How to Handle Employee Complaints

Employee complaints are sometimes the best way of knowing what really is going on with your staff. Therefore, it is important to take the time to listen and respond to these type of complaints.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Good communication skills
• Research skills
• Interviewing skills
• Knowledge of employmentlaw

1. Give an employee the time and privacy needed to make the complaint. It is best to meet with the employee in an office with behind doors.

2. Assess the situation based on facts. Take notes. Experience will allow you to discern emotion from fact.

3. Ask the employee to write down the complaint. This will help avoid any misunderstandings.

4. Be fair and investigate the situation before taking any type of action. Speak with the employee being complained against. Ask for a written statement. Again, assess the situation based on the facts. Take notes.

5. If available speak to witnesses. Ask for a written statement. Take down notes.

6. Consider how your final decision will affect the employees involved and the company's interests. If it is a complicated legal matter, then an employment attorney may be needed.

Tips & Warnings

• If health issues are the cause of the problem then you will need to consider the rights of that employee. Discretion and flexibility will be needed in this situation. Let's say you get a complaint of body odor. You will need to assess whether this is just bad hygiene or due to a medical condition.

• Remember to act quickly and in an objective manner.

• These suggestions only apply to complaints that do not include violence or harassment. Your company should have formal systems in place for serious complaints that involve harassment, violence, and safety in the workplace.