Employee Grievance | Workplace Grievance

Just as an employer can take disciplinary action against you, so too can you complain against your employer. If you’re not happy with something that’s going on at work, your first step would normally be to pursue a direct complaint with your employer in the form of a grievance.

We can provide expert guidance and legal advice on whether you should follow a grievance process – and if you do, we can help with the drafting of your grievance complaint, assist with its presentation and support you through the subsequent process.

If you need help with the employee grievance procedure or you just want an initial chat on where to begin, contact our employment solicitors at 0161 930 5151, e-mail employmentteam@gorvins.com or fill in our online form and we will call you back to arrange an initial consultation.

What Types of Grievances Are There?

From issues with heavy workloads to disagreeing about your current pay, there are a whole host of possible circumstances where you may want to take action against your employer. An example of possible situations that may encourage you to make a grievance include;

• An amendment to your contract that you are unhappy about
• Being requested to take on a new responsibility as part of your job that you feel is not in line with your existing work practice
• An issue with your wage or terms and conditions
• Poor working conditions, ranging from being bullied/harassed to being obliged to undertake tasks that you believe to be unsafe or inappropriate in any way

How Do I Raise a Workplace Grievance?

While there is no formal legal process for raising a grievance, both parties to the employment relationship should comply with something known as the ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) Code of Practice. This code of practice encompasses a number of guidelines that should be adhered to by employer and employee alike, so as to ensure the employee grievance procedure is handled fairly and professionally, summarised as follows:

• Firstly, an employee should inform their employer about the details of their grievance (preferably in writing)
• Once the employer has received the grievance, they should then invite the employee for a meeting to discuss the issues along with a proposed resolution – with the appointment taking place after the employer has had sufficient time to fully consider your grievance. Additionally, 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 detailing intended steps to resolve the grievance
• 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 both yourself and your employer are unable to achieve a resolution following your grievance, then you may consider taking your claim to an Employment Tribunal (it should be noted that any compensation you may receive could be adjusted by up to 25% based on adherence to the ACAS Code of Practice.)

How can Gorvins help?

As with all legal issues, we understand how important it is that your case is handled with discretion and complete sensitivity. At Gorvins, we uphold the highest standards of professionalism – and coupled with our many years of legal expertise, can provide you with specialist advice and representation to achieve the best possible outcome for you. Regardless of the circumstances, we will give you an honest answer to your problem to achieve the best potential outcome.

After an initial discussion with one of our workplace grievance solicitors, we will advise you on how best to proceed to give you complete flexibility. We can work on your behalf, taking complete ownership of your case, or you can simply seek out our advice and support only as and when you need to.

Contact our Employment Law team today

We know that you may have lots of questions, and we have the answers. How much does it cost? Do I have a valid case? How long will it take? What are my chances of success? During our initial consultation, we will discuss your specific situation and provide you with clear and transparent information about our fees, the strength of your case, the estimated timeline, and your chances of success. 

We’ll take the time to listen to your concerns and answer any questions you may have, so you can feel confident and empowered throughout the legal process.

We treat all of our clients and their cases with the confidentiality and professionalism they deserve, which is why we’re proud to be one of the UK’s leading law firms in employment law. You’ll receive your own dedicated solicitor, and you can trust us to deliver straightforward advice. Our solicitors never hide behind legal jargon, so you have a full understanding of how the grievance process works and what you should realistically expect in terms of outcome.

Contact our employment solicitors at 0161 930 5151, e-mail employmentteam@gorvins.com or fill in our online form and we will call you back.