Best practice in handling employee grievances; a guide to the 5 key actions for HR Directors and Employers. Minimize fall out, save management time plus the two golden rules of handling grievances, to maintain healthy relations with employees and keep the business out of Employment Tribunals.

1. Handling an employee grievance
5 key actions

2. 1st stage
1. informal action
Line manager has a quiet word with
employee to settle the matter. . .
2nd stage
if grievance
is not resolved
Employee writes formal grievance letter

3. 1st stage
2nd stage
1. informal action
Line manager has a quiet word with
employee to settle the matter. . .
if grievance
is not resolved
Employee writes formal grievance letter
2. formal meeting
with minutes taken. Employee is accompanied
and witnesses present if requested
3. investigation
Depending on complexity manager may
ajdourn meeting for further investigations
grievance resolved
End of procedure
4. communicate decision
Manger re considers all information and
communicates decision to employee within 10
working days. Manager keeps records of
discussions and forwards copies to employee
if the employee’s grievance is rejected the
employee can appeal against the decision

4. 1st stage
2nd stage
1. informal action
Line manager has a quiet word with
employee to settle the matter. . .
if grievance
is not resolved
Employee writes formal grievance letter
2. formal meeting
with minutes taken. Employee is accompanied
and witnesses present if requested
3. investigation
Depending on complexity manager may
ajdourn meeting for further investigations
grievance resolved
End of procedure
4. communicate decision
Manger re considers all information and
communicates decision to employee within 10
working days. Manager keeps records of
discussions and forwards copies to employee
if the employee’s grievance is rejected the
employee can appeal against the decision
3rd stage
5. Appeal
is heard promptly by a manager not previously
involved, employee is accompanied and a
decision given within 10 working days

5. remember the
2 golden rules
of handling employee
grievances....

6. golden rule #1
Ask
“what outcome do you want
from this grievance?”

7. golden rule #2
Be prepared. Check there is
an up to date grievance
procedure in place, published
in the company handbook

8. Want more detail? click below for the Acas guide
notes to handling employee grievances:
Acas-Guide-on-discipline-andgrievances_at_work_.pdf
Type in “ ACAS disciplinary and grievance” into your browser
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