LRD guides and handbook September 2015

Disciplinary and grievance procedures - a practical guide for trade union reps

Chapter 11

Drawing up grievance procedures


[ch 11: page 73]

The Acas Code suggests the following:


• involve management, employees and their representatives where appropriate;


• explain the procedures to employees and make sure they have a copy or ready access to a copy.


Under the Acas Code, employers and agencies need only provide grievance procedures to “employees”. However, it is good practice for agencies and hirers to allow all workers to use grievance procedures to address workplace problems, and some unions have won agreement from agencies and/or hirers that these procedures are accessible to all. There is a strong case for encouraging this, especially given the equal treatment rights under the Agency Workers Regulations 2010. For guidance on making the case, see the TUC bargaining guide, Delivering equal treatment for agency workers, available on the TUC website (https://www.tuc.org.uk/equality-issues/03-agency-workers/vulnerable-workers/delivering-equal-treatment-agency-workers).