The employee who is considering filing a grievance should first confer with his or her immediate supervisor in an effort to resolve the grievance. Before filing a formal grievance, the grievant is also encouraged but not required to consult with the director for human resource services regarding existing policies or regulations which address the grievance. If requested, the chair of the Staff Grievance Committee will provide assistance in understanding and complying with grievance procedures. A formal grievance must be filed on a Staff Employee Grievance Report form. A Staff Grievance hearing will be conducted in an informal atmosphere.
All hearings are closed to the public.
The hearing is not intended to be a court trial. Any attempt to use legalistic procedures or terms may be prejudicial. The action of initiating a grievance implies no obligation on the part of the grievant to complete the process in a formal grievance hearing. A grievant may withdraw his or her grievance at any time. Each side in a grievance hearing is allowed one peremptory challenge of members sitting on the Staff Grievance Committee hearing panel.