What Is a Grievance Hearing?

The Hearing under the Grievance Procedure Manual

In Virginia, state employees are protected by the Virginia Personnel Act, which includes provisions for a structured grievance process. A grievance hearing is a formal administrative process that gives employees the chance to contest certain employment actions. These hearings are not held in a traditional courtroom but follow similar procedures, allowing both the employee (the “grievant”) and the employer to present evidence, call witnesses, and make arguments before an administrative hearing officer. At the end of the hearing, the officer issues a written decision based on the evidence presented.

The authority for Virginia’s grievance process comes from Code of Virginia § 2.2-3000 et seq. and is outlined in the Grievance Procedure Manual issued by the Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM), which sets forth the rules and procedures for conducting these hearings.