A grievance is a formal complaint an employee raises about something affecting their employment - unfair treatment, a working condition, or a dispute with a colleague or manager - through the employer's internal grievance procedure.
What it means
A grievance procedure is distinct from a disciplinary procedure: a grievance is raised by an employee about a problem, while discipline is initiated by the employer about an employee's conduct. Most employee handbooks set out the steps - usually starting with the line manager and escalating if unresolved.
Where it fits in
A grievance about pay - a disputed deduction, an incorrect payslip - is one of the more common types payroll-adjacent teams see, and resolving it accurately and promptly is often what prevents it escalating to the CCMA.
Key rules
- A formal complaint raised by an employee, distinct from a disciplinary matter.
- Follows a defined internal process, typically starting with the line manager.
- Pay-related grievances are common and need accurate, prompt resolution.
- Unresolved grievances can escalate to external bodies like the CCMA.
