Employment Law for Individuals

What is Employment Law?

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. We have access to regularly maintained research facilities which 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 drastically improves the chance of a successful outcome.

  • Jacqueline Penfold

    Partner

  • Sebastian Hale-Smith

    Solicitor, LLM

Employment Law Services

We advise 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 and
  • Varying Contractual Terms
  • Directors
  • Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures
  • Drafting Policies and Procedures (e.g. social media, equal opportunities etc)
  • Employment Status
  • Employment Practice and Procedure
  • Pay/Wages
  • Recruitment
  • Sickness
  • Termination of Employment including: Redundancy Procedures and Settlement Agreements (formerly Compromise Agreements)
  • Whistleblowing
  • Working Time

Employment Law Rights

If you are having trouble at work, we understand this will be a difficult time for you. 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.

Contracts

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.

Unfair Dismissal

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.

Employment Advice

Please contact us on 01323 727 321 to arrange an appointment to see us. Alternatively, please complete the contact form below.

Get in touch

If you wish to speak to any of the employment team, then please get in touch. We are based in Eastbourne, Polegate and Hailsham and have a large team in each department. You can call us on one of the numbers below to arrange an appointment or please fill in the form below and someone will get in touch.

Telephone one of our offices

Please telephone the following numbers to arrange an appointment:

Eastbourne: 01323 727321

Hailsham: 01323 841481

Polegate: 01323 487051

We will maintain complete confidentiality and discretion at all times.