Unfair Dismissal Grievance Letter

[employeeName]
[employeeAddress]

03/07/2026

[employerName]
[employerAddress]

BY EMAIL AND RECORDED DELIVERY

Dear Sir or Madam,

FORMAL GRIEVANCE — UNFAIR DISMISSAL
Employee: [employeeName]    Position: [jobTitle]
Date of dismissal: [dismissalDate]    Effective date of termination: [effectiveDate]

I am writing to raise a formal written grievance under the Acas Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures concerning my dismissal on [dismissalDate], which I consider to be both substantively and procedurally unfair within the meaning of sections 94 and 98 of the Employment Rights Act 1996.

1. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
I commenced continuous employment with [employerName] on [startDate], giving me [yearsService] years of qualifying service. On [dismissalDate] I was informed that my employment would terminate on the ground of [reasonGiven].

2. WHY THE DISMISSAL WAS UNFAIR
[facts]

3. PROCEDURAL FAILURES
The dismissal did not follow a fair procedure as required by the Acas Code and by Polkey v A E Dayton Services Ltd [1988] ICR 142:
[proceduralDefects]

4. REMEDY SOUGHT
I invite [employerName] to:
   a. reinstate me to my former role on my previous terms and conditions; or, in the alternative,
   b. re-engage me in a comparable role; or, failing (a) and (b),
   c. pay a settlement sum equivalent to the basic award and compensatory award to which I would be entitled at an Employment Tribunal under sections 118-124 ERA 1996.

5. NEXT STEPS
Please invite me to a grievance meeting within a reasonable period. If this grievance is not resolved to my satisfaction, I reserve the right to commence Early Conciliation with Acas under section 18A of the Employment Tribunals Act 1996 and to present a claim to the Employment Tribunal within three months less one day of the effective date of termination.

This letter is written without prejudice to my rights and I reserve the right to rely on it in any subsequent proceedings.

Yours faithfully,

[employeeName]