MAKE YOUR FREE Grievance letter

A grievance letter is a formal letter of complaint to an employer. It sets out what your grievance is and when it started, how the employee has tried to resolve it informally and any proposals for resolving the issue.

Use this grievance letter template when you want to make a formal complaint to your employer. This grievance letter covers a number of situations which may lead to a complaint including discrimination, bullying, health and safety concerns and breach of contract. Set out your grievance and when it started, how you tried to address the issue and your proposals for resolving the grievance. You can also choose to be accompanied by someone at the grievance hearing.

Use this grievance letter to an employer when you

• want to make a formal complaint
• are being bullied at work
• feel you have been discriminated against at work
• have a concern about health and safety
• think your employment contract has been breached

For more information read our guide on raising grievances. 

This grievance letter to an employer covers

• a description of your grievance
• when your grievance started
• an outline of previous steps taken to address the problem
• any potential solution to the problem
• an option to be accompanied by someone at the meeting

You need a grievance letter when you want to raise a formal complaint about an issue at work such as discrimination, bullying, health and safety concerns or breach of contract eg. if you haven't been paid on time.

Employees should aim to settle most grievances informally with their line manager. This should be done by speaking directly to a manager or an employer. If the issue is still unresolved, you can then submit a grievance letter to your employer. It should be done without unreasonable delay, so the issue can be dealt with as swiftly as possible.

A grievance letter is not a legal action against employer. It is simply a letter of complaint to an employer about your problems or concerns at work.

Your employer should arrange to have a meeting to discuss the grievance. You can choose to be accompanied, if you wish. The aim of this meeting is to resolve the issue. If no further agreement is found you may need to take your employer to Employment Tribunal, if appropriate.

Ask a lawyer 

• for advice in situations where you feel an employer is being unreasonable
• for advice in circumstances in which you are uncomfortable facing your employer alone