Grievance record redaction is the removal of personal data from a worker complaint handled under the ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures, with the trade-union protections of TULRCA 1992 in the background. The Code sets the route — a written complaint, a meeting, an outcome, an appeal. anonym.plus marks names, contacts, and dates on your device, so the concern stays readable while the people are shielded.
When this applies
The complaint names the worker, line managers, and colleagues involved. You hide those identifiers before the file circulates.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the document in anonym.plus on your device.
- The app marks worker and manager names.
- Built-in OCR reads a scanned filing form.
- Keep any agreement clause and procedure step.
- Swap or black out the confirmed identifiers.
- Save the clean copy locally.
What you need to provide
- The filed complaint (PDF, DOCX, or scan).
- An operator (Replace keeps clauses readable).
- Optional allow-list for agreement article numbers.
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | the worker → [GRIEVANT] |
| Names | PERSON | the line manager → [MANAGER] |
| Contact | EMAIL_ADDRESS | rep@union.org.uk → [EMAIL] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | filed 9 May → [DATE] |
| Location | LOCATION | warehouse bay 3 → [LOCATION] |
| Organization | ORGANIZATION | Unite branch → [UNION] |
Compliance achieved
- Keeps the steps the ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures sets out — a written complaint, a meeting, an outcome, an appeal.
- Preserves the accompaniment record under Employment Relations Act 1999 s.10, which covers a colleague or a trade union representative on request.
- Leaves visible the union involvement that TULRCA 1992 s.146 protects from detriment short of dismissal.
- Protects a file a tribunal may weigh when adjusting an award by up to 25% under TULRCA 1992 s.207A.
- Applies data minimisation under UK GDPR Art. 5(1)(c), offline, so the filing never reaches a server.
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Limitations & cautions
Shielding a worker who raised a concern is hard. A unique event can identify them once names are gone. The tool removes identifiers; it cannot tell you whether a step was missed, and a missed step is what s.207A adjusts an award for. Keeping the matter quiet also supports protection against detriment for trade-union involvement under TULRCA 1992 s.146.
Frequently asked questions
Will agreement clauses survive the pass?
Yes. Allow-list article and step numbers so they stay. Only personal data is marked for removal.
Does the worker have a right to be accompanied?
At the hearing, yes, on a reasonable request. Employment Relations Act 1999 s.10 gives a right to be accompanied by a colleague or a trade union representative, and the record of that should stay in the file.
Does the tool send the complaint anywhere?
No. It is a fully offline desktop app. The filing and its detail stay on your machine throughout.