Get 30% off an annual subscription until 15th December 2024 Find out more
Making a complaint at work

Get expert legal advice at a fair price – we’ll guide you step by step to achieve the best outcome for you.

  • Jargon free advice tailored to your issue
  • Call us when you need, for as long as you need
  • Set monthly or annual fees, no hidden costs
  • Advice for you and people at the same address
Join online today
Legal Header Employment

If you need to make a formal complaint at work

Often the best way to fix a problem at work is to raise it informally. But what should you do if your line manager doesn’t listen? Maybe you don’t have the right equipment to do your job, or an employment policy feels unfair. Perhaps you’re being bullied because of a disability or discriminated against because of what you believe. If your employer doesn’t take action, or if the issue is serious, it could be time to raise a grievance.

Raising a grievance makes your employer listen

A grievance is a formal complaint that your employer must respond to. It has to be investigated fairly, and everyone should be given a chance to have their say. If your grievance isn’t handled in the right way, or if you disagree with your employer’s decision, you should be given the opportunity to appeal the outcome. You can’t go to an employment tribunal just because you don’t like the outcome of your grievance. However, if you successfully pursue a claim in the tribunal and your employer failed to deal with your grievance correctly, you could be awarded more money.

How we can help

We can discuss your situation, and help you understand how to go about raising a grievance. When you put pen to paper, we can help you plan what to say so that you make a convincing argument. And if you’ve already raised a grievance we’ll guide you on the process, and check your employer is handling it correctly. We’ll:

  • talk to you about what’s happened
  • guide you on writing a grievance
  • advise you on your options and the time limits to bring any claim
Can we help you with your issue?

Our experts provide advice to members every day on a range of issues. To see if yours is one we cover answer the questions below.

8F95d1a7f0dc Cp Step9

Before we start, we need to check if you have already instructed a solicitor or other legal professional to advise you in this matter.

Why do we need this?

For regulatory reasons we can't advise if you have formally instructed a legal professional for the issue you're seeking advice for. If you have had a free appointment with a professional or an organisation such as Citizen's Advice Bureau, click 'No' I haven't'.

Join online today by choosing one of the options below.
Annual
30% off until 15 December 2024
Save £67 vs monthly
£69.30 for a year £5.78 monthly equivalent - Normally £99
  • Access our experts in consumer law, travel, motoring, landlords & tenancy, wills & probate and more
  • Get clear guidance on your next steps from experts you can trust
  • Unlimited calls – speak with us as often as you need
  • Cover for your whole household
  • Regular news and advice emails
Join
Monthly
As much advice as you need for as long as you need £9 per month plus a one-off £29 joining fee (cancel anytime)
  • Access our experts in consumer law, travel, motoring, landlords & tenancy, wills & probate and more
  • Get clear guidance on your next steps from experts you can trust
  • Unlimited calls – speak with us as often as you need
  • Cover for your whole household
  • Regular news and advice emails
Join
If you need assurance that we can help with your issue before joining online read our common questions, or ask our advisers via live chat.
Read our common questions
Meet your experts
Brendan Donohue Sq Brendan Donohue Brendan joined Which? in 2018 and is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association. He has over 20 years of experience advising on all aspects of employment law.
Duncan Snook Sq Duncan Snook Duncan joined Which? Legal as an employment law specialist in May 2018. He has over 10 years of experience as an employment solicitor in private practice.
Still have a question?
Read our common questions