What is a grievance procedure?

An employee who has a complaint about their treatment at work — whether relating to their manager, a colleague, their working conditions, or how a policy has been applied — has the right to raise it formally. A grievance procedure is the process through which this happens, and handling it correctly is as important from an employment law perspective as handling a disciplinary issue correctly.

A grievance procedure allows employees to raise workplace concerns formally so they can be investigated and addressed. It typically involves the employee submitting their concern in writing, the employer conducting an investigation, a formal meeting to discuss the grievance, a written decision, and the right of appeal. Like disciplinary procedures, grievance procedures should follow the ACAS Code of Practice, which sets out the standard of fairness that employment tribunals will apply when assessing whether a grievance was handled properly.

Ignoring or mishandling a grievance can have serious consequences — including an employment claim, particularly if the grievance relates to a protected characteristic or whistleblowing. Having a written grievance policy and ensuring managers know how to use it is part of basic people management compliance for any employer. Our guide to grievance procedures for UK employers covers how to handle a grievance correctly and avoid the most common mistakes.