Grievances Procedures of Employment Reading Answers

Dec 2, 2025

The answers for "Grievances Procedures of Employment" include 7 questions and are part of the assessment framework for the IELTS General Reading test. Candidates are allotted 10 minutes to complete the reading responses concerning "Grievances Procedures of Employment." This portion of the IELTS reading exam consists of various question formats, including choosing one word only.

The answers for "Grievance Procedures of Employment" offer a comprehensive overview of the grievance policy, outlining how employees can raise workplace complaints fairly through informal discussion or formal procedures involving supervisors and HR. It ensures prompt investigation, equal treatment, confidentiality, and rights for both complainants and accused employees. For additional practice with similar reading assessments, candidates can refer to the IELTS Reading Practice Test section.

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Grievances Procedures of Employment Reading Answers

Grievance is defined as any complaint, problem or concern of an employee regarding their workplace, job or coworker relationships.

Policy brief & purpose: Grievance procedure policy explains how employees can voice their complaints in a constructive way. Supervisors and senior management should know everything that annoys employees or hinders their work, so that they can resolve it as quickly as possible. Employees should be able to follow a fair grievance procedure to be heard and avoid conflicts. The company encourages employees to communicate their grievances. Employees should try to resolve less important issues informally before they resort to a formal grievance.

Employees can file grievances for any of the following reasons:

- Workplace harassment

- Health and safety

- Supervisor behavior

- Adverse changes in employment conditions

Employees who file grievances can:

- Reach out to their direct supervisor or HR department

- File a grievance form explaining the situation in detail

- Refuse to attend formal meetings on their own

- Appeal on any formal decision

Employees who face allegation have the right to:

- Receive a copy of the allegations against them

- Respond to the allegations

- Appeal on any formal decision

The company is obliged to:

- Have a formal grievance procedure in place

- Communicate the procedure

- Investigate all grievances promptly

- Treat all employees who file grievances equally

- Preserve confidentiality at any stage of the process

- Resolve all grievances when possible

- Respect its no-retaliation policy when employees file grievances with the company or external agencies (e.g. equal employment opportunity committee)

Procedures: Employees are encouraged to talk to each other to resolve their problems. When this isn't possible, employees should know how to file a grievance:

I. Communicate informally with their direct supervisor. The supervisor will try to resolve the problem. When employees want to complain about their supervisor, they should first try to discuss the matter and resolve it between them. In that case, they're advised to request an informal meeting. Supervisors should try to resolve any grievance as quickly as possible. When they're unable to do so, they should refer to the HR department and cooperate with all investigation procedures.

Il. If the grievance relates to a supervisor behavior that can bring disciplinary action (e.g. sexual harassment or violence), employees should refer directly to the HR department or the next level supervisor.

The HR should follow the procedure below:

- Ask employee to fill out a grievance form

- Talk with the employee to ensure the matter is understood completely

- Provide the employee who faces allegations with a copy of the grievance

- Organize mediation procedures (e.g. arranging a formal meeting)

- Investigate the matter or ask the help of an investigator when needed

- Keep employees informed throughout the process

- Communicate the formal decision to all employees involved

- Take actions to ensure the formal decision is adhered to

- Deal with appeals by gathering more information and investigating further

- Keep accurate records

Questions 8-14

Choose ONE WORD ONLY.

- Communicate grievance through 8…………..... meeting with the direct supervisor

Answer: informal

Supporting statement: “request an informal meeting.”

Keywords: [informal meeting]

Keyword Location: {Procedures, point I}

Explanation: Employees are encouraged to first communicate grievances in an informal meeting with their supervisor, so the correct word is “informal.”

- Fill the 9……………… form properly

Answer: grievance

Supporting statement: “fill out a grievance form”

Keywords: [grievance form]

Keyword Location: {HR procedure}

Explanation: Employees must complete a grievance form, so the missing word is “grievance.”

- Explain situation in detail to supervisor or HR in a 10…………… meeting

Answer: formal

Supporting statement: “arranging a formal meeting”

Keywords: [formal meeting]

Keyword Location: {HR procedure}

Explanation: The explanation session with HR/supervisor is a formal meeting, so “formal” fits correctly.