As an Employer you would prefer to avoid the time and expense of becoming involved in Employment Tribunal hearings and to avoid unnecessary conflict. Maintaining good working relationships with your staff not only assists the smooth running of your business but research has shown that a happy workforce is a profitable workforce!
Employment Law is constantly changing and it can be difficult keeping up to date. The following is a list of some of the questions you may need to ask yourself. It is not an exhaustive list and employees’ statutory rights are changing all the time.
If in doubt about whether you need to do anything – seek advice.
- Do I have to give my employees a formal contract of employment?
- What information must an employment contract contain to comply with legislation?
- I need to make some of my staff redundant – How to I select them without leaving myself open to a claim for unfair dismissal?
- I need to dismiss an employee - what is the correct procedure?
- One of my staff has been on long term sick leave – can I bring their employment to an end?
- Does our Disciplinary and Grievance Procedure comply with the legislation?
- What is the effect if it does not?
- Does our recruitment policy comply with the Disability and discrimination legislation?
- How do I work out paternity leave?
- A former employee has gone to an Employment Tribunal – what do I do?
At NLH we recognise that all companies adopt a slightly different approach to employee management. You may operate a full internal human resources team like most small businesses, you, the boss does it all.
Employment law is a potential minefield for the inexperienced and uninitiated. It is one area of law that is probably seems to you to be in a constant state of flux, often because of the European Community angle. As employees become more aware of their rights and become increasingly prepared to seek legal redress, it is vital that employers stay abreast of developments.
With over 130,000 applications annually by employees to employment tribunals in the UK, and with the upper limits of some awards now raised to more than £50,000 (with some unlimited), employers need to be fully and properly advised about relevant law and procedures.
That is where we can help you and in the long run, seeking advice at an early stage will almost certainly save you time and money. Our Employment Team provides practical advice on all employment law issues including:
- Contracts of employment
- Data Protection
- Disciplinary action and grievance procedures
- Discrimination for sex, race, disability and age
- Employment Tribunals
- Family friendly policies
- Maternity leave
- Minimum wage
- Paternity leave
- Redundancy and dismissal
- Restrictive covenants
- Service agreements
- Trade unions
- Transfer regulations upon company acquisitions
- TUPE including indemnities and warranties
- Unfair dismissal
- Whistle blowing
- Wrongful dismissal and breach of contract
