Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures

Grievance and Disciplinary policies are a legal requirement for all companies, no matter how small. This means that your disciplinary and dismissal rules and grievance procedures must be set out in a written document, and you must make sure all employees have access to it

Grievance Procedures 

Grievances are concerns, problems or complaints that employees raise with their employer. If your community group decides to employ staff, you need to be in agreement about how you will handle employee grievances. 

These should be set out in a Grievance policy and reviewed on a regular basis. Whilst there are no legally binding processes that you and your employee(s) must follow when raising or handling a grievance at work, there are some agreed principles you should observe. The ACAS’ Code of Practice sets out minimum standards for dealing with grievances. Make sure that you consider these guidelines when drawing up your policies. 

Disciplinary Procedures 

When an employer needs to tell an employee something is wrong with their conduct or performance, they will use a disciplinary procedure. This allows the employer to explain clearly to the employee what improvement is required, and it should give an opportunity for the employee to explain their side of the situation. 

It can lead to disciplinary action, including dismissal in more serious cases. Where possible, before taking formal disciplinary action or dismissing an employee, try and raise the matter informally with the employee. Sometimes the problem may be the result of a misunderstanding, and talking to the employee may help clear the air and sort things out amicably.