Clowning around? Expanding the right to being accompanied in workplace disciplinary proceedings in English law

There are recent claims that the government are presently considering changes to the scope of the right to be accompanied in workplace hearings related to discipline. This article examines the provisions of the present law and explores a number of overseas jurisdictions to consider whether or not this is a practice that should be welcomed and, if so, whether the expansion of such a right impacts on the balance of the law relating to disciplinary hearings generally.