Employment - Individuals

Why instruct a solicitor

Employment law is complex and different rules can sometimes interact with one another with unexpected consequences.

Employment law is also subject to regular change as a result of legislation and decisions of the Courts and the Employment Appeal Tribunal. As a consequence it is important to stay up to date. This requires access to regularly maintained research facilities which we have available and ensures our advice is completely current.

Early advice is often the key to a successful outcome in employment cases. Knowing from the outset how to position yourself (whether employer or employee) drastically improves the chance of a successful outcome.

Employment services

We advise Employers and Employees on all aspects of employment law including:

• Business re-organisation
• Business Transfers
• Collective Consultation
• Contractual Issues including:
  • Restraint of Trade and Business Secrets
  • Breach of Contract
  • Varying Contractual Terms
  • Restraint of Trade and Business Secrets
• Directors
• Discrimination and Equal Pay
• Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures
• Drafting Polices and Procedures (e.g. retirement/ anti harassment/ use of email)
• Employment Status
• Employment Tribunal Hearings, Practice and Procedure
• Health and Safety at Work
• Human Rights, Data Protection and Monitoring
• Maternity and Family Rights
• Pay/Wages
• Recruitment
• Sickness
• Termination of Employment including:
  • Unfair Dismissal
  • Redundancy
  • Compromise Agreements
• Whistleblowing
• Working Time

We act for employees as well as employers in the Employment Tribunal and our advocates are equally at home acting for an employee.

If you are having trouble at work, we understand this will be a difficult time for you. If you are the victim of discrimination, harassment or are subject to bullying, unfair treatment or disciplinary action, or if you are pursuing a grievance or if are going through a redundancy process or you have been dismissed, or indeed have any other issues at work, it is important to know at the earliest opportunity what your rights are. We can advise you on your rights, how to deal with the situation and your options.

Employees are given a large number of statutory rights. Your employer is obliged to follow proper procedures in dealing with you and failure to do so may entitle you to either overturn an unwelcome decision or claim compensation.

You will benefit from taking our advice on your situation at an early stage. It will enable you to deal with things with your eyes open. In some cases, it may be better to keep your job by careful handling of an employer, than to claim what may be a modest sum in the Employment Tribunal. Alternatively, if your Employer is determined to dismiss you, we will be able to advise how to counter some of the tactics likely to be used against you.

If you have been dismissed, we can advise on whether your dismissal was fair, the prospects of succeeding with a claim in the Employment Tribunal and give an indication of the likely compensation you could recover. We can prepare and submit your claim form to the Employment Tribunal and deal with all aspects of your case, including representing you at the final hearing.

We also advise on contractual issues including the consequences of not having a written statement of terms, the validity of post termination clauses in your contract, deductions from salary and breaches of contract.

If you are offered a new contract of employment, or revised terms and conditions of employment, you can be sure your employer will have considered the matter carefully, and probably taken legal advice. We recommend that you do likewise as important issues about your job and pay may be at stake. To accept without advice, or to reject without good cause, can lead to embarrassment and financial loss.

If there are a number of you at work who are unhappy with the same issue then frequently it is helpful for you to group together to obtain advice.