As an employee, you have the rights to file for a complaint whenever you experience unfair performance appraisals, discrimination at work, wrongful termination, etc. Keep in mind that workplace laws protect you and your rights. If your complaint involves serious issues like discrimination or illegal activity, you should have proof and make sure that everything is documented. It would be of great help if you make time to review whether your contract of employment has any provisions about how to resolve workplace disputes. Furthermore, to ensure that your complaints are reasonable, don't hesitate to ask legal assistance from workplace lawyers so that your intentions are best represented. Here is a comprehensive guideline on how to file a complaint about your employer.
2. Almost every person
employed will have a
complaint or a grievance
about their employer.
However, you have the
right to attend work
without fear of
discrimination and to
work in a safe
environment.
3. Unfortunately, there are
genuine issues in the
workplace from unfair
performance appraisals
to discrimination. Keep
in mind that workplace
laws protect you and
your rights.
5. First step: Take into
account what tools
you have available to
fix the issue.
Look into the contract that you
have entered into when you
began employment. Your
employers are required to have a
section that details how a
workplace dispute will be
resolved.
6. Bonus Tip:
Some contracts will even allow third parties
to work as mediators to your dispute which
helps remove an obvious bias that you
could have felt had mediation occurred
from your employer.
7. Second Step: Look at
the relevant internal
policy of your
company.
Many workplaces will usually
provide an employee with a set
of policy which regulates
workplace matters such as
Workplace Health and Safety.
8. These internal policies will
illustrate the procedures that are
in place by dealing with any of
these offences.
9. This will be the first point of call
for both employers and
employees when an issue arises
because they will clearly outline
the policies and the appropriate
actions that should be taken.
10. Third Step: Begin the
internal complaint
process.
This begins by speaking with your
supervisor. We advise that this
performed in writing as this
evidence may help you later. You
can remain clear and level-headed
when drafting a written complaint.
11. You can discuss matters in a clear
chronological order which in turn
will help your employers deal with
the complaint.
12. Fourth Step: In case
your complaint is not
taken seriously by your
supervisor, contact the
next important person
that is above them.
If your complaint is about your
supervisor or if you feel that they
have not taken your complaint
seriously, you can then contact the
next important person that is above
them.
13. For example, you may have a
Human Resources department that
deals specifically within the
complaint process and would be of
greater assistance than another
manager.
14. Fifth Step: Collect
evidence for your
complaint.
You may need to have evidence
to corroborate the events that
you portray. You can submit
emails and text messages as
evidence or even witnesses.
15. Sixth Step: If your dispute cannot be
handled internally, begin looking at
the external compliant process.
If you have exhausted the avenues
available to you within the internal
complaint process and feel that no
action or the action that has taken
place isn’t satisfactory then you
should begin to look at the external
complaint process.
16. The avenue of your complaint may change
depending on the circumstances of your
complaint. For example, issues with
Workplace Health and Safety should be
brought up to the relevant Statutory body
such as SafeWork. Whereas, if your
complaint is about discrimination within
the workplace then the Anti-Discrimination
Board is the most appropriate contact.
17. The avenue of your complaint may change
depending on the circumstances of your
complaint. For example, issues with Workplace
Health and Safety should be brought up to the
relevant Statutory body such as SafeWork.
Whereas, if your complaint is about
discrimination within the workplace then the
Anti-Discrimination Board is the most
appropriate contact.
18. However, if you are unsure about the most
appropriate avenue to begin the external
complaint process then lodging a complaint
to the Fair Work Commission or speaking
with a Fair Work Ombudsman is the best.
19. Talk To The Best Employment
Lawyers in Sydney Today!
If you have exhausted all available
avenues both internally or externally and
are still unhappy with the results of filing
a complaint to your boss, then the final
step would be to speak with a solicitor.