Employees who feel they have received inequitable, arbitrary or capricious treatment because of illegal discrimination, a condition of employment, or the application of these personnel policies or department regulations may personally appeal to their department head, Town Manager, or other supervisory employee of the Town for relief from that condition without fear of reprisal.
It is understood that the following matters shall not be considered the subject of a grievance: nonselection for promotion, except where discrimination is alleged; classification actions; increases in general wage or salary rates, including cost-of-living increases; discipline and discharge of senior-level employees; and matters affecting the Town Manager's authority to determine the means, methods, and number of personnel necessary for the efficient administration of Town services and programs.
Where there is a conflict between these procedures and an approved procedure established by federal, state, or local law, that procedure shall be utilized by employees covered by such law.
Grievances shall be handled according to the following procedures:
A. 
The aggrieved employee shall first notify his/her immediate supervisor, in writing, of the nature and facts of the grievance within three working days of its occurrence. The immediate supervisor shall make and return his/her resolution of the grievance, in writing, within three working days after such notification. If the supervisor's resolution of the matter is not satisfactory to the employee, he/she shall submit such grievance, in writing, to the department head within three working days. Within five working days after the department head received such, he or she shall return his/her resolution of the grievance.
B. 
Grievances, which cannot be settled at the department level, shall be submitted within five working days to the Town Manager, in writing, for review.
C. 
Within five working days of the date of receipt of the grievance, the Town Manager may call a meeting to review the nature and facts of the grievance. When the Town Manager chooses to make a review of the matter, he/she may call the aggrieved employee, his/her representative, if any, the department head or any other person involved in the complaint to attend such meeting. Within two working days following such meeting, the Town Manager shall render a decision, in writing, to all concerned. The decision of the Town Manager shall be final.
Except for senior-level employees for whom the Council retains final authority over discipline and discharge decisions, employees may appeal certain suspension, demotion and discharge decisions to the Council. Senior-level employees have no right to appeal such decisions by the Council under these policies. Appeals from suspension of more than 10 days or discharge or demotion may be made by a non-senior-level employee who has satisfactorily completed the probationary period by applying, in writing, within five working days to the Tolland Town Council.