How to Write a Grievance Letter for Wrongful Termination

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013.

This article has been viewed 113,679 times.

Have you been treated unfairly at work and terminated? If your employer has violated your contract or broken the law, writing a letter to your employer may help you keep your job. While this may sound like a massive task, it’s not as difficult as it may sound. In this article, we’ll show you how to compose an effective grievance letter for wrongful termination.

Grievance Letter for Wrongful Termination Template

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing to Write

Step 1 Read your company’s policies.

Step 2 Recognize wrongful termination.

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Step 3 Make note of specific incidents.

Step 4 Gather supporting documents.

Gather supporting documents. If you are still employed but anticipating a wrongful termination, make copies or otherwise store the pertinent parts of the policy manual or your personnel file off site. Be sure you are legally able to take your employee manual home or you are entitled to those parts of your personnel file. If you remove documents that you are not authorized to remove, you could cause problems with any wrongful termination case you may bring in the future. [3] X Research source

Step 5 Ask for a termination letter.

Step 6 Get assistance from your union representative.

Get assistance from your union representative. If you are a member of a union, contact your union representative for assistance. Do this even before termination if you have reason to believe you will soon be terminated. Some collective bargaining agreements have specific steps the company must take prior to terminating covered employees or specific grievance procedures an employee must follow.

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Writing the Grievance Letter

Step 1 Address the letter to the appropriate person.

Step 2 Summarize your termination.

Step 3 Give details about your dispute.

Step 4 Give a time period for a response.

Step 5 Let the letter sit for a couple of days.

Step 6 Attach copies of any supporting documentation.

Attach copies of any supporting documentation. Copies of any documents that you discussed in the body of your letter should be attached. Do not send your only copies or the originals, if you have them. You may need your copies later.

Step 7 Sign your letter.

Sign your letter. Sign your letter in ink with the name that was used in your employee file. Advertisement Part 3 of 3:

Mailing and Following Up

Step 1 Mail the letter.

Step 2 Wait for a response.

Step 3 Consult an attorney.

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  1. ↑https://www.findlaw.com/employment/losing-a-job/ten-things-to-think-about-wrongful-discharge.html
  2. ↑https://www.eeoc.gov/discrimination-type
  3. ↑http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/wrongful-termination-gathering-documentation-32283.html
  4. ↑http://humanresources.about.com/od/sample-employer-letter/qt/termination-letter.htm
  5. ↑http://www.requestletters.com/home/writing-a-grievance-letter-for-wrongful-termination-with-sample
  6. ↑http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/wrongful-termination-gathering-documentation-32283.html
  7. ↑https://www.findlaw.com/employment/losing-a-job/wrongful-termination-claims.html
  8. ↑https://www.findlaw.com/employment/losing-a-job/ten-things-to-think-about-wrongful-discharge.html

About This Article

Co-authored by:

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. This article has been viewed 113,679 times.

6 votes - 83% Co-authors: 10 Updated: July 9, 2024 Views: 113,679 Categories: Employment Law

It can be stressful to deal with being wrongfully terminated, but if you write a thoughtful grievance letter, you may be able to find a resolution. Address your letter to the head of human resources, your supervisor, or the person who terminated you. Begin the letter by summarizing the details of your termination, including when it happened, who did it, and the reason, if any was given. Then, explain why you’re disputing their decision. For example, you might explain that the termination violates company policy or that you believe you were discriminated against. While you shouldn’t make threats, do give them a time frame in which you expect their response. If you have a lot of strong feelings, put the letter away, and wait a couple of days before revising it. This will give you the chance to calm down and make sure your letter sounds professional. While you probably feel hurt about the termination, your employer will take the letter more seriously if it’s factual and unemotional. To learn how to follow up after sending your letter, read more from our Legal co-author.

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Reader Success Stories

Wong Hen Seng Sep 9, 2016

"It alerted me to the things that an employee needs to do, especially when hearing or receiving a letter from the company tendering notice for a resignation. " . " more