POLICIES AND PROCEDURES |Human Resources | 5.30 Employee Grievance | 5.30.1 Procedure



Employee Grievance and Appellate

The purpose of this procedure is to provide an orderly and timely internal process to resolve conflicts and disagreements that may arise in the operations and activities of the college.  This procedure is intended to be non-adversarial in nature and is designed to protect the rights of the employee without legal representation being introduced into the process by either the college or employee until the process reaches the fifth level.
This procedure is available to all employees.   All grievances must be appealed to the supervisor within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged grievance.


First Level

An employee who has a grievance must always attempt to resolve it informally with his/her immediate supervisor as early as possible.


Second Level

If resolution by informal means appears not to be possible, the aggrieved employee must make a written request to the supervisor.  The written request for the second level and all subsequent levels must include a description of the facts relating to the grievance, a justification for a correction, and a description of the needed remedy.  The supervisor has five working days from the date of receipt of the written request to render a decision and respond to the aggrieved employee.


Third Level

The aggrieved employee has five working days from receipt of the supervisor's decision to appeal the decision to the supervisor's vice president (as indicated on the organizational charts under Organization and Administration).  The vice president has five working days from the date of receipt of the written appeal to arrange meetings with the employee and the supervisor.  The vice president has five working days from the final meeting with the parties involved to render a decision.


Fourth Level

The aggrieved employee or the supervisor has five working days from the date of receipt of the vice president's written decision to appeal the decision to the president.  The president has ten working days from the date of receipt of the written appeal to meet with the parties involved in the grievance and to render a decision.


Fifth Level

The aggrieved employee or the supervisor has five working days from the date of receipt of the president's written decision to appeal the decision to the Board.  This appeal is made by submitting a written request through the President's Office for a hearing with the Board.


The Board or the Executive Committee of the Board may elect to review the information to date and render a decision without the personal appearance before them of the parties of the grievance, hear the case themselves, or take other action at their option. The decision of the Board or the Executive Committee of the Board is final.

Hearing Procedures

If a hearing is held by the Board or the Executive Committee of the Board, the individual bringing the appeal is entitled to the following:

  1. As rapid a process as possible
  2. Reasonable notice of hearing dates and rulings
  3. Legal representation, if desired, at the individual's own expense
  4. Presentation of witnesses in the individual's behalf
  5. Cross-examination of witnesses
  6. The presentation and receipt of evidence, explanations, or charges relevant to the grievance
  7. A copy of the record of the proceedings at a reasonable charge to the person requesting the record (upon written request)

The Board chair or his/her designee establishes the format for the hearing and presents the format to all parties at least five days before the hearing.


This procedure is subject to revision according to changes in state or federal laws and/or rules and regulations of the North Carolina Community College System.