Grievance Procedure

Grievance Procedure
SHRM-Memphis Chapter

A. GRIEVANCE PROCESS —The Memphis Chapter of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM-Memphis) has established the following general grievance procedure to provide an effective way for members or participants to bring SHRM-Memphis problems and issues to the attention of the SHRM-Memphis Board.

SHRM-Memphis acknowledges that our Chapter’s members are professionals. Before submitting a grievance under this procedure, the member should address the dispute or issues directly with the other person(s) involved and attempt in good faith to resolve the underlying issue(s).

When a SHRM-Memphis member believes a Chapter-related matter is unjust, inequitable, a hindrance to effective operation of the Chapter, or creates a significant problem, he/she is encouraged to discuss the matter with the SHRM-Memphis Board. Misunderstandings or conflicts can arise in any organization and should be resolved before serious problems develop. Most incidents resolve themselves naturally; however, should a situation persist that the member in good faith believes is detrimental to himself/herself or to SHRM-Memphis, the individual should follow the procedure described below:

1. An effort should first be made to resolve the grievance informally at the SHRM-Memphis Chapter level. The member should bring his/her concern (in writing) to the SHRM-Memphis President. The SHRM-Memphis President will research the matter in question and may present the matter to the SHRM-Memphis voting board for analysis, discussion, and an official vote. If a challenge to the vote occurs, then there shall be a second discussion and analysis, and another official vote will be held. The SHRM-Memphis Board also reserves the right to bring in an outside, neutral party to review circumstances and/or validate the decision. If the grievance directly involves or is with the SHRM-Memphis President, the concern (in writing) should be taken to the President-Elect for resolution. 

2. All such above discussions and data should be considered confidential, and any unauthorized disclosure of such discussions or confidences may be considered misconduct.

3. If the grievance cannot be resolved at the SHRM-Memphis Board level, the SHRM member may submit the grievance, in writing, to the SHRM Tennessee State Council. Every effort will be made to reconcile the grievance and resolve it. The Tennessee State Council will review the case and recommend appropriate action to be taken. Should the recommendations of the Tennessee State Council not resolve the grievance at the SHRM-Memphis Board level, then the Tennessee State Council shall determine a final resolution. The Tennessee State Council’s ruling shall be final.

RETALIATION STATEMENT:
No SHRM-Memphis member shall be penalized for properly using or participating in the complaint resolution (grievance) process.

MISCONDUCT:                                                                                                                                                         Every SHRM-Memphis member should adhere to the highest standards of the Code of Ethics. Misconduct by members, the SHRM-Memphis Board, etc. will not be tolerated.

When a SHRM-Memphis member believes misconduct occurred that was unjust, inequitable, a hindrance to effective operation of the Chapter, or creates a problem, he/she is encouraged to follow the same aforementioned grievance procedure. All misconduct concerns will be addressed. Violations can lead to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of SHRM-Memphis Chapter membership.

B. GRIEVANCE PROCESS FOR NOMINATION AND ELECTION PROCESS ISSUES —Members or election participants who wish to bring problems and issues related to the nomination and election process to the attention of the SHRM-Memphis Board should utilize the following special Grievance Procedure (Section B), rather than the above general Grievance Procedure (Section A).

SHRM-Memphis acknowledges that our Chapter’s members are professionals. Before submitting a grievance under this procedure, the member should address the dispute or issues directly with the other person(s) involved and attempt in good faith to resolve the underlying issue(s).

When a SHRM-Memphis member or election participant believes an election procedure, occurrence, condition, or treatment is unjust, inequitable, a hindrance to effective operation of the election process, or creates a significant problem, he/she is encouraged to discuss the matter with the SHRM-Memphis Board. Misunderstandings or conflicts can arise in any organization and should be resolved before serious problems develop. Most incidents resolve themselves naturally; however, should a situation persist that the member or election participant believes is detrimental to himself/herself, the election process, or SHRM-Memphis, the individual should follow the procedure described below:

1. An effort should first be made to resolve the grievance informally at the SHRM-Memphis Chapter level. The member or election participant then should bring his/her concern (in writing) to the SHRM-Memphis President. The SHRM-Memphis President will research best practices for identifying and resolving election anomalies to ensure the legitimacy of the election process, criteria, voting data, etc. The SHRM-Memphis President will present the concern to the SHRM-Memphis voting Board for analysis, discussion, and an official vote. If a challenge to the vote occurs, then there shall be a second discussion and analysis, and another official vote will be held. The SHRM-Memphis Board also reserves the right to bring in an outside, neutral party to review circumstances and/or validate the decision.

2. All such above discussions and data should be considered confidential, and any unauthorized disclosure of such discussions or confidences may be considered misconduct.

3. If the grievance cannot be resolved at the SHRM-Memphis Board level, the SHRM member or election participant may submit the grievance, in writing, to the SHRM Tennessee State Council. Every effort will be made to reconcile the grievance and resolve it. The Tennessee State Council will review the case and recommend appropriate action to be taken. Should the recommendations of the Tennessee State Council not resolve the grievance at the SHRM-Memphis Board level, then the Tennessee State Council shall determine a final resolution. The Tennessee State Council’s ruling shall be final.

RETALIATION STATEMENT:
No SHRM-Memphis member or election participant shall be penalized for properly using or participating in the complaint resolution (grievance) process.

MISCONDUCT:
Every SHRM-Memphis member and election participant should adhere to the highest standards of the Code of Ethics. Misconduct by members, election participants, the SHRM-Memphis Board, etc. will not be tolerated.

When a SHRM-Memphis member or election participant believes misconduct occurred involving the election procedure that was unjust, inequitable, a hindrance to effective operation of the election process, or creates a problem, he/she is encouraged to follow the same aforementioned grievance procedure. All misconduct concerns will be addressed. Violations can lead to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of SHRM-Memphis Chapter membership.