Can a Previous Grievance Affect a Future Civil Service Application?
Reapplying to a Department After a Grievance With a Former Manager
Hello,
I previously worked in a Civil Service department and left after raising a grievance about my line manager.
Some time has passed and I have now seen another vacancy in the same department that matches my experience. It is in a different team, but I am worried that my old manager or HR records could affect the application before I have a fair chance to interview.
If my written application meets the criteria, can the department reject me because I raised a grievance or because the old manager gives a negative view of me? Would the recruiting panel be able to see the grievance at sift stage?
I want to apply, but I do not know whether I should disclose the history or contact HR first.
Quick Answer
A previous grievance should not replace a merit-based assessment of a new application, and you would not normally insert the history into an application unless a question makes it relevant. However, previous employment records, references or checks may become relevant later, so prepare a factual account of how the employment ended.
Read our Civil Service Grievances guide to understand the record, outcome and follow-up issues that may remain after a complaint.
Need help with your own situation? Visit Get Tailored Advice or browse more questions in Advice.
What I Would Do Before Reapplying to a Department Where I Had Raised a Grievance
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Continue reading to see what I would check in the old record, what I would leave out of the application and how I would respond if the history was raised later.
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