Employees are the lifeblood of every organization, helping entrepreneurs accomplish their set goals. It is the responsibility of the human resource manager to provide them with a free, vibrant, and safe working environment. By doing so, the chances of employee grievances are lower to a great extent. And, even if an employee is not satisfied or has any complaints, they feel free to talk about their concerns with the management.
It is essential that your company has a grievance resolution mechanism or policy for employees. It provides a sense of belongingness and security to the employees. If your organization does not already have an effective plan to handle different disputes, you must take the following steps.
Informal Meetings With Supervisors
Not all disputes require the employees to seek legal guidance. If the prevailing issue is minor and could be resolved within the organization, you must encourage employees to have an informal meeting with their supervisor. Informal meetings provide freedom to the workers to speak their minds without the fear of their complaints being officially recorded. Additionally, such meetings ensure active listening by managers.
The issues often discussed in informal meetings include promotions, increments, or the workplace environment.
Filing A Grievance Form
If the issue is something that could not be resolved with an informal meeting, it is suggested to use a formal grievance/complaint form. Employees could also use an email to file a complaint about the issue. Encourage your workers to add accurate information or detail about the matter or issue that’s affecting them, along with the correct date and name.
Yes, the complaints can also be anonymous, but only if it includes the well-being of co-workers or subordinates. For the complaints based on a personal level, adding the employee’s name is crucial. It will help highlight the issue and come up with a solution.
Formal Investigation
A formal investigation becomes necessary for complaints that include inappropriate dismissal or discrimination. In such cases, employees can seek assistance from an employment lawyer pro bono as they can guide workers about their rights at work. Employment lawyers generally help with filing formal complaints related to the issues of employment tribunal claims, dismissal, discrimination, and more.
A formal investigation of the issues will ensure that justice is served to the worker.
Evaluating The Details Of Grievances
This step requires you to keep the human resource department in the loop. It typically includes issues faced by various employees; thus, union representatives also come into the picture. The detail of the matter is evaluated thoroughly, and a resolution is provided. Time taken to resolve an issue depends on the number of employees involved and the issue itself.
For instance, if the issue is related to the low paycheck of employees, it might take a few days to resolve. On the other hand, immediate actions could be taken if the issue is related to workplace safety.
To Sum It All Up
Creating a vibrant and healthy work environment is important to keep your business running smoothly. However, as every person has their own way of working and communicating, grievances can happen. Following the steps mentioned above and seeking assistance from lawyers can help you and affected employees come up with a resolution.
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