Employment Law for Employers

We can provide legally compliant employment contracts tailored to your specific business needs, company handbook and other stand-alone policies.  What we recommend you have in place will depend on the size of your business.  Template employment contracts are provided as standard as part of our HR retainer support service: www.lightfoots.co.uk/services/hr-services

Not sure if your employment contracts are legally compliant, we can review your current templates only recommending changes if these are needed.

For employers wanting to limit the risk of employment law claims it is vital to ensure disciplinary and grievance matters are properly investigated and a fair process followed before any decisions are made, with a right of appeal.  Whether you are a seasoned HR professional needing guidance with a complex grievance, or an employer dealing with your first internal grievance or disciplinary action, wanting to ensure you handle matters correctly we can provide tailored support.

When you employ staff there is inevitably a risk that performance concerns or attendance issues could arise from time to time. How you handle such matters is key to protecting your business from inadvertent employment law claims.  If you are on notice of a potential disability a duty to make reasonable adjustments will also arise.  If you ignore this duty, you do so at your own peril.  We can provide clear guidance and support in this difficult area.

When making changes to your business potentially resulting in redundancies how you handle this process is just as important, if not more so, than the reasons behind the restructure. Therefore, whether you need to cut costs or restructure parts of your business for other reasons it is important to take early legal advice, ensuring all areas of risk are covered and limiting the risk of employment law claims.

Depending on the number of potential redundancies contemplated collective consultation may also apply, increasing the risk of claims if this is not properly implemented.  Special protections will also apply in redundancy situations to those on some family friendly leave, or who have recently returned from such leave.

We can provide expert tailored guidance to ensure the your actions here are both fair and legally compliant, helping take some of the pain out of the process.

The key to limiting the risk of employment tribunal claims is taking early legal advice and our retainer service is designed with this in mind. https://www.lightfoots.co.uk/services/hr-services

Where a claim is received, including contact from ACAS’s Early Conciliation Service you can rely on our expert employments team to provide pragmatic advice and robust legal representation, acting in your best interests at all times.

For an example of the potential fees your business can expect to incur challenging a claim for unfair or wrongful dismissal our pricing information can be found here.  Exact charges will, however, depend on the nature of the claim received, support required, and whether or not early resolution can be achieved. Please do not hesitate to contact us for a no obligation quote tailored to your particular needs.

When buying or selling a business or its assets, outsourcing part of your business or bring outsourced services in house, it will be important not to overlook the employment law aspects.  In conjunction with our corporate team, we provide practical guidance, including the applicability of TUPE and potential automatic transfer of staff on completion.  Our expert team has guided business owners from the due diligence stage, identifying any areas of risk, all the way through to completion, helping ensure the duty to inform and consult with effected employees under TUPE is fully met.

Exiting an employee is not always straight forward and can leave your business at risk of employment law claims.  Our expert employment solicitors will look at all of your options on a case-by-case basis allowing you to make an informed commercial decision at all times.

In appropriate circumstances we may recommend offering a settlement agreement to the individual concerned. By entering into this agreement, the individual will be agreeing to waive and therefore not pursue, any employment law claims they may have usually in return from a severance payment.  Where such an agreement is proposed we can draft this tailored to your needs.

Protecting company confidential information and client relationships will be vital to your business. Ensuring your employment contracts contain effective safeguards will be paramount.  If the correct safeguards are in place and breached, prompt action to enforce your rights will also be key.  Our expert team can provide swift and effective guidance and support, including the issue of injunctive proceedings in appropriate circumstances.

Navigating the complexities of employment law can be a minefield at times, especially when it comes to things like workforce statutory rights, calculating holiday pay correctly, and protecting your staff from discrimination in the workplace.  Getting it wrong leaves your business at risk of claims, some more costly than others.  Our expert employment team can provide clear guidance on your legal obligations and risks to your business if these are ignored.  We can also provide tailored training helping you educate your staff on acceptable behaviour in the workplace, limiting the risk of discrimination and harassment claims.

Depending on your individual business needs we also offer a HR retainer support service, further details of which can be found here.

The key to limiting the risk of employment tribunal claims is taking early legal advice and our retainer service is designed with this in mind.

Whether you wish to engage us on a pay as you go basis, or via our monthly retainer service [Add link], we are here for you when you need us, providing prompt and cost-effective advice.

Self-employed HR professionals, we are here to support you too.  Please do not hesitate to get in touch to discuss your requirements.