What is an employee grievance?
A grievance is a formal request to resolve a workplace concern that does not involve an allegation of discrimination based on a protected class. The Employee Relations Officer (ERO) will provide oversight for the grievance process in conjunction with the assigned Hearing Officer. These procedures are administrative and are not legal proceedings, but rather internal college processes to resolve workplace concerns amicably and at the lowest level possible as required by ACC Board Policy-DGBA. General provisions include Informal Resolution and Formal Resolution.
Informal Resolution
When a workplace concern arises, employees are encouraged to attempt to resolve it informally. This can be done by discussing issues directly and professionally with all relevant parties. Informal resolution can also be achieved by consulting with your Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP), the Office of the Ombudsperson, or by requesting mediation. The timeframe to file a grievance may be extended up to 15 college business days to allow pursuit of an informal resolution.
Formal Resolution
If an employee wishes to request the formal resolution of a workplace concern, they can do so by submitting an online Grievance Process Form, within 30 college business days of the decision or action giving rise to the grievance.
Employees are encouraged to seek guidance from the ERO on ACC’s Resolution of an Employee Grievance and corresponding Guidelines/Procedures, especially regarding timelines before filing a grievance.
Grievance Procedures
Initial Grievance
Upon receiving a grievance, the ERO will review the grievance to determine if it is timely and contains the necessary information. The ERO will offer an intake meeting to go over the submission, answer questions about the process, and provide an initial assignment of the Level One Hearing Officer.
Level One: Grievance Conference
Within 10 College business days of receipt of the grievance, the hearing officer will be assigned and a conference will be subsequently scheduled in a timely manner.
Grievance Outcome: In reaching a decision, the hearing officer will review the information provided by the employee and any other relevant documents or evidence that the hearing officer believes will help resolve the grievance.
Notification of Outcome to Parties: The ERO will notify the Grievant and, where relevant, the Respondent, as to the outcome of a grievance within 10 College business days of the conference held by the Grievant and the manager.
After the Level One conference, no new documents may be submitted by the employee unless the documents were not available at the time of the Level One conference, the employee did not know the documents existed before the conference, or for other good cause as determined by the ERO.
Appeals
Level Two: Appeal to the Vice Chancellor
If the employee who filed a formal grievance is not satisfied with the outcome, they may file an appeal with the ERO within 15 college business days of notification of the Level One decision.
Level Three: Appeal to the Grievance Appeals Committee
If an employee is appealing a termination or is not satisfied with the outcome of the Level Two appeal, the employee may file a written appeal of the Level Two grievance decision with the ERO within 10 College business days from the date of the email informing the parties of the outcome of the appeal. Grievances filed to appeal a termination must be submitted within 30 College business days from the date of termination. Such appeals will be addressed by the Grievance Appeals Committee.
The charge of the Grievance Appeals Committee is to make a recommendation to the Chancellor based on the Level Two outcome.
Questions?
Contact ero@austincc.edu if you have questions or need additional guidance about the grievance process.
Back to Top