Identifying an investigating manager

Upon receipt of a formal grievance and as appropriate, the grievance hearing Manager will seek advice from the HR Adviser to agree who will be an appropriate investigating manager to undertake the investigation. The investigating manager will usually be a manager in another department of an appropriate level of seniority.

In cases relating to the dignity at work and study policy, neither the grievance hearing manager nor the investigating manager should have had significant previous contact with the reporting party, the reported staff member or issues identified in the report.

In cases relating to the dignity at work and study policy, the relationship between the reporting party and the reported staff member will determine who will be the grievance hearing manager and investigating manager. For example the report may be against a colleague who is a peer, against their line manager or against someone who works in another department.

 

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• Last reviewed and updated: 18 February 2025