Handling Employee Grievances
Grievances from your employees must be handled carefully and appropriately at all stages to ensure that the problem doesn’t escalate any further. Whether you need help in creating a grievance procedure or have received a grievance and need legal advice before responding, our lawyers can provide the knowledge and support you need.
Our specialist team advises clients in different languages on a wide range of Employment Law matters. Call them on 0208 1111 911 or contact them through the website to discuss your circumstances with them.
What exactly is a grievance?
A grievance is a complaint, problem or issue that has been formally raised by an employee to someone else within the business. Typically, it would be raised with their line manager, unless their line manager happened to be the subject of the grievance.
How should I handle a grievance?
The employee may not know of your grievance procedure and may not even use the word ‘grievance’ in their correspondence. However, it is vital that you treat any such communication as a formal grievance and deal with it accordingly.
Your company should have a written grievance policy, which should be included in a staff handbook or contract. If you need help creating a grievance policy or would like to review an existing one, we can discuss your business with you and advise on the best written policy for your needs.
Failure to handle and acknowledge grievances properly can lead to bigger problems such as an Employment Tribunal claim, which can be costly and time-consuming for the business. You should respond promptly and fully on all points raised and do so in writing, explaining any actions or any reasons why you feel that the grievance isn’t valid.
What other legal services might I need?
Your grievance procedure should be part of your wider Employment Law procedures. We can advise on many of the other supporting activities such as drafting of Employment Contracts, Restrictive Covenants, Confidentiality Agreements, Settlement Agreements and more.
We can also help you with many other areas of Business Law including Commercial Property, Dispute Resolution, Commercial Agreements and more.
How do I get advice on handling grievances against my business?
Call us on 0208 1111 911 or contact us through the website and we’ll discuss your circumstances with you. We’ll recommend the best course of action and explain the steps you should take and how we can support you with this. The initial call is free and we’ll advise you of our fees before you decide whether or not to instruct us.