Grievance Policy of High Peak CVS

1. Definition

In general terms, a grievance is an issue between employees or between an employee and an employer arising out of pay and or conditions of employment or the application of the organisation's rules.

2. General Principles

2.1 It is expected that in most instances grievances will be resolved through informal discussions and as near as possible to their point of origin.

2.2 Where this is not possible, a formal procedure is outlined in section 3 and has been designed to ensure that grievances are investigated quickly and are dealt with fairly and consistently throughout High Peak CVS.

3. Formal Procedure

3.1 The employee must notify their line manager of their wish to lodge a formal grievance.

3.2 All grievances (other than those concerning the Chief Officer) will be dealt with in a formal hearing chaired by the Chief Officer.

3.3 The employee will be notified in writing of the time and place of the formal hearing for which 10 full working days notice must be given

3.4 Any written statement to be presented at the formal hearing or at an appeal, together with the name of any witnesses to be called, are to be made available to all parties 5 full working days prior to the hearing or appeal.

3.5 In the event that the grievance concerns the Chief Officer, the matter will be dealt with initially by a trustee other than the Chair but otherwise in accordance with these rules. Any appeal shall be heard by the Chair with another trustee.

Annex A Conduct of Formal Hearings

1 The employee may bring a friend /advisor who can assist in the presentation.

2 The Chair may ask any other person involved in the grievance to attend the hearing.

3 The Chair will outline the procedure to be followed.

4 The employees be invited to present their grievance statement.

5 The employee may call witnesses

6 The Chair may ask any other person involved in the grievance to represent their views and to call witnesses.

7 Witnesses may be questioned by the Chair.

8 The employee will be given an opportunity to make a final statement.

9 The Chair will give consideration in private to the facts presented at the hearing and will, wherever possible, give their decision and the reasons for it on the day of the hearing. The outcome will be confirmed in writing to the employee within 10 full working days following the hearing. This notice will include confirmation of the right of appeal, notice of which must be lodged with 10 full working days of the date of the notice.

Annex B Conduct of Appeals

1) General Principles

1.1 Appeals will be dealt with in a formal hearing. The appeal will be held by the Chair of the Personnel Sub-Committee or their nominee and another trustee with the Chief Officer in attendance.

1.2 The employee may also bring a friend/advisor who can assist in the presentation.

1.3 The employee must provide a written statement to the Chair of the Personnel Sub-Committee of their wish to appeal within 10 full working days of the date of the written outcome of the formal grievance hearing, setting out the general ground on which they wish to appeal.

The Chair will:

• arrange for the appeal to be heard within 15 full working days of the employee's request being received.
• notify the employee in writing of the time and place of the appeal for which 10 full working days' notice must be given

2) Conduct of Appeal

2.1 The Chair will outline the procedure

2.2 Firstly the employee and then the Chief Officer will present their statements.

2.3 Witnesses may be called by the employee, the Director and by the Chair.

2.4 Opportunity will be available for witnesses, the Chief Officer and the employee to be questioned by the Chair, by the Chief Officer and by the employee.

2.5 The employee will be given an opportunity to make a final statement.

2.6 Following the appeal the Panel will consider the facts presented in private and will, wherever possible, give their decision and the reasons for it on the day of the appeal. The outcome will be confirmed in writing to the employee within 5 full working days of the appeal hearing.

3 The decision of the appeal hearing is final.

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