Grievance Hearing Script - What to Say & How to Run the Meeting

This is a structured, word-for-word script to help you confidently run a formal grievance hearing — ensuring the conversation is handled fairly, professionally, and without bias.

It guides you through exactly what to say at each stage of the meeting, from opening and setting expectations, through exploring the employee’s concerns, to managing the discussion and closing the meeting clearly.

The script includes targeted questioning prompts to help you fully understand the situation, assess impact, and gather the right information — without leading the employee or undermining the process.

Designed for real-world use, it helps you stay in control of a sensitive conversation while ensuring the employee feels heard and the process stands up to scrutiny.

Who is it for?

• Founders and CEOs handling grievances directly
• Line managers with little or no HR experience
• SME owners without a dedicated HR function
• HR professionals who want a consistent and structured approach

What does it cover?

• Opening the meeting and setting the tone
• Explaining the process clearly and fairly
• Presenting and confirming the grievance
• Structured questioning to understand facts, impact, and context
• Exploring evidence without leading the employee.
• Understanding desired outcomes and expectations
• Managing companion input appropriately
• Summarising key points to confirm accuracy
• Closing the meeting and explaining next steps

When is it used?

• When an employee raises a formal grievance
• After acknowledging the grievance and arranging a hearing
• When you need to understand concerns before making any decisions
• When handling sensitive or complex employee issues

Word document (docx) | 4 pages