Workplace Grievances

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A workplace grievance is any kind of workplace issue, problem or concern that you raise with your employer. This could be in connection with your workload, working environment or the other people that you have to work with, including:

• Health and safety concerns
• Working hours or the terms and conditions of your employment
• Workplace bullying
• Harassment
• Workplace discrimination
• Relationships with colleagues

Where possible, you should raise any grievances with your employer at an early stage, with no unreasonable delay. In turn, your employer should attempt to resolve the issue informally.

Complaints Procedure

Your employer should publish their grievance procedure in writing and ensure that staff are made aware of this. If this is not in place, or if the information is minimal regarding how a grievance should be raised, you should do so in writing and include as much information as possible about the nature of your complaint.

What happens if a matter cannot be resolved?

If the matter cannot be resolved by management informally, a hearing should be arranged, at which you have the right to be accompanied, either by a colleague or by a trade union representative if appropriate. You should be advised within a reasonable time of the outcome of this meeting, including any steps that your employer intends to take in order to solve the problem. You have a right of appeal against the decision.

The appeals process

If you decide to appeal, you must inform your employer in writing of your reasons for doing so as soon as you can and with no unreasonable delay. You have the right to be accompanied, and the companion may confer with you during the appeal hearing, although they may not directly answer on your behalf.

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