I am arranging a disciplinary hearing but the employee wants to postpone as his favourite rep is not a available. Can I refuse to postpone the hearing? Employment Law for Employers

The employee has a right to be accompanied at the disciplinary hearing by a union rep and can request that the proposed date is changed if their chosen rep is not available.

This, however, must be a reasonable request such as postponing the hearing for no more than one week, not six weeks when the rep returns from maternity leave, or where a rep is based in Scotland when your office is in Portsmouth. You also do not have to postpone more than once.