What is the difference between a grievance and a complaint?

A grievance and a complaint are both ways of seeking resolution to an issue at work. However, there are differences between the two. A grievance is usually a formal process used to resolve an alleged violation of a contractual agreement between an employer and employee. This could involve an employee being asked to work overtime, not being paid correctly, or even a dispute between an employee and another employee or customer. In Massachusetts, the grievance process is described in Title I, Chapter 149 of the Massachusetts General Laws. A complaint, on the other hand, is usually less formal and is used to express dissatisfaction in situations where there is no contractual obligation or rights. Complaints could range from feeling there has been inappropriate behavior in the workplace to feeling you have been discriminated against or disadvantaged in the workplace for some reason. In Massachusetts, there are multiple state and federal agencies (e.g., the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) that handle complaints for these types of issues. In summary, while both are valid ways of seeking resolution to issues in the workplace, a grievance is used in response to a violation of a legal right or contractual agreement, while a complaint is used to express dissatisfaction in situations where there is no legal right or contractual agreement.

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What is the difference between a grievance and a complaint?

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