Question

An employee recently filed a grievance against an employer with his union. When the employee came in for his shift the following day, the supervisor sent him home. Which should HR advise the employer to do?

Make sure the whole issue is thoroughly documented.
Check the handling of this action against previous disciplinary actions.
Call the employee back to work immediately.
Contact the union directly and ask for a meeting.

Answer 1

HR should carefully advise the employer on appropriate steps to handle the grievance and to ensure no retaliation takes place, including documentation, reviewing disciplinary actions, potentially reinstating the employee, and meeting with the union.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an employee files a grievance against an employer and then faces potential retaliatory action, such as being sent home from work, it is crucial for HR to advise the employer to handle the situation carefully to avoid legal issues and to uphold workplace fairness. They should be advised to:

• Make sure the whole issue is thoroughly documented.
• Check the handling of this action against previous disciplinary actions.
• Call the employee back to work immediately if the action was inappropriate.
• Contact the union directly and ask for a meeting to address the grievance in a collaborative manner.

HR should ensure that retaliation is not occurring, as it is a violation of OSHA standards, and it can lead to serious legal and reputation consequences for the company. It is also essential to promote a work environment where employees feel safe to express concerns and where conflicts are handled with respect and professionalism, in line with workplace policies and regulations.