Document text
Date: [DD MONTH YYYY]
Sent by [E-MAIL / HAND / RECORDED DELIVERY] — please confirm receipt
To:
[NAME OF MANAGER OR HR CONTACT]
[JOB TITLE]
[EMPLOYER'S FULL NAME]
[ADDRESS]
From:
[YOUR FULL NAME]
[YOUR JOB TITLE] · [DEPARTMENT / SITE]
Employee or payroll number: [NUMBER]
[YOUR ADDRESS] · [PHONE] · [PERSONAL E-MAIL]
Subject: Formal grievance — [SHORT DESCRIPTION, E.G. UNPAID WAGES / DISMISSAL / TREATMENT BY MY MANAGER]
Dear [NAME],
I am raising a formal grievance under the company's grievance procedure and the Acas Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures. I ask you to deal with it in writing.
1. What happened
Date What happened Who was involved Evidence I hold
[DATE] [WHAT HAPPENED] [NAMES / JOB TITLES] [E-MAIL, PAYSLIP, MESSAGE, WITNESS]
[DATE] [WHAT HAPPENED] [NAMES / JOB TITLES] [EVIDENCE]
[DATE] [WHAT HAPPENED] [NAMES / JOB TITLES] [EVIDENCE]
[KEEP THE POINTS THAT APPLY, DELETE THE OTHERS]
Pay. I have not been paid [WAGES / HOLIDAY PAY / OVERTIME / NOTICE PAY] of £[AMOUNT] for [PERIOD]. My payslip dated [DATE] shows [WHAT IS MISSING OR DEDUCTED].
Dismissal. I was dismissed on [DATE], with effect from [DATE]. I believe the dismissal was unfair because [REASONS].
Treatment at work. I have been treated unfairly by [NAME] because [REASON — E.G. MY PREGNANCY / DISABILITY / AGE / RACE / RAISING A CONCERN]. This has affected me in this way: [EFFECT].
Other. [DESCRIBE].
2. What I am asking for
1. [E.G. PAYMENT OF £(AMOUNT) BY (DATE)].
2. [E.G. A CORRECTED PAYSLIP / AN APOLOGY / A CHANGE OF LINE MANAGER / REINSTATEMENT].
3. A grievance meeting within a reasonable time, and a written outcome with the reasons for your decision.
4. A copy of the grievance procedure, and of any notes made about my complaint.
I would like to be accompanied at the meeting by [A COLLEAGUE / A TRADE UNION REPRESENTATIVE — NAME IF KNOWN]. For the meeting I need these adjustments: [ADJUSTMENTS, IF ANY — OR DELETE].
3. Time limits
Please note that raising this grievance does not pause the time limits for an employment tribunal claim. For acts or dismissals on or after 1 October 2026, most claims must be started (through Acas early conciliation) within six months. I therefore ask you to respond to this grievance within [14] days of receiving it, so that we can try to resolve matters before then.
I would prefer to resolve this with you directly.
Yours sincerely,
______________________________
[YOUR FULL NAME]
Attachments:
1. [PAYSLIPS / CONTRACT / DISMISSAL LETTER].
2. [E-MAILS OR MESSAGES].
3. [NAMES OF WITNESSES, IF ANY].
BEFORE SENDING — delete this part
Write down your key date. For a dismissal, it is the date your employment ended (the effective date of termination). For pay, it is the date the short payment was made. For discrimination, it is the date of the act (or the last act in a series).
Six months, not three — but only for dates on or after 1 October 2026. If your key date was before 1 October 2026, the old three-month limit still applies.
Acas first. Before you can bring most tribunal claims you must notify Acas for early conciliation. Do it before the limit runs out, even if your grievance is still open.
Keep copies of this letter, your evidence and every reply.
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