grievance
Meaning: A formal complaint about unfair treatment, or a feeling of resentment over something believed to be wrong or unjust.
Grievance operates in both formal and informal registers. In employment law, a 'grievance procedure' is the official process for raising complaints about working conditions, bullying, or discrimination. More broadly, people speak of 'nursing a grievance' or 'airing grievances' to describe harbouring or expressing resentment. The word implies that the complaint is felt to be legitimate by the person making it, whether or not others agree.
Examples
- The union filed a formal grievance on behalf of workers who had not received their overtime payments. 工会代表未收到加班费的工人提交了正式申诉。El sindicato presentó una queja formal en nombre de los trabajadores que no habían recibido el pago de sus horas extraordinarias.労働組合は残業手当を受け取っていない労働者を代表して正式な苦情を申し立てた。노동조합은 초과 근무 수당을 받지 못한 근로자들을 대리하여 공식 고충 신고를 제출했다.
- The community meeting gave residents an opportunity to air their grievances about the proposed development. 社区会议让居民有机会就拟议的开发项目表达不满。La reunión vecinal brindó a los residentes la oportunidad de expresar sus quejas sobre la urbanización propuesta.地域の集会は、住民が計画中の開発事業について不満を表明する機会となった。지역 주민 모임은 주민들이 계획 중인 개발 사업에 대한 불만을 표명할 기회가 되었다.
- He had been nursing a grievance against his former business partner for years. 他多年来一直对前商业伙伴心怀怨恨。Llevaba años alimentando un agravio contra su antiguo socio comercial.彼は元のビジネスパートナーに対する恨みを何年も抱え続けていた。그는 전 사업 파트너에 대한 원한을 수년간 품고 있었다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: professional, legal, media
Tone: negative
Origin & History
From Old French grevance (hardship, suffering), from grever (to burden, oppress), from Latin gravare (to weigh down), from gravis (heavy). The workplace procedural sense developed in the 20th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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