Grievance outcome letter

  • Legally compliant
  • Simple to complete
  • Acts as a written record of your decision

Use this grievance outcome letter to notify the staff member who raised the grievance of whether you have upheld it or not.

The letter is a fundamental part of your formal grievance process. It is important that you properly notify your staff member in writing so that you have a proper record of the outcome. Fill out the simple questionnaire to generate a legally complaint notification of what you have done to investigate, your decision on the grievance and the reasons for it.

You can also purchase this letter as part of the Grievance toolkit.

Q&A

  • When should I use this document?

    Use this grievance outcome letter to tell a staff member who has raised a grievance what the outcome of your formal process is.

    It is designed for use as part of a formal process which (apart from in the most straightforward matters) should include an investigation stage and at least one meeting with the complainant.

    It is crucial to send written confirmation of your decision and reasons, even if you have already discussed it with your staff member and they have accepted it. Keep a copy for your records.

  • What does this document cover?

    This letter details the outcome of your investigation and consideration of a formal grievance. Specifically, it explains:

    • you have followed a proper process when investigating the grievance;

    • the decision whether or not to uphold the grievance and your reasons for it;

    • any action you will take as a result of your findings; and

    • the complainant's right to appeal the decision if they are not happy with it, together with an explanation of how to go about this.

  • Why do I need this document?

    This grievance outcome letter template is essential to confirm formally what your decision was and to make sure that the staff member concerned is clear on what next steps are available to them. For example, you must have an appeals process and this letter is the best place to remind the complainant of their legal rights.

    Once properly completed the letter is also a useful record of your decision and the reasons for it.

  • Where can I find out more?

    For more information on how to run a formal grievance process see Handling grievances, and for Q&A with more specifics on how to handle the most common grievances, see Specific types of grievance.

    For all the documentation you need to run a full, formal grievance process, together with a helpful how-to guide, see our Grievance toolkit.

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