Business / Employment Law
An employee can make a complaint against an employer if they are not happy with something that is going on at work. This can be made verbally or in writing. In order to avoid potential claims for constructive unfair dismissal or discrimination, it is important for the employer to deal with the grievance properly.
Sometimes grievances can be dealt with informally. If an employee is unhappy at work, this is likely to affect productivity and therefore it is important to seek to resolve the grievance expeditiously.
Once you have received a grievance, you should then invite the employee for a meeting to discuss the issues and carry out any required investigations. The employee has a statutory right to be accompanied by a companion (colleague or a trade union representative) during any such meeting.
A decision will then be made by the employer which will be put in writing to the employee and detailing the intended steps to resolve the grievance if the grievance is upheld..
The employer should then extend a right of appeal to the employee, in the event that they are not happy with the initial outcome.
If an employee is unhappy after the grievance procedure is concluded, they may bring a claim at the Employment Tribunal. It should be noted that any compensation awarded could be increased by up to 25% if the employer has not followed the ACAS Code of Practice.
We can provide expert guidance and legal advice on dealing with any grievances at work. We can draft the required letter inviting the employee to attend a grievance meeting and assist with the grievance outcome letter. We will also advise you as to commercial options for dealing with an unhappy employee, which may involve carefully putting an exit package to the employee.
For advice on dealing with grievances, please contact our employment team today at 0161 930 5151 or send us an e-mail to employmentteam@gorvins.com.
Alternatively, you can contact us using our online form.
