Employee grievance policy

The employee grievance policy has been agreed between the council and the recognised trade unions. It provides an agreed procedure to enable employees to seek redress for any grievance that might arise in relation to their employment, subject to the exceptions in paragraph 6.0.

The council will ensure that all employees are advised of the steps that are available to them and the name and designation of the person to whom they should raise a grievance. (Appendix B provides a flowchart of the steps within the grievance procedure).

Before raising a formal grievance, employees are strongly encouraged to consider trying to resolve the problem informally. If the problem concerns relationship difficulties and/or conflict, employees are encouraged to consider mediation as a way of resolving the conflict. Mediation is a confidential, informal and voluntary process which provides both parties, with the help of the mediator, the time and space to listen to each other in a 'safe environment' with the aim of achieving solutions that are acceptable to both parties. The mediator acts as a neutral third party whose role is not to apportion blame but to enable the parties involved to come to an agreement. Please email ask.hr@shropshire.gov.uk for a confidential discussion of what mediation involves.