Administrative disciplinary and grievance procedures for public employees in Kuwait and UK

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to clarify the importance of the system of administrative disciplinary procedures against the public employee in the State of Kuwait and the UK in light of the laws regulating the work in the public sector and, in particular, the statement of the disciplinary procedures that the public employee is subjected to.Design/methodology/approachThis research paper will examine the disciplinary procedures in Kuwait and the UK as follows: disciplinary procedures in Kuwait and disciplinary procedures in UK, which consists of ; disciplinary procedures in the UK, disciplinary penalties in UK, grievance procedures in the UK, failure to follow the disciplinary procedures in the UK and standard procedure of discipline in the UK.FindingsThe duties and privileges of public employees stipulated in the Kuwait Civil Service Law are not sufficiently balanced as the penalties for higher ranked employees are lesser than those of employees in the lower rank. Public employees in the State of Kuwait need the establishment of an independent administrative court with its specialty and its own nature. There is also a need for a detailed list that specifies all the civil disciplinary offences. The discipline procedures in the UK are preferable than that in Kuwait.Originality/valueThe stages of discipline procedures for an offending employee have serious consequences and will affect the productivity of the work. Administrative investigation procedures may require public employees to be suspended from employment or have their employment terminated. It is, therefore, imperative for the administration to brief the public employee about all disciplinary actions that may be taken against him or her. As a consequence, the employee referred for an administrative investigation would be able to exercise his/her right to a fair trial and defend himself/herself.