Grievance Procedure

A grievance is an internal complaint filed by an employee with the employee's agency regarding working conditions that are, otherwise, not subject to appeal or review by the Board or the State Personnel Director. A department may establish its own grievance process for the handling of grievances within its agency, however, that process should not conflict with the Board Rules. Please contact your department's human resources office to determine whether your department has a grievance procedure. A grievance must be filed on an agency form but if an agency form is not available, employees may use the form supplied below.
 
Grievance Form
 

The Board does not initially review grievances. The Board only reviews appeals of final grievance decisions when it appears that the final grievance decision violates: (A) an employee's rights under federal or state law; (B) CADA; (C) the Whistleblower Act; or (D) the grievance process.  C.R.S. § 24-50--123(3)

The Board's grievance rules are located in Board Rules 8-11 through 8-15. Grievances are filed at the agency level, not at the Board. Board Rule 8-11 lists matters that are not subject to the grievance process. Board Rule 8-13 governs the two-step grievance process.

Step One of the Grievance Process

The grievance process, at the agency level, usually unfolds quickly. Per Board Rule 8-12, an employee must initiate the grievance process within ten (10) days of the disputed action or occurrence. Board Rule 8-13 outlines the grievance procedures. 

Step Two of the Grievance Process and appeals to the Board of a Step Two Grievance Decision

If the employee wishes to proceed to the next step of the grievance process after the Step One Decision, the employee must begin Step Two of the grievance process within ten (10) days of receipt of the Step One Decision decision by providing a written grievance to the employee's appointing authority.

An employee shall file any appeal to the Board within ten (10) days from receipt of the Step Two Decision, using the Consolidated Appeal & Dispute Form, available on the Forms & Filing page. It is important to keep in mind that only those issues set forth in the written grievance filed with the appointing authority will be considered by the Board in the discretionary review process.

An employee may be represented by a person of his/her choice (a non-lawyer or a lawyer) at Step Two of the grievance process, but the employee is still required to participate in the discussions during the process. View a flow chart of the employee grievance process.