Our experience dealing with Trade Union issues is unrivalled and covers the following areas:
- the impact of collective agreements on an employee’s contract of employment
- the rights of a Trade Union recognised for collective bargaining purposes
- rights to time off for Trade Union duties
- supporting employers seeking to resolve workplace disputes, and those facing industrial action
- representing employers where there is a Trade Union application for statutory recognition
We can draft clauses tailored to your particular needs including:
- lay off and short-term working
- use of company car
- bonus and commission schemes
- right to search
- company sick pay and maternity pay schemes
- enhanced confidentiality clauses
- restrictive covenants including non-compete, non-solicitation, and non-dealing
We also guide you through the legal and practical intricacies associated with:
- differences between employees, workers and the genuinely self-employed
- the impact of employment status on an individual’s employment rights
- types of contractual and non-contractual terms
- rights of agency workers
- pay and benefits
- holidays and holiday pay
- pensions
- sick pay
- working time
- drafting and reviewing company policies and procedures
Our service includes practical advice and guidance on all aspects of recruitment and selection including:
- managing the recruitment and selection process in a fair and non-discriminatory manner
- creating job descriptions and person specifications
- advertising jobs
- shortlisting
- selection testing
- conducting interviews
- making your selection
- medical questionnaires and assessments
- obtaining references
- checking eligibility to work
- making job offers
- induction training
- keeping recruitment records
- recruiting of apprentices
- Fair Employment monitoring and reporting obligations
withdrawing job offers - managing induction and probationary periods
We help you to understand your obligations under the Data Protection Act and what steps you need to take to comply in practice, including:
- lawful employee monitoring and surveillance
- how to process personal data
- responding to Data Subject Access Requests
We help you to:
- identify when TUPE applies
- understand and comply with your legal obligations as the outgoing or incoming business
- understand who transfers and on what terms
- comply with your obligations to Inform and Consult
- provide the necessary Employee Liability Information
- understand when changes can be made and how to effect those changes
We support you as you manage the process of changing employee terms of employment including:
- identifying if the term being changed is contractual
- consulting with employees about the proposed change
- advising on practical strategies to legally change contractual terms
- collective consultation obligations where the changes impact 20 or more employees
- advising you on the legal risks when changing employment terms
We can advise you on how to comply with your obligations in respect of the following legal entitlements:
- maternity leave and pay
- time off for dependants
- flexible working requests, including drafting job share agreements
- parental leave
- paternity leave and pay
- shared parental leave and pay
- adoption leave and pay
- time off for antenatal appointments
We help you to:
- ensure a neutral working environment
- understand where there is the risk of a complaint of unlawful discrimination
- deal with complaints of bullying and harassment
- make adjustments for disabled employees
- conduct an equal pay audit
- respond to requests for pay details of other employees
- deal with whistleblowing complaints
We assist you to manage situations where employees are not meeting your expectations in the way they do their job including:
- having an effective Performance Management Procedure
- conducting performance review meetings
- implementing Performance Improvement Plans
- reviewing progress
- issuing warnings
- considering alternatives to dismissal
- ensuring compliance with the Statutory Dismissal and Disciplinary Procedures