Question

A thin line differentiates employee grievances and employee complaints. In two paragraphs, please discuss the problems involved in defining a grievance, indicating why a broad definition of employee grievances is both confusing and necessary.

Answer 1

grievance is any dispute or difference arising between any employee and managementor between the union and management. Most collective bargaining agreements define, in general, what the parties have agreed to consider being a grievance. Unions usually prefer a broad definition that recognizes any dispute, while management prefers to limit grievances to the meaning or application of a particular clause. The primary function of the definition is to outline the parameters of what types of disputes may be grieved.