At Themis (‘Themis International Services’/’Themis MENA Ltd’) we foster a culture in which you can raise any workplace problems, complaints or concerns in a supportive framework and we will ensure that all genuine grievances are dealt with quickly and fairly.
We are confident that most grievances can be resolved informally. However, if an informal approach does not resolve matters, or is not appropriate, you may choose to raise a formal grievance.
This policy outlines the grievance process, the roles of those involved and support that is available to you.
If your complaint relates to bullying or harassment, you should raise it under our separate Global Bullying and Harassment Procedure.
If you have a grievance that relates to ongoing disciplinary proceedings against you, you should raise this during the Global Disciplinary Procedure (e.g. during the disciplinary meeting or at appeal stage).
If you raise a grievance during disciplinary proceedings that is unrelated to those proceedings, the disciplinary proceedings and grievance procedure will normally run independently in parallel.
This policy does not form part of your contract of employment and we reserve the right to amend or withdraw it at any time.
This policy applies to employees, workers, interns and work experience students. It does not apply to contractors, consultants or any self-employed individuals working for the Company.
We recognise that a grievance procedure can be stressful and upsetting. Everyone involved in the process is entitled to be treated calmly and with respect.
We will not tolerate abusive or insulting behaviour from anyone taking part in a grievance procedure and will treat any such behaviour as misconduct under our disciplinary procedure.
Depending on the nature of your grievance, we may suggest mediation as a means of trying to resolve it. This involves the appointment of a third-party mediator, who will discuss your grievance with all of those involved and seek to facilitate a resolution. We will use mediation only where you and the other parties involved in your grievance agree to do so.
Where it is not possible to hold a face-to-face meeting under this procedure, we will conduct the process remotely. We will ensure that all those participating have access to the necessary technology. Your rights will not be affected, and we will ensure that the procedure remains fair and reasonable.
If any aspect of the grievance procedure causes you difficulty because of a disability, or if you need assistance because English is not your first language, you should raise this with the International People Manager, who will make appropriate arrangements for you.
A written record of all meetings conducted under this procedure will be made, either by the person holding the meeting or by an additional person arranged by the Company to take notes.
You, or any person acting with you or on your behalf, are not normally permitted to record electronically any meeting that we hold under the grievance procedure. This is to encourage openness and full participation. Any breach of this provision may lead to disciplinary action, which could include dismissal.
In certain limited circumstances, we may permit a meeting to be recorded electronically, for example where it is a reasonable adjustment for an employee with a disability. Where we permit a meeting to be recorded electronically, we will take responsibility for making the recording. Where we intend to record meetings held remotely, we will comply with our data protection obligations and obtain prior consent from all attendees.
In the first instance, you should raise any grievance that you may have informally with your Line Manager. If your grievance is about your Line Manager, you should raise this with your Team Leader in the first instance or directed to People Services.
The Team Leader will meet with you to give you the opportunity to explain your grievance and seek to identify whether the issue can be resolved informally. Many concerns can be resolved informally.
Whilst we encourage the informal resolution of complaints, we recognise that this is not always possible or appropriate, for example, if your grievance relates to a serious issue such as discrimination. Therefore, if the informal process does not resolve matters or is not appropriate, you should raise a formal grievance under this procedure.
Where your grievance has not been resolved informally, or if your grievance is serious in nature, you should raise the matter formally in writing and sent to: [email protected].
It is important that you set out clearly the nature of your grievance and indicate the outcome that you are seeking. If your grievance is unclear, we may ask you to clarify your complaint before we hold a grievance meeting.
Your complaint should be headed "Formal grievance" and sent to your Line Manager. If your complaint relates to your Line Manager, you should send your written grievance to your Team Leader instead or directed to People Services.
Your grievance will be kept confidential as far as possible. However, before proceeding to a grievance meeting, we may have to carry out an investigation. This will usually be conducted by the same manager who will hear your grievance. The relevant manager will write to you confirming that they are conducting the investigation and the timescale for completion.
