Formal grievance outcome letter covering upheld, partially upheld and not upheld decisions. States the finding, action taken and appeal right. From £4.99.
A Grievance Outcome Letter is the employer's written response after a formal grievance hearing. Paragraph 36 of the Acas Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures (SI 2015/649) requires the employer to communicate its decision in writing without unreasonable delay, set out what action (if any) it will take, and notify the employee of the right to appeal. An outcome letter that gives no reasons, or that omits the appeal right, is a procedural failure under the Acas Code and creates a 25% tribunal award uplift risk.
After every formal grievance hearing — whether the grievance is upheld, partially upheld, or not upheld. The letter should follow the hearing promptly (5 working days is standard; the Acas Code requires action without unreasonable delay). Where further investigation was needed before the conclusion, the letter follows the conclusion of that investigation rather than the hearing itself.
The outcome stated clearly in the opening (upheld, partially upheld, or not upheld); the employer's finding on the facts — including reasons where the grievance is not upheld (a bare 'no evidence' without explanation is an Acas Code failure); the action taken or to be taken, with third-party confidentiality preserved where action involves a colleague; any action the employee requested that the employer has declined, with brief reasons; a confidentiality reminder; and the right of appeal under Acas Code para 39, including the deadline (typically 5 working days), the recipient, and the companion right under Employment Relations Act 1999 s.10.
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