Home » Blog » Is there a difference with an employee complaining and a grievance?

To be honest they are the same thing.  It is the next actions taken that make the difference.

If an employee has a complaint, it is good practice to deal with it and not ignore it as it may escalate into something more serious such as a legal claim or other employees joining in with the complaint.

There is also a legal risk involved in ignoring a grievance.  The most likely risk is that an employee whose grievance is ignored goes on to resign and claim constructive dismissal.

So, what should you do next?

You need to take the employee somewhere private, then listen to them and ask them what they would like you to do.  Some may say ‘I just wanted to vent’ and don’t want to take it further.  As the employer you need to then make a decision if you feel that this is the right thing to do.   The person may have taken a lot of courage to speak to you, the reason or incident they are complaining may not have been the first time.

Typically, people think the grievance must be in writing, but this is not the case.  It is important to have it documented correctly.  If the employee refuses to put it in writing, you should do it and send it to them to ensure the facts are correct.

You should then investigate the matter.  If all of this seems daunting and you are wondering what to do next, just pick up the phone and call us on 01483 697076 to chat it through, what have you got to lose a few minutes of your time rather than a case against you.

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