If you raise a formal grievance at work, you should always think about what you want the outcome to be. Here are some possible solutions to common grievances.
If you’re having a problem at work, you may decide to file a workplace grievance by writing a letter to your employer. After this, you will be invited to a formal grievance meeting.
At the grievance meeting, you must be given the opportunity to explain what you want your employer to do. Your employer’s decision should take your view into consideration, so it’s important to think about what you want.
Formal meetings can be unnerving; it’s a good idea to take notes with you. You can also ask to bring someone with you for support, though your employer doesn’t always have to agree to this.
If a friend or family member asked you what would fix the problem, what would you say? An honest, reasonable approach is the best idea.
Let’s take a look at some common grievances and what might fix them.
If you are worried you are being given too much work, you could suggest:
If someone you work with is treating you badly, you might suggest:
Read ACAS guidance on being treated unfairly at work
If you have questions about why someone was promoted instead of you - for example you think it could be discrimination based on one of the legally protected characteristics - you might want:
You might have realised that you are being paid less than other people doing the same job as you. In this case, it’s reasonable to ask for:
If you’re being underpaid in comparison to a co-worker of the opposite sex who does equal work, you may have an Equal Pay claim.
Read ACAS guidance on Equal Pay
If there is something physically wrong with your working environment, the problem could perhaps be fixed with:
If so, don’t be afraid to ask for these things.
After the grievance meeting, your employer will send you a letter explaining their decision. They might:
If your employer upholds your grievance in full or in part, they must explain what they will do to resolve the problem.
If you’re not happy with the decision, or your employer does not do what they promised to fix it, you have the right to appeal.
If you intend to raise a Tribunal claim, you should appeal the grievance decision first, because a Tribunal might reduce your award by up to 25% for not following all parts of the ACAS Code of Practice. However, there are strict deadlines for making claims to the Tribunal - don’t assume that going through the grievance procedure will extend these.
Read the ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures.
If you're thinking about filing a grievance, you can use Valla to collect your evidence, build a timeline of what happened and get your story straight. Sign up for your free account.