An employee should obey a supervisor’s lawful order and grieve the order later if the employee believes the order was in violation of a negotiated agreement or policy. There are three generally recognized exceptions to the “obey now, grieve later” rule, but the two that are most common are: 1) when the order is illegal; 2) when compliance with the order would pose a threat to the safety, health or welfare of the officer or another. This is a tricky area and members should consult with an experienced lead representative in these instances.
