake nei. Engari, mehemea ka huri kē atu i ngā tikanga Māori, ehara tērā i te tino raruraru kia oti hē rawa ngā whakaritenga katoa. Ina hoki ka tahuri mai tētahi taha ki ēnei ki 8.2.1 me 8.2.2 i raro nei, me tuhituhi hei whakamārama ki tērā atu taha.

8.3.1 The employee must be advised in writing of the specific matter(s) causing concern. The employee and employer may, depending on the nature of the complaint, agree to attempt to deal with a complaint by it being heard in a Māori context and manner.

8.3.2 A Māori context and manner relates to the following:

1. meetings can be held on marae;
2. there is face to face engagement;
3. there can be whānau support for all involved; and
4. guidance and advice is often provided by kaumātua and kuia for all involved.

8.3.3 Should the employee and employer, or their representatives on their behalf, agree to a resolution of the matter then this shall be recorded in writing and signed by both parties and/or their representatives on their behalf. A copy of the agreement will be placed on the employee's personal file.

8.3.4 This is a discretionary option and either party may withdraw at any time, and nothing in this section prevents the employer or the employee deciding at any time that any or all of the procedures in clauses 8.3.1 and/or 8.3.2 will be used. Where either party decides to withdraw from this process such a decision will not of itself give rise to any claim of procedural deficiency or unfairness. The decision to withdraw from this process and/or for the employer to use any or all the procedures in clauses 8.3.1 and/or 8.3.2 will be notified in writing to the other party.

8.4.1 The following principles are to be followed when dealing with disciplinary matters:

1. The employee must be advised of the right to request representation at any stage.
2. The employee must be advised in writing of the specific matter(s) causing concern and be given a reasonable opportunity to provide an explanation. Before making a final decision the employer may need to make further inquiries in order to be satisfied as to the facts of the specific matter(s) causing concern.
3. The employee must be advised of any corrective action required to amend their conduct and given a reasonable opportunity to do so.
4. If the offence is sufficiently serious an employee is to be placed on suspension with or without pay pending further inquiry under clause 8.4.1(b) above.
5. The process and any disciplinary action are to be recorded, sighted and signed by the employee, and placed on their personal file.
6. The provisions in Part 12 explain the processes available under the Employment Relations Act 2000 to any employee aggrieved by any action of their employer taken under these provisions.

8.4.2 Nothing in clause 8.4.1 prevents instant dismissal without notice in the case of serious misconduct.