Managing discipline at work - The new statutory right for employees to be accompanied at disciplinary and grievance hearings was complemented, in autumn 2000, by the publication of an updated ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures. These changes have prompted a flurry of activity among employers anxious to keep their own policies and procedures up to date. Following our examination of grievance procedures in the last issue of IRS Employment Trends, here we turn our attention to the impact of the changes on disciplinary policies and practices. Around six in 10 organisations participating in our research have revised their disciplinary procedures since 1998. Absenteeism, poor performance and timekeeping top the list of offences that most commonly prompt disciplinary action in practice, according to our survey, which also reveals the heavy time burden that the HR function continues to shoulder in dealing with disciplinary matters.