The Approachability Playbook

The discipline of grievance investigation enables the organization to identify behavior or practices that are either unlawful or unacceptable within and organization. The goal of this book is to help you learn how to conduct investigations based on principles of natural justice and applying protocol that is lawful, reasonable, accountable and fair. As a manager investigating grievances you must have the same three skills. This guide assists managers in developing and using the three skills. This book's focus is on investigating grievances, but its principles can be applied to all kinds of investigations. You can use the same skills and strategies to investigate a range of other issues including: conflict, management issues, EEO, discrimination harassment, bullying, or other unacceptable behavior. The purpose of the guide is to teach reader skills in planning, conducting, analyzing and documenting investigations. As a supervisor or manager you may have several important roles in the investigation of grievances. Although companies vary in the amount of responsibility supervisors or managers have in grievance handling, your role may include the following: - Answering and attempting to settle the initial complaint before a grievance is filed; - Answering the initial grievance; - Investigating and responding to the grievance; - Conducting second or third step meetings after the investigation; - Assisting with preparation of the case for arbitration. Of these roles, this book deals primarily with the investigation of the grievance. However, you also need to be aware of how this investigation fits into the entire process As a legal matter, you should understand that you are often management's first line of defense to the grievance. Your response (or lack of response) to the grievance can bind management - not just for this grievance, but for future actions as well therefore, it is important to fully investigate all grievances and to answer them carefully. Your investigation role is perhaps the most critical. Phillip B. Wilson, President of Labor Relations Institute and the founder of Approachable Leadership. He is a national expert on leadership, labor relations, and creating positive workplaces. He is regularly featured in the business media including Fox Business, Bloomberg News, HR Magazine, and the New York Times. Phil is the author of more than a dozen books and publications including his most recent The Approachability Playbook: 3 Essential Habits for Thriving Leaders and Teams and Left of Boom: Putting Proactive Engagement to Work (which reached #2 on Amazon's Hot HR Books list). Wilson is also a highly regarded keynote speaker, delivering keynotes, workshops and webinars regularly for audiences and companies across North America. His publications and speeches cover a wide range of labor, employee relations and leadership topics for both represented and union-free organizations. Phil practiced labor and employment law in Chicago after earning his J.D. from University of Michigan Law School and remains licensed in the State of Illinois. He remains active in the American Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Section. Phil is a recognized thought leader on labor, positive employee relations, and leadership topics. He serves on the Society of Human Resources special Labor Expertise Panel, the US Chamber of Commerce Labor Relations Committee, and the Consultant's Advisory Committee for CUE. Phil has been called on multiple occasions to testify before Congress as an expert on union financial reporting and labor law reform. LRI is a full-service labor and employee relations consulting firm dedicated to helping businesses sustain direct relationships with employees and avoid union intervention. Our mission is to improve the lives of millions of working people by teaching their leaders how to cultivate trust and collaboration in the workplace.