7 items to include in YOUR Complaint to HR?

When thinking about varied challenges you may face in the workplace, where to start and what to include in your complaint to HR - the biggest advice our founder, Louise, could ever give is this:

WHERE POSSIBLE PUT ALL SERIOUS COMPLAINTS YOU HAVE IN WRITING!

No. Seriously. Do.

A lot more people than you may think make confidential complaints to HR, so here’s the deal...you want YOURS TO BE LOUD AND CLEAR (Read: Ensure Your Complaint to HR, does NOT go unnoticed)!

As a qualified Executive Coach of several years, I can confidently say that all formal complaints to HR should include these 7 key pieces. Some of which may seem minor but trust me when we say they’re missing off complaints more often than not...and in a busy world, sadly it, matters:

1. State the reason for the letter: making a complaint. 
2. Mention if you’re making the complaint under a particular company policy, your employment contract, enterprise agreement or award provisions
3. Provide a summary of the nature of your complaint, e.g. a complaint about offensive comments your colleague may have made towards you or changes to your normal working hours of work. 
4. Provide a timeline that clearly sets out a chronological history of the facts/incidents with details such as dates/times and whether any witnesses were present. 
5. Put forward a suggested outcome, you’d ideally like to see, following your complaint, eg. a confidential investigation
6. Ask for a preferred time period for them to revert back with a response, eg, 7, 14 or 21 days. I’d suggest opting for less days to begin with. You’re not asking for a solution within those days, rather a mere response.
7. And the last point is so key, I cover this off in my next post. One client called me, in tears, shaken up by a traumatic experience and all she could do is thank me repeatedly for this next step of advice…

If you'd like help in understanding where to start we've got some great letter templates just for you!

Additionally - our founder, Louise Spinks - equipped with around 2 decades of experience as an HR practitioner a Counsellor and qualified Executive Coach - offers tailored solutions to your challenge, whether that be a need for:

A warm embracing, wise and dedicated hug:

• an ear to listen
• a sounding board to bounce ideas of
• a wealth of legal knowledge to advise you on your exact employment rights
• a compassionate hand to hold when times get tough and you'd like an in-person support buddy for confidential meetings at work (behavior or performance disciplinary related) and above all; a
• champion in your corner who has your back and an in-depth understanding the emotional toll, toxic workplace practices, people and cultures can have to your health and wellbeing.

Alongside these offerings are a number of letter writing services that may be purchased in parallel with or separate to your specific event.

Some examples of our most popular services when thinking about putting a Complaint to HR are:

• Formal and informal warning letter responses to the business (in partnership with you and/or on your behalf)
• Formalised allegations necessitating a response in writing from you
• Performance Management and letters pertaining to inability to 'supposedly' fulfill the inherent responsibilities in your role at work
• Focused bullying and harassment complaints/letter that points to a concerning pattern of behaviour at work

If you would like to understand what services may best serve you in your complaint to HR and their related prices for:

• Letter Draft REVIEWS and FEEDBACK
• Letter creation and/or COMMENTARY
• Personal Branding: Tone and Setting GUIDANCE
• Legal RISK MITIGATION guidance and coaching

then reach out - book some time in for a free and confidential chat to understand whether we would be a good, comfy and suitably skilled fit for each other.

Irrespective - check out our free 'Resources' section along with our varied Blog Posts (they're usually in response to varied client queries, workshop hand outs and program notes - so go ahead - we try to make them as relevant, fun and informative as possible and are always open to feedback and suggestion in this regard)

Here’s to a more empowered lighter, informed you!

The yby coaching team

xo