Disciplinary appeal outcome letter template
A disciplinary appeal outcome letter tells an employee the result of their appeal against a dismissal or other serious disciplinary action. It confirms when the appeal meeting was held, who decided it, whether the original decision stands or is revoked, what happens instead, and the reasons, and it says the decision is final. An employer sends one after every appeal, with the employee, the original outcome, the result and the reasons changing each time.
Adapted from Acas (1 April 2025). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
What changes each time
8 values. Everything else is your wording, kept exactly.
The appeal
- Employee
- Original outcome
- Appeal meeting date
- Who heard the appeal
The result
- Appeal outcome
- What happens instead
- Reasons
- Signed by
The rules it usually needs
Written in plain English when the template is set up.
- One of several wordings
“Outcome: either the appeal is not upheld and the original decision stands, or it is upheld and the decision is revoked, with what happens instead.”
The appeal meeting notes say the appeal was upheld, so the letter says the dismissal is revoked and sets out the final written warning and reinstatement.
One worked example, start to finish
The disciplinary appeal outcome letter in DocuWeave, from upload to approval.
1The document uploaded
Acas's appeal outcome letter, a Word file, uploaded as it is.
- 2
The template it became
It found 1 section and 9 values, and asked 2 questions before publishing. The outcome became a choice: the decision stands, or it is revoked and replaced.
3The paperwork dropped in
The employee's appeal email and the notes of the appeal meeting.
4What was found, with sources
8 of 8 values filled from the paperwork, each with the passage it came from, and nothing left to ask.
5What it asked
Approved, with Word and PDF downloads.
A free disciplinary appeal outcome letter to download
- Disciplinary appeal outcome letter, filled with fictional details (Word)
- Disciplinary appeal outcome letter, filled with fictional details (PDF)
Use it as it is, or upload it to DocuWeave and make it a template.
DocuWeave is not a law firm. A general template for common situations in England and Wales. It is not tailored to you and we do not update it when the law changes, so check it suits your situation before you use it. Terms.
Adapted from Acas (1 April 2025). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Questions people ask
Who should hear a disciplinary appeal?
The Acas Code of Practice says the appeal should be dealt with impartially and, wherever possible, by a manager who was not involved in the case before.
Can an appeal lead to a different sanction?
Yes. The original decision can stand, or it can be revoked and replaced with a different outcome, such as a warning instead of dismissal, or no action.
Should the outcome letter give reasons?
Yes. The employee should be told the decision and the reasons for it in writing, as soon as possible after the appeal meeting.
Is there a further appeal?
Usually not. This letter tells the employee they have used their right of appeal under the disciplinary procedure and that the decision is final.
Use this template
It opens in DocuWeave as a template you can check, change and publish. Nothing is used until you do.