...what exactly makes a grievance mechanism effective? This guidance aims to help answer that question. It provides a tool for companies and their local stakeholders jointly to devise rights-compatible, effective grievance mechanisms that maximise the opportunities to achieve sustainable solutions to disputes. A rights-compatible mechanism integrates human rights norms and standards into its processes and is based on principles of non-discrimination, equity, accountability, empowerment and participation. It can deal with most kinds of grievances...including...those that reflect substantive human/labour rights concerns. [case studies refer to HP, Dow Chemical, Tolukuma Gold Mine (part of Emperor Mines), BJ&B, Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Xstrata, Gap, BP, BTC (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline consortium, led by BP)]