3. Go to your consultation or hearing

Consultations

A consultation is not like being in court.

At a consultation, you and your employer meet with a Vice-Chair. If you have a lawyer, they should go with you.

The Vice-Chair asks you for evidence on specific issues.

You should bring your documents with you, but you don’t usually need witnesses.

The Vice-Chair leads the consultation. You should answer their questions honestly. Try to explain what happened. Give your evidence calmly and clearly.

Hearings

Hearings have more rules than consultations. You have to help the Vice-Chair to understand what your complaint is and what decision you want them to make. You do this by explaining what happened and giving evidence.

You should bring all of your documents and witnesses to the hearing.

Remember to stay calm and be respectful to the Vice-Chair. And make sure you talk about all the important facts.

Opening statement

At the start of the hearing, you make a short “opening statement”. A statement is a short summary of what happened and what you want. It should only be a few minutes long.

When you make a statement, stand up and talk directly to the Vice-Chair.

Your employer also makes an opening statement.

Witnesses testify

Then, you and your witnesses give evidence. This is called “testifying”. You can ask your witnesses questions. And your employer can ask them questions too.

The Vice-Chair can also ask the witnesses questions.

You should show the Vice-Chair any documents that help prove what happened.

If your employer brings witnesses, you can ask them questions too.

Closing statement

Once you and your employer give your evidence, you give a “closing statement”. Use your closing statement to summarize what happened and what you want. Your employer also makes a closing statement.