Before you take the plunge

1. Take a step back from the situation

Talk It Over Take a few deep breaths. Think objectively about what or who you are unhappy with, and why. It may help to talk things through with someone you trust to get things in perspective.

2. What do you want to achieve?

Think about the outcome you want. What would you do if you were the employer? If you can suggest a way forward when you make your complaint, you show willing, and you are more likely to get what you what you want.

3. Be prepared

If the problem you are complaining about is still happening, keep a diary of what is happening as a record. Keep safe any other evidence, like emails. Familiarise yourself with how your work’s grievance procedure works and make sure you have read any bits of your contract which may be relevant.

Discipline and discrimination

“I was fed up with all the jokes about me being a lesbian. I thought that at least it couldn't get any worse. Then he gave me a formal warning about ‘poor performance’.”
Esme, Newcastle

If your boss has taken disciplinary action against you and you think the real reason is that they are discriminating against you, you should make a complaint using your work's grievance procedure. Your work should consider putting the disciplinary action on hold and hearing your complaint first. Or they might decide to hold the disciplinary hearing and consider your complaint at the same time. If they do not consider your complaint separately then you should be sure to raise it during your disciplinary meeting.

If the disciplinary procedure has already been completed and you have been disciplined, you should appeal. If you are over the time limit for appeals, you should still appeal but ask for an extension of the time limit.

If there is no appeal procedure, you should make a complaint using the grievance procedure. Your complaint should be about the discrimination and that you were not given a right to appeal.

If you are nearing the three-month time limit for taking a claim to an employment tribunal, you should consider making an application to the tribunal now. The Employment Tribunal can only extend the deadline in exceptional circumstances and will not do so because you were trying to resolve the matter internally.