Employment Law

Our new fixed fee package for employers is competitively priced and provides a complete employment law advice and assistance service for a one-off fee. We will provide mandatory documentation, such as terms and conditions of employment and an overview of your existing documentation. Subscribers have unlimited free access to our popular telephone and e-mail legal advice line . Our philosophy is geared towards ensuring that claims do not arise in the first place. However if, despite all our best efforts, you find yourself facing a claim, the package includes free legal representation at the Tribunal.

In summary, the package includes:

• A review of your existing employment documentation and procedures.
• Provision of new or modified key documents, including Terms & Conditions of Employment and Staff Handbook.
• Unlimited free use of the Slee Blackwell Adviceline.
• Free Dispute Resolution Service, should a disgruntled employee decide to bring a claim.
• Free representation at an Employment Tribunal, if the claim is not resolved.
• Subscription to our regular, plain English, Employment Law Update.

All of which represents unbeatable value for the peace of mind it brings. The annual fee is calculated on a sliding scale according to the number of people you employ, which makes it affordable for small employers as well as large

If you would like further details of our fixed-fee package or a quote on a no obligation basis, please contact a member of our employment team.

We also have developed a Redundancy Package to lead you through the minefield that such matters involve. It includes:

• General guidance on procedures
• Drafting selection criteria and managing its implementation
• Drafting letters & notices
• Free dispute resolution if problems arise after you have used our package and, if that is not successful, representation in any Employment Tribunal proceedings that may follow.

It is vital that employers follow statutory procedures when dismissing an employee. Even a minor breach could result in an employee having an automatic claim for unfair dismissal against you in the Employment Tribunal.

We can assist by advising on the dismissal process from the start to ensure that both the reasons for the dismissal and the procedures that you follow do not give rise to such a claim.

Sometimes businesses will need to reduce their workforce. Whenever this situation arises employers must ensure that they take a number of steps and follow statutory procedures to avoid leaving themselves open to a successful and expensive redundancy claim being made.

We can assist you by ensuring that the redundancy situation is 'genuine', providing advice on the correct consultation and section procedures as well as calculating redundancy payments.

As an employer, you are legally required to provide written terms and conditions of employment to your employees.

If you already have contracts in place it may be worth reviewing them to be sure that they comply with ever changing employment laws. Our employment law solicitors can draft new contracts (or amend existing ones) so that they offer suitable protection to you as an employer and are specific to your business needs, by including confidentiality and restraint of trade clauses for example.

Employment Tribunals are dealing with increasing numbers of discrimination claims on the grounds of age, sex, race, disability, religion and sexual orientation. And frighteningly, there is no upper limit on the amount of compensation that can be awarded.

Our employment law solicitors can assist by implementing positive steps to eliminate discrimination in the workplace, such as drafting Equality & Diversity policy and codes of practice, to help avoid an expensive claim being brought against you.

The influence of European Law is currently re-shaping the landscape of Employment Law in the UK . We can help you to avoid problems by making sure that you are aware of employees' rights and that you have adequate policies and procedures in place.

Employees' are now more aware than ever of their legal rights so it is important for employers to seek professional employment law advice at an early stage.

We offer advice on the following areas:

• national minimum wage
• maternity/paternity rights
• flexible working and other family friendly rights
• restrictions on the amount of hours an employee can work
• right to time off
• right to annual leave
• right to remain in employment in the event that the business is sold