Grievance examples
The example grievance below is by no means comprehensive, but it should give you an idea of the kind of structure and material which a grievance should contain. In practice, grievances are much longer, more detailed and preferably refer to the legal background more. We offer a package of compromise agreement template including grievances currently for 12, see our Handy templates page or call 0800 533 5134 or email info@compromiseagree.com to discuss.
[Mr/s x
HR Director
Employer address]
[date]
Dear Sirs
Formal grievance letter
I am writing to set out my formal grievance and to ask you to institute the grievance procedure. I feel that I have been treated badly and this has affected me in the following ways [set out any affects including any medical conditions & enclose a copy of any doctor's letter]. The treatment about which I wish to complain has been going on for some time and I have tried to raise it in the past informally but now it has become unbearable to the point where I need to ask you to investigate the situation formally. Examples of the treatment are as follows:
On 21 April 2010, I went into the conference room with Mr Smith and while I was arranging some nibbles on a tray for our important Japanese clients, Mr Smith winked suggestively and tried to tickle me. This made me feel completely undermined and distressed.
On 31 April 2010, in an email sent at 0930hrs (copy enclosed), Mr Smith stated: Dear Sally, please can you arrange another spread in the boardroom for me? but I knew that there were no clients booked in. In the circumstances I felt that this was innapropriate and amounts to a campaign of sexual harassment.
On [date] by [email / call / meeting] Mr Smith said [approximate comment] which made me feel [describe your reaction] because [spell it out for the reader].
On [date] by a [meeting] I discussed the above mistreatment with the Director Mr Brown, but he said that it was just being ‘jovial’ and ‘not to worry about it’. I feel I have no choice but to take this matter further. I have witnesses who will support my case if necessary. I look forward to hearing from you and I am happy to help with any investigatory meeting as soon as possible.
Yours faithfully
You might want to get a rough idea of the value of your case by filling in the Compromise Calculator. Also think about getting some representation have a look at the Employee Experiences to see how others in your situation were helped on their journey.
If you want help writing a grievance or if you have any other compromise agreement query, including how to get representation at no up front cost, email us on info@compromiseagree.com, call us 0800 533 5134 or send a message in the box to the bottom right.