The level of investigation and time this will take will vary depending on the nature of your grievance. You will be given a copy of any evidence collated during the investigation in advance of the grievance meeting. However, in some cases, the evidence given by individuals may have to remain confidential. Where confidentiality is necessary, we will provide you with an appropriate summary of the evidence.
The grievance meeting will be held within five Business Days of receiving your written complaint. However, if this is not possible, you will be informed of the reason for any delay.
The purpose of the meeting is for you to explain the nature of your complaint and what action you feel should be taken to resolve the matter. If more information comes to light, it may be necessary to adjourn the grievance meeting to conduct a further investigation and reconvene the meeting when this has been done.
You will be entitled to be accompanied by a fellow employee. The responsibility for finding a companion rests with you. The grievance meeting will be conducted by your Line Manager unless your grievance relates to your line Manager in which case it will be conducted by your Team Leader or an alternative Senior Manager. Where it is considered appropriate, a member of People Services may also be present.
If you are unable to attend the grievance meeting because of circumstances beyond your control, you should inform the manager conducting the meeting as soon as possible. If you fail to attend without explanation, or if it appears that you have not made sufficient attempts to attend, the grievance meeting may take place in your absence, based on your written grievance statement and any other documentation available.
Following the meeting, the relevant manager will inform you in writing, usually within five Business Days after the meeting, of the outcome and any action that will be taken as a result of your complaint.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your grievance, you may submit a formal appeal.
You should appeal in writing to the Chief of Staff within five Business Days of receipt of the grievance outcome letter.
We will then arrange an appeal meeting within five Business Days to consider the matter. However, if this is not possible, you will be informed of the reason for any delay.
You are entitled to be accompanied by a fellow employee. The responsibility for finding a companion rests with you.
The appeal meeting will be conducted by the Chief of Staff or a more Senior Manager than the manager who conducted the original grievance meeting, who will consider your grounds for appeal and review the conclusion reached in the original grievance meeting. Where appropriate, a member of People Services may also be present.
Following the appeal meeting, the relevant manager will inform you in writing, usually within five Business Days, of the outcome. The outcome of the appeal is final.
If you and another employee (or more than two of you) have identical grievances and you all wish to have it addressed in one grievance process, you can raise a collective grievance.
Your written complaint should be headed "Formal collective grievance". Your complaint must be submitted in one document and must clearly identify and be signed by each employee raising the collective grievance. You and your colleagues will need to nominate one of you to act on behalf of all of you throughout the grievance process. Your grievance letter must identify whom you have appointed to be the nominated representative.
If you have been appointed to be the nominated representative, you will be invited to attend one collective grievance meeting. You will be entitled to be accompanied by a fellow employee. Following the meeting, there will be one identical outcome. Your nominated representative will be notified of the outcome in writing and any action that will be taken as a result of your collective complaint.
If you, or any of your colleagues, are not satisfied with the outcome of your collective grievance, you may submit a formal appeal. You should appeal in writing to the Chief of Staff within five working days of receipt of the collective grievance outcome letter.
Your appeal should be headed "Formal Collective Appeal". Your appeal must be submitted in one document and must clearly identify those withdrawing from the process and signed by those wishing to appeal. Your appeal letter must also identify whom you have appointed to be the nominated representative throughout the appeal stage.
We reserve the right to hear your grievances individually if you do not all voluntarily agree to the collective grievance process, if your grievances are not identical, or there are exceptional circumstances.
We process personal data collected during informal complaints and the formal grievance procedure in accordance with our current Data Protection Policy. In particular, data collected as part of informal complaints and the grievance procedure is held securely and accessed by, and disclosed to, individuals only for the purposes of responding to the complaints or conducting the grievance procedure. You should immediately report any inappropriate access or disclosure of employee data in accordance with our Data Protection Policy as this constitutes a data protection breach. It may also constitute a disciplinary offence, which we will deal with under our Global Disciplinary Procedure.
| Revision Date | 01 October 2024 |
| Revision Summary | Creation |
| Responsible | Georgia Aggrey |