An employee has a statutory right to be accompanied (by a trade union representative or a fellow worker) at a "disciplinary meeting" which is defined as a meeting that could result in a formal warning being issued to a worker by the employer; the taking of some other action in respect of a worker by the employer; or the confirmation of a warning or some other action.

Meetings merely to discuss a medical report would not usually call for accompaniment but if it is likely (or becomes clear during the course of a meeting) that a formal warning or dismissal could result, the meeting should be ended and a formal hearing arranged at which the worker will have the right to be accompanied.

In any event, it is generally good practice for employers to afford this right. It will be in the employer's interests if the employee has been given the best opportunity to state their case, and this will help establish procedural fairness should the matter ultimately result in dismissal.