Probably at some time in your working life you will have the need for an employment lawyer, especially if you are not happy with the way your employer has treated you. An employment lawyer, for example, will help you through the process of filing a grievance against your employer and will work with you and represent you through any employment dispute that you may have.
On the other hand, for employers, an employment lawyer can ensure that your processes, procedures and policies are bang up-to-date and fit for purpose. They can also offer advice regarding the termination of employees and ensure you go back this in the most risk adverse way.
Employment law changes often (changes come into effect bi-annually) and not seeking the right advice early on can be costly.
What Does an Employment Lawyer do?
As you can see from the above examples, an employment lawyer will represent both employees and employers in all workplace disputes, this can include situations like:
- Unfair or Constructive Dismissal
- Wrongful dismissal or breach of contract
- Redundancy assistance
- Settlement Agreements (formally known as compromise agreements)
- Help with your ‘family friendly rights’ such as maternity, paternity and adoption rights
- Termination of an unsatisfactory employee
Your employment lawyer will talk you through your options and support you through the whole process; they pull together all the relevant documentation, and where necessary liaise with the tribunal and barristers on your behalf, if you find yourself involved in an Employment Tribunal action.
Employment lawyers have your best interest at heart, and if you need a speedy resolution they will work with all the relevant parties to try to arrange that.
How Do I Know If I Need an Employment Lawyer?
As an employee you should seek advice if you are facing any difficult situation at work, but particularly an issue which could result in your termination from work or disciplinary sanctions being levied against you.
Perhaps you believe that you need to go to the employment tribunal, in which case an employment lawyer on your side is a must to try and ensure you have the best prospect of winning your claim. Unfortunately we see many claims fail based on the way they are pleaded by lay people, when had they sought professional advice at the outset of their claim, they would have likely had far more success.
Ultimately an employment lawyer understands employment law in its entirety and can therefore maximise the chances of you winning your claim and maximising any compensation due.
As an employer, you may want to work with an employment lawyer if you are being sued or threatened with any mistreatment, negligence or discrimination claim; or you may have employee that you would like dismissing, but not sure how best to go about it to protect yourself from a counter claim for unfair or wrongful dismissal.
Even if you’re just confused about the employment laws then you need to speak to an employment lawyer. Reaching out to a lawyer sooner rather than later can pre-empt any issues and help you decide whether you have a case against your employee or employer.
Oakwood Solicitors do offer our TLC package which is a fixed scheme based on the head count of the employer. We assist organisations of all shapes and sizes ranging from small SMEs with only a few employees up to professional sports clubs and companies with in excess of 100 staff.
