Behavioral Outcomes of Grievance Activity

Using individual employee data from four unionized organizations over two 3-year periods, this study analyzes the effects of grievance filing and settlement activity on post-grievance settlement outcomes. The results show that performance ratings, work attendance rates, and promotion rates declined and turnover rates increased for grievance filers compared with nonfilers following grievance settlement, in contrast to the absence of significant differences between the two employee groups on any of these measures before or during grievance filing and settlement. Similar findings emerged for the supervisors of grievance filers relative to the supervisors of nonfilers. The evidence suggests that employers exercise retribution against grievance filers and their supervisors, although a "true performance" explanation of these findings cannot be ruled out.