Raising Grievance at Workplace

What does ‘raising formal grievance’ mean?

It means formally raising a concern or complaint at work with your employer on matters such as discrimination at work, or unfair tasks you are being asked to do. It is different from informal procedures because it is written and recorded, but it is still an internal way of handling issues rather than resorting to an employment tribunal.

The procedure usually provides points of contact and timescales to resolve the issues of concern between you and the employer. The employer must have a formal procedure for raising a grievance within his or her business, usually laid out in the business handbook, contract, or other internal platforms.

 If not, you can follow the ACAS Code of Practice, which involves steps such as: letting the employer know of your grievance by writing, meeting and discussing, taking the grievance further if not resolved at this stage, etc.

How can Sharper Labs Legal Team help?

When you wish to raise a grievance, you may not know where to proceed or how to proceed. This may impact the effectiveness of the process.

Consultants at Sharper Labs can help you handle grievances formally. We will ensure that you are fully aware of the stage you are at. If you need a Trade Union representative, we can help arrange it for you. We can also prepare you for any formal grievance hearings and investigations by your employer. If you wish to appeal the decision made by the investigation, we can also help you write the letter to appeal.

If you have quit the job in the process, we can start directly communicating your grievance to your employer on your behalf. We will also continue representing you in any following negotiations with the employer. If direct negotiations do not work, Sharper Labs Legal Team can advise you on the early conciliation services provided by ACAS.