Advantages And Disadvantages Of Grievance

GRIEVANCES

What is a grievance?

Grievances are concerns, problems or complaints that employees raise with their employer. Issues that may cause grievances include:

• terms and conditions of employment

• working conditions

• work relations

• bullying and harassment

• new working practices/organisational changes

• discrimination

Resolving an issue informally

Often the best way to sort out a problem is to talk to your manager informally first before taking any further action. You should ask your manager for a meeting in which you can explain your concerns and suggest to your manager what you would like them to do to resolve the problem. If you don’t feel you can talk to your immediate manager, you could speak to somebody more senior in the organisation,

This may involve a grievance investigation meeting

• grievance meeting – your employer will hold a grievance meeting at which you will be invited to state your case. You have the right to be accompanied to this meeting. Your employer will write to you to let you know the outcome of the grievance.

• appealing – you have the right to appeal against the outcome of the grievance meeting if you don’t agree with it. In order to appeal you will need to write a letter to your employer stating that you do not agree with the decision and stating your reasons why. Your employer will arrange a grievance appeal meeting which you have the right to be accompanied to and your employer will provide the outcome of the grievance appeal meeting in writing.

• employment tribunal – if you disagree with the outcome of the grievance appeal meeting then you should seek advice about making an employment tribunal claim (see A Guide to Employment Tribunals section for more information). Be aware that an employment tribunal claim must be made within 3 months less one day of the action you’re complaining