LEGAL ADVICE ON EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR

Our law firm understands that employment law issues are of paramount importance in today’s business climate and economy. We assist our clients to comply with various laws affecting all aspects of the employer/employee relationship, including how employers must treat employees, former employees, and applicants for employment. Employers must ensure that all their procedures are kept in line with changing legislation and that their risk of employment litigation is minimized as much as possible. On the other hand, employees have the right to be treated fairly and to understand what their rights and obligations are. 

 

 

Our services cover the following principal areas: 

 

EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS  

 

 

The law requires that employees must be provided with certain minimum written particulars of their employment within eight working days of their starting date. These can be expanded upon to incorporate many provisions including confidentiality clauses, clauses relating to inventions, patent and copyright, clauses relating to conflicting employment, obligations upon termination of employment, data protection consents, conflict of interest guidelines, terms altering the effects of the Organisation of Working Time Regulations and clauses entitling the employer to audit and search items and systems of the employee.. 

 

 

CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES  

 

 

Businesses that engage personnel on a self-employed basis should adopt carefully drafted contracts, as the terms of such contracts can influence whether or not the worker is viewed as being truly self-employed. 

 

 

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT/UNFAIR DISMISSAL 

 

 

Businesses must be able to show that dismissals are either made on grounds of redundancy or for good and sufficient causes, or they could be liable to pay compensation. Industrial Tribunals have the power to award compensation or reinstatement of employment if the redundancy is found to be unjustified or if the dismissal is found to be unfair. Day-to-day personnel issues, such as warnings and dismissals for misconduct, absenteeism and poor performance, are all potentially complicated areas if handled incorrectly and can lead to dismissals being considered unfair.  

 

 

COMPROMISE AGREEMENTS 

 

 

Compromise Agreements are a means of settling both claims and potential claims between employers and employees. So we prepare Compromise Agreements on behalf of employers and we also advise employees who have been asked to enter into such agreements. 

 

 

TRANSFER OF UNDERTAKINGS 

 

 

When a business is bought and sold, it is crucial to give careful consideration to the Transfer of Business (Protection of Employment) Regulations. Since employees' rights transfer with the business, there can be far reaching consequences for the purchaser. Also, for the seller there is an obligation to consult with representatives of all employees who are affected by the transfer.