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Employment
Raising a grievance at work
Grievances are concerns, problems or complaints that employees raise with their employer. There is no legally binding process that you and your employer must follow when raising or handling a grievance at work. However, there are some principles you and your employer should observe. Find out what they are.
The Acas Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures
There is an Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures (the Code). It sets out principles that you and your employer should follow to achieve a reasonable standard of behaviour in handling grievances.
Try to sort out your problem informally
Try talking with your employer informally before raising a formal grievance, to see if that helps.
Problems you might want to raise with your employer could involve:
- your terms of employment
- your pay and working conditions
- disagreements with co-workers
- discrimination
- not getting your statutory employment rights
How to raise a grievance
If you tried to resolve your grievance informally and this approach did not work, you should raise the matter formally. You should do this using your employer’s formal procedures for grievances. You should be able to find these in either your:
- company handbook
- human resources (HR) or personnel manual
- HR intranet site
- employment contract
Procedures for handling grievance situations should be in writing, specific and clear. Your employer must, at least, give you in writing the name of the person that you can apply to seek redress from (put the matter right).
To comply with the Code, your employer’s grievance procedure is likely to include the following steps:
- writing a letter to your employer setting out the details of your grievance
- a meeting with your employer
- the ability to appeal your employer's decision
Further advice and guidance can be found in 'Discipline and grievances at work. The Acas guide'. This guidance has been prepared by Acas to help employers and employees understand the Code and how to reflect it in their procedures and behaviour. It is not part of the Code.
Writing to your employer
You should write as quickly as possible to your employer with the details of your grievance. Your letter should be dated and you should keep a copy.
If you have not done so already, you may find it helpful to include how you would like your employer to resolve the problem.
Meeting with your employer
Your employer should arrange an initial meeting at a reasonable time and place to discuss your grievance. You should make every effort to attend the meeting.
Gather your thoughts before the meeting. Don't be afraid to write down what you want to say, there is nothing wrong with reading it out at the meeting.
It is up to your employer what format the meeting takes. They will normally go through the issues that have been raised and give you the opportunity to comment. The main purpose of the meeting should be to try to:
- establish the facts
- find a way to resolve the problem
If it appears further investigation is needed, your employer should consider pausing the meeting and arrange to finish it at a later date.
You have a statutory (legal) right to take a companion to the meeting with you. To exercise this right, you must make a request to your employer that someone comes with you. They may be:
- a colleague
- a trade union representative
- a trade union official
If no colleague can accompany you, and you are not a trade union member, ask if you can bring a family member or Citizens Advice Bureau worker. Your employer does not have to agree to this unless your employment contract says they must. However, it can still be worth asking and explaining why you feel it would be helpful.
The companion can:
- present and/or sum up your case
- talk on your behalf
- discuss with you during the hearing
However, the companion cannot answer questions on your behalf. They are protected from unfair dismissal or other mistreatment for supporting you.
After the meeting, your employer should write to you to give you their decision.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has its own dispute resolution procedures. You can find out more information on these from the nidirect website.
Where to get help
Acas offers free, confidential and impartial advice on all employment rights issues.
Your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) can provide free and impartial advice. You can find your local CAB office in the phone book or online.
If you are a member of a trade union you can get help, advice and support from them.
