Grievance

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EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCES

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INTRODUCTION When an employee feels that something is unfair in the organisation, he is said to have a grievance. To be precise, grievances have certain common features.

Features of the term “grievance” 

Perceived non fulfillment of one's expectations leading to dissatisfaction with any aspect of the organisation.

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The dissatisfaction arises out of employment and not due to personal or family problems

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The reasons could be real or imaginary or disguised.

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The discontent may be voiced or unvoiced.

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EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCES Causes  Economic  Work environment  Supervision  Work group  Miscellaneous Effects If grievances are not identified and redressed properly, they may adversely affect the workers, managers and the organisation.  Production  Employees  Managers

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Grievance Procedure It is a formal channel of communication used to resolve grievances. Having a formal grievance procedure has its own advantages. Workers get a wonderful opportunity to ventilate their feelings. Management can go back to the roots of a problem quickly. Supervisors, too, have to fall in line and listen to workers’ complaints more seriously. A fair redressal mechanism would boost the morale of all employees greatly.

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The discovery of grievances The success of a grievance procedure, to a large extent, depends on the various ways adopted to uncover the problem:

How to uncover grievances? 

Observation

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A formal grievance procedure

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Open door policy

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Exit interviews

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Opinion surveys

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Essentials of a formal grievance procedure A sound grievance procedure must have the following characteristics

Prerequisites of a grievance procedure 

Conformity with statutory provisions

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No ambiguity

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Simplicity

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Promptness

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Training

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Follow up

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Steps in the grievance procedure 

Identify grievances

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Define correctly

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Collect data

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Analyse and solve

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Prompt redressal

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Implement and follow up

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Model Grievance Procedure The model grievance procedure suggested by the National Commission on Labour involves six successive time-bound steps each leading to the next, in case employees have any reason to complain against any issue affecting their organisational lives.

Model grievance procedure P ro ce d u re

T im e F r a m e

A p p e a l a g a in s t w it h in a w e e k M anager

3 days

G r ie v a n c e C o m m itte e

7 d a y s u n a n im o u s

HOD

3 days

S u p e rv is o r

4 8 h o u rs

F o re m a n W o rk e r

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Grievance Procedure Guidelines for handling grievances 

Treat each case as important and get the grievance in writing

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Talk to the employee directly

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Discuss in a private place

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Handle each case within a time frame

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Examine company provisions in each case

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Get all relevant facts

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Control your emotions

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Maintain proper records

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Be proactive, if possible.