A grievance is a formal complaint made by an employee regarding workplace issues such as perceived unfair treatment, policy violations, or unsatisfactory working conditions. Grievances represent instances where employee expectations and actual workplace experiences diverge. They may involve violations of law, contracts, or company policy.
A grievance can stem from issues like discrimination, harassment, unsafe working conditions, workload imbalance, or disagreement over job responsibilities. When not properly addressed, grievances can significantly damage morale, reduce motivation, and hurt overall performance.
Formal grievance processes typically follow structured procedures. This may include submitting a written complaint, conducting an investigation, offering resolution options, and allowing appeals. Clear grievance policies foster transparency, reduce conflict escalation, and improve trust in management and human resources.
