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Grievance procedures

How to adopt staff grievance procedures, tips for managing an effective grievance process and minimising staff grievances.

Guidance
08/10/2025

Grievances are concerns, problems, or complaints that employees raise with their employer; examples include bullying, discrimination, and working environment issues. Governing boards must establish procedures for handling grievances in the workplace.

In most cases, grievance procedures are dealt with at line management level and so do not require the involvement of governing boards. However, there are exceptions where board members will need to be involved in the process.

Our grievance procedures guidance for governing boards covers: 

  • adopting a grievance procedure
  • the stages of grievance procedures
  • taking part in grievance meetings and appeals
  • minimising grievances

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