We understand that when a difficult situation arises you need legal advice.
Our specialist Employment Law team will explain what rights you have as an employee and how best to exercise those rights. You will be provided with clear employment advice to help you deal with the situation in an effective and efficient way.
- Settlement Agreements (formerly Compromise Agreements)
- Disciplinary and grievance procedures
- Unfair dismissal
- Redundancy
- Employment contracts, Executive Service Agreements and Employment documentation
- Discrimination, victimisation and harassment
- Tribunal and Court representation
- Contract disputes, unpaid notice and wages
- Maternity issues
- Restrictive Covenants
- Employment aspects of business transfers
- Employment status – employee or self-employed
Settlement Agreement (formerly Compromise Agreement)
You may be offered a severance package by your employer in return for agreeing not to pursue any employment claims you may have. You are required to take independent legal advice and normally your employer would pay a contribution towards your legal costs. We can assist you in any negotiations and review the settlement terms taking into account the level of awards a Tribunal may make. We will provide our advice in the most cost effective way.
Disciplinary and grievance procedures
If you are being disciplined or you have a grievance you have certain rights concerning how these hearings are conducted. We can assist you in preparing for a disciplinary hearing and the correct tactical approach at the same time as advising on the strengths and weaknesses of your case. If you are experiencing issues at work we can help you and advise on the grievance process.
Unfair Dismissal
If you have been dismissed your employer must have a fair reason and have followed a fair procedure. You may be able to make a claim in the Employment Tribunal and our specialist Employment Law team can assist you. We can guide you through the Tribunal process including liaising with ACAS (including Early Conciliation) and preparing your case. We will advise you on the merits of your claim and try and negotiate proper compensation. If you feel you have been forced to leave because of the way your employer has treated you (known as constructive dismissal) we can help you.
Redundancy
If you have been made redundant or told that you are “at risk” your employer must be able to demonstrate that it is a genuine redundancy situation and that it has been carried out in a fair way including proper consultation. We can advise you of your rights and whether you have a claim or unfair dismissal.
Employment Contracts, Executive Service Agreements and Employment documentation
Your employment contract sets out the agreement between you as an employee and your employer. When you start a new job we can look over your job offer and employment contract to help you understand all of the terms in it. As a director or senior manager you may be given an Executive Service Agreement which is normally more detailed and we can assist you with that too. There are many type of employment contracts such as part time contracts, fixed term contracts and our specialist Employment Team can help you better understand the complex terminology. If your employer is trying to change your contractual terms we can advise you of your rights.
Discrimination, victimisation and harassment
The law protects you from unlawful discrimination, victimisation and harassment because of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or believe and pregnancy and maternity. This protection extends to the selection and appointment of staff, the arrangements for access to promotion and training and detrimental treatment. We can advise you of your rights and remedies.
Tribunal and court representation
You may not be able to resolve you claim or dispute with your employer and if this is the case we will advise you how to proceed with your claim and support you through the process in the Tribunal or court.
Contract disputes, unpaid notice and wages
Sometimes you may not receive the correct notice pay or wages or your employer may make deductions from your pay which you are not happy about. We can look at this for you and try to recover the monies owed if it has been done unlawfully.
Maternity issues
If you feel that your employer is treating you unfairly or differently because of your pregnancy or maternity related issues or due to taking maternity leave you may have a claim. If your position has become redundant during or shortly after you return to work we can see if this is lawful or not.
Restrictive covenants
Your employer may impose restrictions on who you can work for or contact after you leave their employment. You may have received a Solicitor’s letter from your former employer threatening legal proceedings. Our specialist Employment Law Team can help you negotiate the extent of the restrictive covenants when you join a new employer and advice on what to do if you are threatened with proceedings.
Employment aspects of business transfers
If your employer is taken over by another company (or you think it may be) then you have rights under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (normally known as TUPE). We can tell you what rights you have and how you are protected.
Employment status – employee, worker or self-employed?
Understanding your employment status is key to knowing what rights and protection you have. The “gig economy” has resulted in greater examination of the status of individuals by the courts and we can look at whether your status is, at law, the correct one.
