What A Domestic Inquiry Is
You were told a hearing will decide whether you keep your job.
A domestic inquiry is the hearing your employer holds internally before dismissing you for alleged misconduct, and how it is run can matter as much as what it decides.
What It Means
It is essentially an internal company hearing. A panel, usually made up of managers or HR staff, reviews an allegation against you, hears evidence, and lets you respond before recommending an outcome.
It is not a court process, but it is meant to follow the basic idea of a fair hearing, sometimes called natural justice, before a serious decision like dismissal is made.
Why It Matters To You
How the inquiry was conducted can become part of your case later. A rushed hearing, a panel that already seemed decided, or no real chance to respond are all things a court can weigh.
This does not mean every flawed inquiry wins your case automatically, but it strengthens an argument that the process, not just the reason, was unfair.
What Happens If You Are Called To One
Ask for the allegation in writing before the hearing, and request enough time to prepare your response rather than answering on the spot under pressure.
Keep notes of what was said and by whom, since this becomes useful evidence and documentation if the matter later moves toward a formal dismissal claim.
If the inquiry ends in dismissal, your 60-day window to challenge it starts running, so check the date on the deadline calculator as soon as you know the outcome.
Telling us whether an inquiry has been held yet, and what you were told about it, helps us explain what a fair process should look like.
Common questions
Can I bring someone with me to a domestic inquiry?
Practice varies by employer, and many allow a colleague or representative to attend, though solicitors are commonly restricted from formally representing you at this internal stage. Ask your employer's policy in writing beforehand.
What if my employer skipped this hearing entirely?
Skipping it does not automatically mean you lose, but it can support an argument that the process was unfair, which is one part of what the Industrial Court examines if your case proceeds.
Keep reading
Telling us whether an inquiry has been held yet, and what you were told about it, helps us explain what a fair process should look like.