Raising a formal grievance at work can feel daunting. A clear, professional letter protects your position and gives your employer the opportunity to resolve the issue properly.
A formal grievance is an official complaint raised by an employee about something that has happened at work. Employers are required by law to have a grievance procedure in place and to deal with formal grievances seriously and promptly. Raising a formal grievance creates a paper trail that protects your position if the matter escalates to an employment tribunal.
You should consider raising a formal grievance when informal attempts to resolve the issue have failed, when the matter is serious enough to warrant formal action, or when you want to create an official record of the problem.
Generate your grievance letter in 60 seconds
Answer a few questions and get a professional grievance letter ready to send
Generate my grievance letter — £6.99Bullying or harassment
Persistent behaviour from a colleague or manager that is offensive, intimidating, or demeaning.
Discrimination
Being treated less favourably because of a protected characteristic such as age, gender, race, or disability.
Unfair treatment
Being passed over for promotion, given unreasonable workloads, or treated differently from colleagues without justification.
Breach of contract
Your employer is not honouring the terms of your employment contract — pay, hours, or conditions.
Health and safety concerns
Unsafe working conditions that your employer has failed to address.
Whistleblowing concerns
You have raised concerns about wrongdoing and are being treated badly as a result.
Your name, job title, and department
So your employer can identify you and your role.
Who the grievance is about
Name the person or people involved where relevant.
A clear description of the problem
Describe what happened, when, and how often. Be factual and specific.
Dates and witnesses
Include dates of specific incidents and names of any witnesses.
Previous attempts to resolve it
Mention any informal steps you have already taken.
What outcome you are seeking
State clearly what you want your employer to do to resolve the matter.
Once you submit a formal grievance letter, your employer must invite you to a grievance meeting within a reasonable timeframe — usually within 5 working days. You have the right to be accompanied at this meeting by a colleague or trade union representative. After the meeting your employer must inform you of their decision in writing and tell you about your right to appeal.
If you are unhappy with the outcome you can appeal the decision. If the grievance remains unresolved you may be able to raise a claim with an employment tribunal, though you must normally contact ACAS first through their Early Conciliation service.
Keep your letter factual and professional — avoid emotional language or personal attacks. Keep copies of everything. Do not resign before raising a grievance if you can help it, as this can affect your options. Check your employer's grievance policy before submitting, as some employers have specific procedures or forms to use.
Ready to raise your grievance?
LetterSure generates a professional employer grievance letter in under 60 seconds. Answer a few questions and download as PDF or Word.
Generate my grievance letter — £6.99Or get Pro for £12.99/month for unlimited letters
This guide is for general information only. LetterSure letters are personal correspondence drafts and do not constitute legal advice. For legal matters consult a qualified solicitor at solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk.