How To File a Grievance or Complaint

The Staff Complaint and Grievance Procedure provides staff members with a procedure to review alleged violations or misapplications of university policies or rules that directly and adversely affect them. 

What To Know

• The Staff Complaint and Grievance Procedure applies to all regular full- and part-time, exempt and nonexempt, nonacademic Cornell University staff except members of a collective bargaining unit and Weill Cornell Medicine employees.
• Use this procedure to review an alleged violation or misapplication of university policies or rules pertaining to employment, or laws or regulations which directly and adversely affect a staff member.
• A grievance must be filed within 10 working days of a complaint's occurrence or within ten working days of the date the staff member had reason to know of the occurrence.
• IMPORTANT: Read the complete Staff Complaint & Grievance Procedure

What To Do

1. Attempt Informal Resolution

   If you're experiencing an issue at work, first try contacting:

   • your supervisor
   • your HR representative
   • Staff and Labor Relations at staff-labor-relations@cornell.edu
   • the Office of the University Ombuds (confidential, independent, impartial, informal resource available to students, staff, and faculty to address conflicts, concerns, or other issues at Cornell)
   • the Office of Environment, Health and Safety (matters of health and safety issues)
   • the Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX (prohibited bias, discrimination, harassment, and sexual and related misconduct)

2. Submit Written Grievance to Department Head

   • The grievance must be in writing, signed by the staff member, and submitted to the department head within ten working days of the occurrence which gave rise to the grievance, or within ten working days of the date the staff member had reason to know of the occurrence.
   • The written grievance should:
     • identify the policy or rule which is alleged to have been violated
     • contain a concise statement of the facts surrounding the grievance
     • contain the remedy sought

What To Expect

1. Step One

   • Meeting: Within 5 working days from receipt of the written grievance, the department head or their representative will schedule a meeting with the staff member, the staff member's representative, the immediate supervisor, and any other individuals the department head determines will assist in resolution of the problem.  This meeting will be scheduled within 15 working days from receipt of the written grievance.
   • Answer: The department head or their representative will provide the staff member with a written answer within 5 working days after the completion of this meeting and forward a copy of the grievance and answer to the local HR representative or designee.

2. Step Two

   If the grievance is not resolved at Step One:

   • Appeal with Staff and Labor Relations: The grievant may file a written appeal with Staff and Labor Relations within 5 working days of receipt of the answer in Step One.
   • Meeting: The Senior Director of Staff and Labor Relations, or another designee appointed by the Vice President for Human Resources, will schedule a meeting with the parties involved within 5 working days of receipt of the written appeal. The meeting will be held within 15 working days from receipt of the written appeal.
   • Decision: The Senior Director of Staff and Labor Relations will provide a written decision within 10 working days from the meeting, which will be final and not subject to review or further appeal, except for special circumstances (see Procedure for details regarding special appeals or arbitration).