MGIC - Grievance and Dispute Resolution

Grievance and Dispute Resolution

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish a clear, accessible, and fair standard for Maryland Global Initiatives Corporation (MGIC) employees to raise concerns and to ensure those concerns are addressed promptly, impartially, and without fear of retaliation.

Background

MGIC may be used to employ personnel outside the United States through Employer of Record (EOR) service providers, on behalf of Requesting Units of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and constituent universities that engage MGIC services through an agreement with UMB. (For purposes of MGIC policies only, these constituent universities are referred to as “Affiliate Entities”). Requesting Units supervise and manage the performance of their MGIC employees.

The MGIC Board of Directors recognizes that employee and/or supervisor concerns may arise from time to time regarding working conditions, terms of employment, discrimination, harassment, bullying, retaliation, health and safety, ethical issues, or interpersonal conflict. MGIC upholds the principle of providing all employees with a safe workplace where they feel comfortable to raise concerns.

The International Operations (IO) division of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) administers the MGIC mechanism and its policies.

Policy Statement

1. The MGIC Board of Directors is committed to providing a respectable, safe, and inclusive workplace, where MGIC employees have the right to raise concerns and use multiple channels for reporting (e.g., supervisor, Human Resources (HR), designated hotline). See MGIC policy on Ethics and Conduct, and MGIC policy on Standards of Conduct for MGIC Personnel.
2. MGIC employees may raise a grievance in good faith without fear of retaliation. Retaliation is prohibited and will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.
3. Grievances will be addressed promptly, impartially, and consistently. MGIC Directors, Officers, UMB-authorized investigators, and the IO division will treat all grievance-related information as confidential to the extent possible and will share information only on a need-to-know basis to conduct a fair review, comply with legal obligations, and implement appropriate actions.
4. The MGIC President and/or the IO division may retain legal counsel if needed to resolve grievances and disputes in compliance with local law.
5. Where the IO division employs MGIC personnel as the Requesting Unit, the MGIC President shall engage other UMB/Affiliate departments as needed to address grievances against or involving IO staff, to avoid conflict of interest.

Scope

This policy applies to all MGIC employees and Requesting Units.

Responsibilities

1. MGIC Employees: Comply fully with all aspects of this and related referenced policies.
2. IO division staff: Support grievance and dispute resolution processes between MGIC employees and Requesting Units as appropriate. Retain legal counsel if needed on behalf of Requesting Unit or MGIC.
3. Requesting Units: Comply fully with all aspects of this and related/referenced policies.

Procedures

See MGIC Standard Operating Procedures

Documentation Requirements

• Ethics Hotline form if applicable
• Legal documents if required

References

• MGIC Global HR Handbook
• MGIC Policy on Ethics and Conduct
• MGIC Policy on Standards of Conduct for MGIC Personnel