Hi all, hope someone can help.

My brother has recently been suspended from work, on a charge of gross misconduct, although he hasnt been advised what exactly the gross misconduct was. His company van, and phone were imediately confiscated.

Let me explain the details.

My brother works for a very large national landscaping company,, and has done for at least 15 years. He runs his own team of lads, and is responsible for his own yard / equipment.
Last week his yard was broken into, and an amount of equipment was stolen, sometime after they finished work on the Monday. On Tuesday morning he and his workers arrived at the yard to find missing equipment. He calls his boss who comes to the yard, takes photos, and calls police. Then he demands all the staff meet him at regional HQ.

There his manager interviews all the lads, fires all the agency staff on the spot, allows all the other lads back to work, and suspends my brother telling him its for gross misconduct.

The equipment was locked and left in the same spot it has been for the last 6-7 years, something that can be supported by previous managers, yet we can only conclude the gross misconduct can only be because the equipment was not in a lockup (the company hasnt provided one), or because they think he has stolen it.

Now a week on he has heard nothing from the company, no written confirmation of suspension, no explanation of the charges, and no idea of how long this will drag on.

I can only see that the company concerned are in some serious breaches of employment law here, but would appreciate any help or advice that can be supplied.

I have suggested he phones the HR department, and asks for a written confirmation of the suspension, and an explanation of why, but i dont want him to drop himself into any more problems..

Thanks in advance for your help.