What happens at a grievance meeting?

The employee explains their grievance and the outcome they want, the manager asks questions to understand the facts, and everyone agrees the next steps. The decision follows in writing, with the right to appeal.

Can I bring someone to a grievance meeting?

In the UK, workers have a legal right to be accompanied by a trade union representative or a colleague at a grievance meeting about a duty the employer owes them.

Is a grievance hearing the same as a grievance meeting?

Yes. Both terms describe the formal meeting where an employer hears an employee's grievance.

AgendaNonprofits1:1 & people

Grievance meeting

60 minutes 10 blockspro Runs with Pro

A step-by-step grievance meeting that follows the Acas Code: roles, the companion's rights, the employee's case, outcome sought, questions and next steps.

Use this template See inside

Free to open and edit. Running it live needs Pro, free for 14 days on every new account.

60 min · 10 blocks, drawn to scale Fits exactly

Introductions, roles and the purpose of the meeting, 3 minutes
The companion's role, 2 minutes
The employee explains the grievance, 12 minutes
What outcome is the employee looking for?, 5 minutes
Questions to clarify the facts, 12 minutes
Evidence and witnesses: what else needs looking at?, 8 minutes
Adjourn to consider, if needed, 10 minutes
Next steps: any further investigation and when the written decision will come, 5 minutes
The right of appeal, 2 minutes
Check the notes and close, 1 minutes

+0′Introductions, roles and the purpose of the meetingTip: Name who is hearing the grievance, who is taking notes, the employee and their companion. Say this is to understand the grievance, not to decide it on the spot.3 minInfo
+3′The companion's roleTip: In the UK, a worker can be accompanied by a trade union representative or a colleague. The companion can put and sum up the case and confer with the worker, but can't answer questions for them.2 minInfo
+5′The employee explains the grievanceTip: Let them speak without interruption. Write down dates, people and events for follow-up.12 minDiscuss
+17′What outcome is the employee looking for?5 minDiscuss
+22′Questions to clarify the factsTip: Open questions: what happened, when, who was there, what was said. Avoid debating whether the grievance is justified.12 minDiscuss
+34′Evidence and witnesses: what else needs looking at?8 minDiscuss
+42′Adjourn to consider, if needed10 minBreak
+52′Next steps: any further investigation and when the written decision will come5 minInfo
+57′The right of appealTip: Explain that the written decision will say how to appeal. Where possible, a more senior manager not involved so far hears any appeal.2 minInfo
+59′Check the notes and close1 minWrap-up

In short

A grievance meeting is where an employer hears an employee's formal complaint about their work, colleagues or treatment. This 60-minute agenda follows the Acas Code of Practice: introductions and roles, the companion's rights, the employee's case and desired outcome, fact-finding questions, next steps and the right of appeal.

Time: 60 minutes
People: Manager, note-taker, employee, companion
Blocks: 10
Plan: Pro

Updated October 4, 2026

What's inside

By the end of this meeting, the employee has set out their grievance and the outcome they want, the facts have been explored and everyone knows what happens next. The full agenda is drawn to scale above: every block has its own timer when you run it live.

How to run it

1Hold the meeting without unreasonable delay after the written grievance arrives, and tell the employee about the right to be accompanied.
2Keep details of the grievance out of the agenda; the note-taker records them in your HR system.
3Let the employee present their case and the outcome they want before you ask questions.
4Don't decide in the meeting. Investigate where needed, then confirm the outcome and the right of appeal in writing.
5In a US unionized workplace, use the same structure for a step-one grievance meeting with the steward, following your contract's steps and time limits.

Questions people ask

What happens at a grievance meeting?: The employee explains their grievance and the outcome they want, the manager asks questions to understand the facts, and everyone agrees the next steps. The decision follows in writing, with the right to appeal.
Can I bring someone to a grievance meeting?: In the UK, workers have a legal right to be accompanied by a trade union representative or a colleague at a grievance meeting about a duty the employer owes them.
Is a grievance hearing the same as a grievance meeting?: Yes. Both terms describe the formal meeting where an employer hears an employee's grievance.

