Employment Law

Employment Terms and Conditions

Oakwood Solicitors has an established Employment Law team, helping clients both locally and nationwide. We are able to offer expert advice on all potential claims you may have against your employer, …

Constructive Dismissal

A Constructive Dismissal claim can arise when the employer commits a fundamental breach of the employment contract, and as a consequence of this breach, the employee terminates the contract by resigning from their employment. To make a claim, you must have been employed continuously for a period of two years in order to put forward.…

Disciplinary Proceedings

You should be invited to a disciplinary hearing in writing, and provided with the allegations against you, together with any supporting evidence that your employer has collected. You should be given at least three clear days’ notice of the hearing, and be informed of your legal right to be accompanied by a work colleague or…

Employment – Redundancy

Being made redundant or even put at risk of redundancy can be a highly stressful time, particularly if after years of longstanding employment you find yourself in this position. As part of a fair process, employers must be able to demonstrate they have taken all reasonable steps to avoid making redundancies (for example by demonstrating…

Exit Strategies for Executives

Family Friendly Rights

Grievance at Work

If you have a grievance at work, it is usually unsettling and disruptive, and it needs sorting quickly. If you believe that you are being treated unfairly or bullied at work, the first step that you should take is to raise a formal grievance with your employer. Your employer should have a grievance policy, which…

Pregnancy Discrimination

Pregnancy Discrimination can be a very real concern to an employee facing the situation. Even in the current year, some employers sadly lack the understanding and compassion required during this hugely important turning point in life. What is Pregnancy Discrimination? Pregnancy Discrimination is where you are treated unjustly and with prejudice, because you are either…

Racial Discrimination

In a recent study done by business psychologists Pearn Kambola, they found that 69% of black people had experienced some form of racial discrimination in the workplace, followed by Asian people at 53%. Here are a couple of example scenarios where employees have endured racism in the workplace: Scenario 1 A black woman working in…

Settlements and Agreements

A settlement (compromise) agreement is a legally binding arrangement between you and your employer – it will usually involve an offer from an employer to yourself to agree to mutually terminate your employment. Our compassionate service from expert Employment lawyers means that you avoid the stress, uncertainty, time, costs, risks and career damage that can…

Transgender Discrimination

Transgender Discrimination is any form of unfair treatment or prejudice you feel you receive as a direct consequence of the gender by which you have chosen to identify. You should never be fired, sanctioned, suspended or disciplined because of your identification status. In a survey by Stonewall, they interviewed 871 transgender or non-binary persons and…

Unfair Dismissal

If you have been employed for more than two years, and you have been dismissed for a reason that you do not believe is fair, you could have a potential claim against your employer, and you may be entitled to compensation. However, there are some exceptions. In order to be eligible to bring a claim…

Whistleblowing

Whistleblowing, also known as ‘making a protected disclosure’, is potentially a ‘protected act’ under employment law. This means that employees who are aware of unlawful activity in the workplace, and report it, should not be subjected to any detriment as a result, or dismissed due to making this disclosure. For employees making a disclosure against…

Workplace Discrimination, Including Harassment

In order to have a claim for workplace discrimination compensation, you must show that you have been treated less favourably than others because of a ‘protected characteristic’. There are nine protected characteristics: Age Disability Gender reassignment Marriage or civil partnership Pregnancy and maternity Race Religion or belief Sex Sexual Orientation Direct Discrimination Direct discrimination is…

Wrongful Dismissal and Breach of Contract

Employees have the basic right to not be dismissed unfairly by their employers. However, this does not prevent employers from dismissing employees, and claiming that the reason for dismissal was a fair one, when the reality is much less straightforward. There are very strict timescales for making a claim. Your case must be registered with…