Employment Law governs the relationship between employer and employee and includes matters such as whether a person is employed or self-employed, whether a person had been dismissed unfairly or wrongfully, whether a person can claim paid holidays or any other employment related subject. In addition the law has developed a system of rules to prevent discrimination against a person on the basis of their ethnicity, age, sex, gender or disability.

If you have been terminated, made redundant or feel that you are being discriminated against in your current job, please contact us for advice. Our employment department offers a range of services and deals with the following types of claims

We understand that employment matters can be very complex and confusing for both Employers and Employees and getting it wrong can be very costly. Employment Law is ever changing, which is why it is important for an Employee or Employer to obtain quick, accurate and good legal advice on their legal position.

We offer our clients a clear path through their legal obligations and ensure we provide a practical, sensible advice to get the most cost effective solution for you.

We can help with:

• • drafting contracts of employment
• • breach of contract including restrictive covenants
• • compromise agreements
• • redundancy
• • sex, age, race, religious and disability discrimination
• • equal pay
• • unfair and wrongful dismissal
• • employment tribunal claims
• • maternity and paternity leave

Unfair Dismissal

An employer has to show that a dismissal was for one of the following permitted reasons

1. Misconduct
2. Lack of capability
3. Redundancy
4. Contravention of any enactment
5. Some other substantial reason

Wrongful Dismissal

An employee is entitled to a proper notice period before dismissal.

Discrimination

The law prevents discrimination against employees on the grounds of age, sex, gender, race or disability either in a direct or indirect way or by way of victimisation. This is a complex area and employees should seek advice as soon as possible.

Working Time Regulations

There are now maximum periods of time that most employees can be asked to work and also rules governing rest periods. The law has also set minimum periods of paid holiday that have to be given.

Minimum Wage

The government has now set down minimum hourly wage rates that are reviewed every year.

Work Related Stress

There is a developing area of law allowing employees to claim for the personal injury which they suffer as a result of stress associated with their work. This may also include bullying at work which is an increasing area of concern. The employee needs to take advice on this point at an early stage.

Employment Tribunal Procedure

For the overwhelming majority of claims in employment law there is a time limit of 3 months in which complain can be made to the Employment Tribunal. For dismissal the time frame is 3 months from the last day of employment. For discrimination claims it is 3 months from the last act of discrimination. These time limits are strictly adhered to by the Tribunal and therefore it is vital that advice is obtained at an early stage.

Compromise Agreements

We are able to act on behalf of employees and employers in order to mediate or negotiate disputes and draft terms and conditions for the compromise agreements in their dispute matter.