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Change anything in the editor. When you're ready, press Present: everyone joins with a scan and answers on their phone.

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AgendaNonprofits1:1 & people

Grievance meeting

60 minutes 10 blockspro Runs with Pro

A step-by-step grievance meeting that follows the Acas Code: roles, the companion's rights, the employee's case, outcome sought, questions and next steps.

Use this template See inside

Free to open and edit. Running it live needs Pro, free for 14 days on every new account.

60 min · 10 blocks, drawn to scale Fits exactly

Introductions, roles and the purpose of the meeting, 3 minutes
The companion's role, 2 minutes
The employee explains the grievance, 12 minutes
What outcome is the employee looking for?, 5 minutes
Questions to clarify the facts, 12 minutes
Evidence and witnesses: what else needs looking at?, 8 minutes
Adjourn to consider, if needed, 10 minutes
Next steps: any further investigation and when the written decision will come, 5 minutes
The right of appeal, 2 minutes
Check the notes and close, 1 minutes

+0′Introductions, roles and the purpose of the meetingTip: Name who is hearing the grievance, who is taking notes, the employee and their companion. Say this is to understand the grievance, not to decide it on the spot.3 minInfo
+3′The companion's roleTip: In the UK, a worker can be accompanied by a trade union representative or a colleague. The companion can put and sum up the case and confer with the worker, but can't answer questions for them.2 minInfo
+5′The employee explains the grievanceTip: Let them speak without interruption. Write down dates, people and events for follow-up.12 minDiscuss
+17′What outcome is the employee looking for?5 minDiscuss
+22′Questions to clarify the factsTip: Open questions: what happened, when, who was there, what was said. Avoid debating whether the grievance is justified.12 minDiscuss
+34′Evidence and witnesses: what else needs looking at?8 minDiscuss
+42′Adjourn to consider, if needed10 minBreak
+52′Next steps: any further investigation and when the written decision will come5 minInfo
+57′The right of appealTip: Explain that the written decision will say how to appeal. Where possible, a more senior manager not involved so far hears any appeal.2 minInfo
+59′Check the notes and close1 minWrap-up

In short

Time: 60 minutes
People: Manager, note-taker, employee, companion
Blocks: 10
Plan: Pro

Updated October 4, 2026

What's inside

How to run it

1Hold the meeting without unreasonable delay after the written grievance arrives, and tell the employee about the right to be accompanied.
2Keep details of the grievance out of the agenda; the note-taker records them in your HR system.
3Let the employee present their case and the outcome they want before you ask questions.
4Don't decide in the meeting. Investigate where needed, then confirm the outcome and the right of appeal in writing.
5In a US unionized workplace, use the same structure for a step-one grievance meeting with the steward, following your contract's steps and time limits.

Questions people ask

What happens at a grievance meeting?: The employee explains their grievance and the outcome they want, the manager asks questions to understand the facts, and everyone agrees the next steps. The decision follows in writing, with the right to appeal.
Can I bring someone to a grievance meeting?: In the UK, workers have a legal right to be accompanied by a trade union representative or a colleague at a grievance meeting about a duty the employer owes them.
Is a grievance hearing the same as a grievance meeting?: Yes. Both terms describe the formal meeting where an employer hears an employee's grievance.

All agendas

Open it, make it yours, run it live.

Change anything in the editor. When you're ready, press Present: everyone joins with a scan and answers on their phone.

Free forever
Pro free for 14 days
No card needed
Guests never need an account

Use this template More agendas

Grievance meeting

What's inside

How to run it

Questions people ask

Goes well with

Open it, make it yours, run it live.

Grievance meeting

What's inside

How to run it

Questions people ask

Goes well with

Open it, make it yours, run it live.