Work related - grievance

[Holidaymodeon]

Hi, posting here for traffic!
Writing a grievance, ACAS has advised it but won’t read it prior to sending.
Can’t go to citizens advice as it is linked to my work…
is there a legitimate organisation who will read my grievance prior to sending?
it is long and covers so many issues in multiple areas, primarily disability discrimination, bullying and poor, possibly illegal practices but I am conscious I am coming from a place of high stress and emotion as well as sick with pain and don’t want to write a sprawling document that might be overkill and not taken seriously.
I’m neurodivergent and have been told I give too much info and find it really hard to pare down whilst maintaining the importance of the grievance.

thank you

I'm sorry to hear about your difficult situation @Holidaymodeon . I would recommend doing a couple of different versions of this. The first is what you have now - your long version that covers everything that's happened, get it off your chest, therapy session type vent. This will never be sent!

Think very carefully about what your actual grievance is. This will have a specific definition and likely a recommended structure. Have you looked online for a template?

Also find out more about the process after the initial written submission. Are there other points where you will be asked for more detail or when you can offer more context/detail? I don't have any experience but from my experience with other HR situations, you likely don't need to convince someone from the first contact how awful it has been. Presumably this will come out in a process.

Good luck and take care.

Thank you, even if the issue started a year ago? I have persevered an persevered and it’s hugely impacted my physical and mental health, I’m currently off sick and feel like an untouchable, given some of the responses on this thread I have real concerns about how anyone will respond or react to my complaints.
its so damaging to trust employers to ‘do the right thing’ .
i have spent so long putting on a brave face etc because of the attitudes there and now im suffering hugely as a consequence of trying to make them feel comfortable 😭🙈🤣

This is the best advice so far on your post. (HR Manager here.)
If you use bullet points and as many specific examples as possible, it will help as management will have to address each one in turn.
Good luck op.

Grievances are generally a total waste of time. It’s probably not going to be upheld. What will you do then?

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and helpful response.
I was keeping a diary since day one then had a calamitous tech experience and lost EVERYTHING!!!
I have no access to my work emails where there’s lots of evidence, annoyingly when I went sick I nearly brought my laptop home to tie up some loose ends but decided to just pass it all on to them to manage.
i have a list but not necessarily dates, and be of the culture of the place I don’t want to bring in witnesses etc although I can state when things happened in meetings where I was refused access to essential tools or publicly humiliated , to the point where people spoke to me privately about it.
as above , there is a high staff turnover but all have given practical valid reasons not distressing ones, they are all able bodied, not nd and find it far easier to find new roles

Thank you 🙏

There’s very clear disability discrimination and ignoring access recommendations etc, I will follow the process to the end point whatever I am advised but I am asking for help for the first step of writing it, not the what ifs.

So what outcome are you looking for? Assuming that your work aren’t going to
get rid of your boss, it’ll need to be you that leaves. I am sorry you’re having a shit time but you need to think ahead and about how is this grievance actually going to serve you in any way.

Thank you , I will try this!

Definitely ask Chat GPT to make it more succinct. You’ll be doing everyone a favour.

And the “end point” could be at least 3 - 4 years away given the current state of tribunals, just FYI.

Thank you, I have to be so careful what I write, too much detail an it becomes identifiable but the law has been broken in multiple ways, not just related to me, I can’t decide what to do for the best really but this person has essentially changed my life irreparably due to the toxicity and lack of accessibility including physical access , it’s broken me

You could try submitting a Subject Access Request to get your employer to send you that information? Good luck OP

Do you have legal expenses cover at all? Maybe with household insurance?

I’d do as someone else suggested and run it through chat gpt. I’d say you want no more than two sides of A4 as a rough guide.

If you are worried about citizen’s advise not being confidential (it should be but people are people) could you go to one in the next town over?

Some thoughts

unions don’t have to be in your workplace to be part of one. You just have to find the one suitable for your role/profession.

but a union won’t help you now, it’s far too late for a pre-existing issue of this complexity

ACAS will provide guidance on process but absolutely won’t be there to support you. It is not their role to do that. If you go down an unfair/constructive dismissal path ACAS will act as mediators (and you have to do this before tribunal). And remember the 3 months less one day rule, so stuff that happened over a year ago may be ruled out (although it would give context).

not sure CAB will be of help but try them. They may not be specialists in employment law. An employment lawyer is what you need (a friend unless with specific knowledge can only edit based on the readability of your grievance not the content and law / policy aspect).

grievences should start with the solution you are seeking - what do you want out of this process? What do you want the employer to do?

your grievance letter should clearly state the facts but it should be considered. The longest draft grievance that I have read (as an accredited rep) was 120 pages in length. As the rep I gave up after the first 10 pages, as the employer they would haven’t got so far.

you need to stick to facts and try not to get emotional. When there has been an impact you need to be clear in what that impact has been. Being specific against policies and laws is useful.

you need to get a lawyer to advise you and a good one (I know some duff ones out there who will take anything on and have no hope of success). They can help frame your grievance in terms of the law and policies (and if the employer has followed the policies which generally they don’t) and give some indication of your success if you have to go to tribunal.

as an aside and what I say to my members - grievances are awful for all involved and beware, there are always unintended consequences- you will also be put under a spotlight so ensure that you have clean hands and have also behaved appropriately

Sometimes u don’t want or need to get to legal jargonny.

You have a grievance, you have written everything down, you have not lied or embellished anything on the forms.

You may/may not have all the proof you need, but all the proof you have - include it.

Keep it clear, concise and simple.

If you’re going to court, keep your temper under control, don’t get into a “heated discussion”, just keep to the facts

goid luck

It doesn’t really answer the question of what outcome you want. You need to be really clear about that, or you risk it becoming a directionless rant.

Do you want your job back? Do you want to be moved? Do you want a pay off? Do you want someone sacking?

You need evidence in all cases, times, dates, other people, documents etc. Tie everything back to the outcome that you want.

I run a HR business and deal with grievances a lot for different businesses, if you want me to have a read through it DM me and I can give feedback on it.

I would go to a specialist employment lawyer.

Thank you, oh my god, it’s probably about 12 pages, which still feels too long. I’m thinking constructive dismissal… if there was an EDI handbook, my employers have done the opposite of every single possible guideline, lied on my OH referral etc.
im wondering if an employment law solicitor would see me in the free thirty minutes?
im about to go into ssp , honestly if you knew the job I had before you would think i was mad, i had the best possible deal but this opportunity came up unexpectedly and almost seemed too good to be true.
i am kicking myself daily which is not helping my mental health any.

Totally agree, don't make it long. Biggest mistake, you'll lose their interest.

Bullet points.

Start with a brief background for each issue.

Don't go on about all the wrong doing and how it affected you. Make this just one or two bullet points.

Most important part....tell them what you want out of the grievance and why you think it's reasonable.

Wow! That is really kind thank you so much, I would massively appreciate it, if I put it together and redact the identifying details that would be great, also feel free to retract the offer if it looks too much. It’s still in draft atm , when the kids are back in school I will put it together.
thank you, I am crying now, the kindness of strangers hey

Oh and quote where and how they fail their policies. It needs to be structured. 12 pages is bound to be full of waffling.