Formal Action POLICIES
Putney Town Rowing Club is a community and we treat each other with respect and dignity. Where there is disagreement between members, we encourage informal resolution through discussion. Where this is not possible, members have the opportunity to use the formal action processes.
GRIEVANCE POLICY
A grievance for club purposes is a complaint by one or more members against another member of the club. We operate a victim centric grievance process where our aim is to investigate the complaint in a sensitive and timely manner.
You should raise your grievance to the Membership Secretary or Secretary. If you raise a grievance to another club officer, they will pass it onto them.
The grievance will be investigated and heard by a team consisting of two of:
-
Membership Secretary
-
Secretary
-
A General Committee Member
​
The grievance team will meet with the complainant to understand their complaint and hear their evidence. Once this is complete they will then investigate the grievance.
Once the investigation is over, the grievance team will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and confirm the outcome which will be either upheld, partially upheld or dismissed. Disciplinary action may then be taken against other members at this point and the club may encourage formal mediation.
The complainant has the right to appeal the decision of the grievance team where:
-
additional evidence has come to light that should be considered
-
the processes in this policy have not been followed
This must be done within 5 days of the outcome meeting in writing to the membership secretary or secretary.
The appeal shall be chaired, investigated and heard by the Club Chair and Welfare Officer (or President where one of the other two are the subject of the grievance). The chair may call on additional impartial advisors or panel members from within the club or the wider rowing community as deemed appropriate.
DISCIPLINARY POLICY
Our disciplinary process is usually driven directly from our grievance process - a grievance about another member may result in disciplinary action. The disciplinary process may also be initiated by the general committee.
If you are subject to disciplinary action, we will write to you to let you know that your conduct is being investigated. This will generally follow a grievance process and as such will be investigated by the same team hearing the relevant grievance - a team consisting of two of:
-
Membership Secretary
-
Secretary
-
A general committee member
The team will meet with the individual to understand their perspective of the situation, any mitigating circumstances and hear their evidence. Once this is complete they will then carry out any additional investigation needed. Much of this may have been collected as part of the grievance process.
Once the investigation is complete, the team will meet with the individual to confirm the outcome. Potential outcomes may include but are not limited to:
-
Formal reprimand
-
Probation
-
Removal or suspension from particular club activity
-
Suspension of membership
-
Striking off from the club
The disciplined member has the right to appeal the decision of the investigating team. This must be done within 5 days of the outcome meeting in writing to the Membership Secretary or Secretary.
The complainant has the right to appeal the decision of the grievance team where:
-
additional evidence has come to light that should be considered
-
the processes in this policy have not been followed
The appeal shall be chaired, investigated and heard by the Club Chair and Welfare Officer (or President where one of the other two are the subject of the grievance). The chair may call on additional impartial advisors or panel members from within the club or the wider rowing community as deemed appropriate.
LINK to GENERAL COMMITTEE
General committee delegates authority to deal with grievances/disciplinary to the designated team - to retain impartiality in case of escalating processes, the following reporting stages will be followed:
-
informed of the presence of a grievance/disciplinary
-
confirm the makeup of the investigating team
-
informed of the conclusion of the investigation and any disciplinary outcomes on members along with identities of those under disciplinary action
-
informed of an appeal
-
confirm the makeup of the appeal team
-
informed of the conclusion of the appeal