Having procedures internally in the organisation which deals with both grievance and disciplinary issues ensures that employees are able to raise any problems, concerns or complains they wish to raise with their employer as well as promote orderly employment relations and ensure a level of fairness and consistency and speed when dealing with individuals.

When dealing with potential disciplinary cases, it is important that employers are aware of the rules an regarding unfair dismissal (see termination of employment), which requires employers to act reasonable when dealing with disciplinary issues, and the minimum requirements contained in the employment act 2002.

Smaller organisation will find a total compliance to disciplinary and grievance good practises a large drain on its resources, employment tribunal will, however, also take account of an employers’ size and administrative resources when deciding if an organisation acted reasonable. It does, however, not excuse such organisation in not living up to minimum requirements.

Procedures should be in place and employees should know how to raise grievance internally in the organisation. They should be encouraged to raise any concern with line managers and line managers should be aware of how to deal with grievance received both written and orally. Employees should be informed that any grievance can only be taken to an employment tribunal if its raised in writing and 28 days have gone before it taken to the tribunal. Employees with English as their second language and with problems expressing itself in writing should be encouraged to seek help with a co-worker or trade union. Should the grievance involve more than one person it  might be appropriate for the problem to be solved through a collective agreement between a trade union and the employer.   
 

Source: ACAS 

Downloads:

ACAS Guide.pdf

ACAS guide to discipline and grievances.

BDFA Disciplinary Code.doc

British Disable Fencing Association example of a disciplinary code.

Disciplinary and grievance procedures - code of practise.pdf

Discipline and griavances procedures guidelines from ACAS.

disciplinarycode.pdf

British American Football Association example disciplinary Code.

Dispute_resolution_leaflet.pdf

Resource from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on how to avaoid and resolve discipline and grievance issues at work.