Employment Law

Mitchells Solicitors can provide advice to employers and employees on all aspects of Employment Law. We can offer "No Win - No Fee"

Dismissals
Contracts of Employment
Discrimination and Harassment
Employment Tribunals
Handling Disciplinary Issues
Written and Verbal Warnings
Health and Safety
Partnerships

Call us on 01904 623751 for impartial advice and to arrange an initial consultation.

Employees

We can act for you or advise you in relation to a claim against your employer. These claims are heard by the Employment Tribunal unless they are agreed out of Court. They include:

1. Unfair Dismissal (including constructive dismissal)

2. Wrongful Dismissal

3. Discrimination, for example on the grounds of disability, race or sex (including pregnancy)

4. Other Claims

Sometimes an employee is given a Compromise Agreement by the employer. This is part of negotiation to terminate the employment. We can advise about whether the compensation offered amounts to "a good deal". We can also advise about the wording of the agreement.

Awards for unfair dismissal can be as high as £72,300 (From 01.02.2012). For discrimination cases there are no limits. In practice most awards are much more modest. The calculation is compensation can be quite complicated. Before issuing proceedings we can carry out a risk assessment for you. We can negotiate with the other side to reach an out of Court settlement. If it goes to an Employment Tribunal we can draft the Claim Form (ET1) to be sent to the Employment Tribunal, negotiate with the other side and if the case is not settled represent you at the Tribunal.

Time Limits

Time limits are all-important in employment law. Claims normally have to be received by the Employment Tribunal within three months of the date of termination of your employment or, in the case of discrimination not involving dismissal, within 3 months of the act complained of.

For unfair dismissal you will normally need one year's continuous service to be able to claim. But there are a number of exceptions to that one year rule.

The Tribunal will allow the three-month time limit to be extended in some cases; for example in and unfair dismissal case, if it was not reasonably practicable for you to send the claim to the Tribunal within the three month period.

We normally act for employees on a "No Win No Fee" basis which means that the client has nothing to pay unless the claim is successful. Some clients prefer to pay us by the hour. Others may have their fees or part of them covered by legal expenses insurance. We can advise you about these options. If you would like us to advise or act for you please ring our experienced Solicitor Philip Chapman.

Employers

We can advise and act for employers in the same circumstances as we can act for employees in Employment Tribunal proceedings. We can also draft Contracts of Employment or Statements of Terms and Conditions of Employment (which are required by law). We can give advice only or if you prefer we can represent you in an Employment Tribunal. Our fees are calculated on an hourly basis. For such advice please ring Philip Chapman.