Procedural fairness is also known as ‘Natural Justice’. Both terms are used interchangeably. It requires a procedurally fair hearing and an unbiased decision being made. All parties to a complaint (complainant and respondent) must be afforded natural justice.
The opportunity to be heard by an impartial decision maker is at the heart of the rules of natural justice and procedural
The rules of natural justice apply whenever the rights, property or legitimate expectations of an individual are affected by a decision. Decisions in the context of the management of alleged unsatisfactory performance are administrative decisions that may clearly affect the rights or legitimate expectations of Public Service employees and one must therefore apply the rules of natural justice and procedural fairness.
Satisfying the rules of natural justice and procedural fairness will vary according to the specific circumstances. There are however important basic principles that apply to every situation: there are three basic principles employers must follow/adhere to: these are commonly known as the hearing rule the bias rule and the no evidence rule.