You invest a considerable amount of time, energy and money to make sure that your employees are a valuable part of your business. You select the right people, engage them on an appropriate contract, train them and provide incentives to get the best performance. You create policies and procedures to ensure that everyone works together harmoniously and understands what is required of them.

Despite all of this, sometimes the employment relationship does not work out. You need to be sure that you can part company with an employee without a claim for unfair or wrongful dismissal or discrimination or redundancy. You also need to ensure that your ex-employee is not taking your best customers and trade secrets to a competitor.

Employment law has a considerable impact at every stage of the process. The law is constantly changing, particularly as a result of European legal provisions

Our function is to explain your legal obligations and provide contracts, policies and guidance that are suitable for the individual employee and your business. This may include changing contract terms for existing staff.

We can also advise on terms dealing with share options, bonuses and restrictive covenants and other special conditions.

We will look at your existing procedures and point out where changes may be needed to meet existing or new legislation.

In particular as you recruit, engage, train, promote, discipline and dismiss your staff we will guide you in order to avoid the consequences of infringing discrimination and unfair dismissal legislation.

We act for employers and employees and regularly provide support in negotiations at all stages of the employment process.

A telephone help line scheme is available when decisions have to be made quickly. To keep you up to date we publish a regular newsletter and hold employment law seminars.

Our expertise includes:

• Pre-contract advice
• Engagement procedures
• Employment contracts/service agreements
  
• Discrimination issues
  
• Redundancy/unfair dismissal
  
• Termination procedures

If you require more information please contact Antony Arbuthnot