Grievances

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A formal grievance procedure is an effective way of allowing employees to air concerns or problems, and of enabling employers to process employee complaints and resolve disputes in a fair and transparent manner.

An employer should ensure that its grievance procedure is applied consistently and that line managers receive appropriate training on how to manage grievances properly.

Dealing with a grievance

The Acas Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures (Acas Code) sets out minimum standards for dealing with disciplinary and grievance situations in the workplace, and applies to a broad range of employment claims. Failure to follow the Acas Code can be taken into account when it comes to determining liability, and may have an impact on the award of compensation, in relevant cases.

The non-statutory Acas guidance on discipline and grievances at work (Acas guidance) complements the Acas Code and provides good practice advice for dealing with discipline and grievances in the workplace. In the event of uncertainty regarding the interpretation of the Code, the Acas guidance may be followed by tribunals.

Employers are advised to have in place formal disciplinary and grievance procedures that, as

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