Glossary · UK
What is Grievance Procedure?
A formal internal process an employee follows to raise a concern or complaint about their treatment at work, following the ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures.
Full Definition
A grievance procedure is the formal internal process an employer sets out for an employee to raise a concern, problem or complaint about their treatment at work -- covering issues such as unfair treatment by a manager, a dispute over pay or terms, bullying or harassment, or disagreement with a decision that affects the employee -- distinct from a disciplinary procedure, which is the process an employer uses when it has concerns about an employee's own conduct or performance. Most UK employers follow the ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures, which recommends that a grievance be raised formally in writing, that the employer investigate and hold a meeting to discuss it (allowing the employee the statutory right to be accompanied by a colleague or trade union representative), that a decision be communicated in writing with reasons, and that the employee have the right to appeal the outcome if they are not satisfied. While there is no standalone legal claim purely for "failing to follow the grievance procedure," an employment tribunal can adjust compensation up or down by up to 25% in a related claim (such as constructive or unfair dismissal, or a discrimination claim) if either the employer or the employee unreasonably failed to follow the ACAS Code, which gives both sides a strong practical incentive to follow the process properly. Employees are also generally expected to raise a formal grievance and give the employer a reasonable opportunity to address the problem before resigning and claiming constructive dismissal, since resigning abruptly without first raising the issue can weaken a later tribunal claim by suggesting the employee acted prematurely or did not genuinely exhaust the internal process.