As the year winds down and offices up and down the country stockpile Quality Street, tinsel and out-of-office messages, employment solicitors know one truth: December is grievance season. So, in the spirit of festive fun (and a light reminder of the ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures), here’s a seasonal tale from the HR inbox…
’Twas the final workday before Christmas when all through HR,
Not a creature was stirring - they’d all gone to the bar.
The inbox was heaving with messages there,
In hopes that a complaint would not soon declare…
But then PING! came an email, marked URGENT, of course
From an employee who’d reached the end of their force.
They’d drafted a grievance (as is their fair right)
And decided to lodge it that cold winter’s night.
Stage 1 - The Written Complaint
“Dear HR,” it began, “I’ve a matter to raise:
My team stole my mince pies these past seven days.”
“And my manager mocked my ‘festive knit’ too -
I believe this behaviour’s inappropriate, thank you.”
I sighed as I read it, but knew what to do -
The ACAS Code tells us to follow things through.
Acknowledge the grievance, remain firm yet kind,
And ensure we keep everything fair and aligned.
Stage 2 - The Investigation
So I called in the witnesses, one by one,
To ask who had eaten the pies (just for fun).
Some blamed the intern, some said the CFO,
While all claimed the jumper was “loud but, you know…”
I gathered the evidence, documents galore,
From CCTV to crumbs on the floor.
We must, after all, show we’ve taken great care
Even when pastry theft hangs in the air.
Stage 3 - The Hearing
We set up a meeting (with right to be heard),
Allowed them a companion; all perfectly worded.
Our employee explained their mince-pie frustration,
And the torment they’d faced at the Christmas celebration.
I listened, I nodded, I took every note,
While HR debated the outcome to float.
Was it misconduct? A cultural slight?
Or just hungry colleagues late into the night?
Stage 4 - The Outcome
We wrote up the findings, clear as a bell:
“Grievance (partially) upheld”
“The pies have been eaten, but goodwill remains,
And we’ll issue reminders about snack-related claims.”
On the jumper remark, we apologised true:
“Christmas knit judgement was wrong of them too.”
We offered some training (as HRs often do)
On kindness, respect...and mince-pie etiquette, too.
Stage 5 - The Appeal
We ended by telling them, per the Code’s might,
They could lodge an appeal - yes, even tonight.
But instead came a smile, and a soft festive cheer:
“No, thank you. Happy Christmas, and see you next year.”
And so ends the grievance lodged late Christmas Eve,
A reminder to all (before we all leave):
Procedures bring order, even wrapped in delight…
Happy Christmas to all - and to all a fair night!
Final Thoughts
Behind the humour lies a practical truth: even during the festivities, employers must follow a fair and consistent grievance process.
And sometimes, with a little goodwill, even the trickiest mince-pie mystery can end with a peaceful, policy-compliant night.
Happy Christmas to all - and to all a fair night!
