Employment law is fast-moving and complex. Both employers and employees need the support of experienced and efficient legal professionals who stay up to speed with the law. At Freelands Solicitors, we regularly help both employers and employees based throughout Lanarkshire find practical solutions to their employment law issues.
Our Legal Services for Employers - Employment Lawyers Motherwell & Wishaw
Representation at Tribunals
Issues with an employee can cause problems for employers, especially if an employment relationship escalates to the extent that an employee decides to make a claim to an employment tribunal. If not properly defended against, a successful claim has the potential to do damage to an employer’s business. Whatever claim has been brought against you, whether unfair dismissal, discrimination or unlawful deduction of wages, we can help. Our aim is to help you resolve the issue in a way that protects your business. We will help you to negotiate a settlement with the employee and bring an end to the dispute. If settlement isn’t possible, we will prepare a strong case on your behalf and represent you at the tribunal hearing.
Employee Management & Discipline
If there is a problem in the workplace, such as an employee failing to meet the standards expected of them, it’s important for employers to have disciplinary and grievance procedures in place so that problems can be addressed and resolved. It’s also important for employers to communicate these procedures to their employees, while also making sure that their response to a workplace problem is both timely and fair. A failure to do so could open up the possibility of an employee making an employment tribunal claim. If you need pragmatic legal advice and assistance dealing with employee management and disciplinary procedures in your workplace, please contact us.
Employment Contracts & Handbooks
The best way to mitigate the potential for problems with employees is to have up-to-date employment contracts and handbooks in place that clearly set out both the rights, responsibilities and duties of both employer and employee. By having a formal employment contract drafted by specialist employment law solicitors, you will be able to cover all the matters that are legally required to be included, such as implied and statutory terms, as well as those that can help you protect your business, such as post-termination restrictions.
Employment handbooks complement employment contracts in that they allow employers to communicate their policies and grievance and disciplinary procedures to employees. Handbooks are also beneficial because they can be more easily updated to account for changes to the law or your business, unlike changes to contracts of employment which require the express consent of employees. Whether you are looking to have employment contracts and handbooks drafted or reviewed, we will take a holistic approach aimed at helping you protect your business.
Unfair Dismissal & Redundancy
It's unlawful for an employer to dismiss an employee or make them redundant unfairly. This means employers must dismiss their employees for fair reasons and according to fair procedures. A failure to do so could result in an employee bringing a claim for unfair dismissal before an employment tribunal. The law on unfair dismissal and redundancy is complex, covering different circumstances when an employment relationship may have been unfairly brought to an end, including wrongful dismissal, automatically unfair dismissal and constructive dismissal. To ensure your business is protected when considering dismissing an employee, please contact us for expert employment law advice.
Settlement Agreements
Settlement agreements, formerly known as compromise agreements, are a cheap and easy way to bring an employment relationship to an end or resolve a workplace dispute. An employer and employee agree the terms of the agreement, which will usually include the employee’s waiver of their right to make an employment tribunal or court claim against their employer in return for compensation. Our employment law solicitors are ready to help you assess whether a settlement agreement is a suitable option, and should that be the case, will represent your best interests in negotiations.
Contact our specialist Employment Lawyers in Motherwell & Wishaw
Freelands Solicitors have been serving the Motherwell and Wishaw communities for over 140 years. Our specialist lawyers can provide you with honest and practical legal advice to resolve any employment law concerns you may have. If you are an employer struggling with issues in the workplace then please call our Motherwell Office on 01698 352600 or Wishaw Office on 01698 355936 or fill out our online enquiry form.