.png)
Employment Services
When speaking with business owners, they regularly share with us that one of the hardest things about running a business is the management of its most valuable assets – their people.
Today, a business has to be agile and flexible when it comes to employing people. Why? Because it needs to be able to respond to the demands of external commercial and financial forces, ever changing legislation and regulation and different expectations about what the workplace and employment relationship should look like.
Employment law is much more than just issuing a contract of employment on day 1 and having a staff handbook; these are only a small aspect of the journey when it comes to employing people.
Why partner with us?
Our Employment department has a breadth of experience when it comes to assisting clients to navigate the complexities of today’s workplace and the law, whether in the UK or on an international platform.
We work with our clients through the entire life cycle of the employment relationship.
At any one time our Employment team can be advising on an international appointment, dealing with a performance issue, providing strategic advice on a large restructure project involving collective consultation, investigating a whistleblowing complaint or working on a complex discrimination dispute… and so much more…
​
We have a proven record of acting for start ups to international organisations whatever the workplace issue. It is recognised for its client centred approach, which is strategic, pragmatic and solutions focused with the end game being to achieve the best outcomes for their clients.
How we can help
Compliance
From the outset of the employment relationship expectations should be clearly defined. The importance of legally compliant contracts, policies and procedures should not be underestimated. Employees that know what is expected of them and what they can expect to receive in return will be engaged and focused. Likewise, properly drafted documents relevant to the business will also provide the management tools to manage conduct, performance and absence issues with confidence.
​
Starting from scratch when it comes to employment documentation is one option. FG Solicitors’ Employment Document Service will provide you with a set of documents that are current, reflect the business you are in and above all, provide clarity. Where there is clarity, there is less room for a dispute. Consultancy agreements and confidentiality agreements also form part of the service.
Alternatively, FG Solicitors’ Strategic Review Service allows you to test “the health” of your existing documentation; we can then work with you to implement any remedial measures to ensure that you have the right tools to run your business.
_edited.jpg)
Diversity and Inclusion
Creating a diverse work environment can be both challenging and rewarding in equal measures. The effort is worthwhile. Getting it right will unlock talent and achieve greater staff satisfaction and retention, contributing to business growth and increased productivity. The foundations to achieving these goals means having in place sound plans for recruitment, reward, progression, learning and development, diversity and inclusion. Saying “we are an equal opportunities employer”, will not cut it in today’s workplace.
​
Our Employment team will work closely with you and your management team to create the right plan to ensure your work environment is diverse. This could involve analysing your recruitment strategy, reviewing your Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, undertaking an equality impact assessment of a proposed change to the business or advising on a new reward system, such as a bonus or EMI scheme. All contribute to supporting a diverse and dynamic workplace.
When it comes to training, FG Solicitors’ Employment Law Training Programme can harmonise with your learning and development programme. We can deliver awareness training on diversity and inclusion to the entire organisation. We also offer training specifically designed for those with HR or management responsibilities to ensure that they understand the business’ legal obligations, are able to identify a problem and know how to respond. Our training has been developed to be interactive and challenging to broaden the skill sets and professional growth of your team. Training can be delivered in person or remotely.
Advisory
​Our Employment Law Advisory Service provides immediate access to our Employment team who can provide advice and support on the day-to-day issues that arise in relation to your employees.
​Given the breadth our experience and the fact they work across various industry sectors both domestically and internationally, they will have come across most issues.
Whatever that issue is, we are on hand to provide you with guidance and support, whether it is explaining how holiday pay is calculated for casual workers, guiding you on how to deal with a flexible working request to work from home or advising on how to respond to a data subject access request.
Our focus will be on getting to understand the problem and outcome you want to achieve quickly. Any legal obligations and risks will be explained clearly and free from jargon. The advice and solutions offered will be tailored to your business.
When it comes to actioning the advice, we can make your life easier by providing all the necessary documents and briefing notes.
The service is here to enable you to address the day-to-day issues effectively and get back to running your business.
​
​This service can be provided as part of the FG Solicitors’ Retainer Service for a monthly fixed fee.
Business Change
Business change comes in different shapes and sizes, whether it’s the removal of a discrete post, an organisational restructure, changes to terms and conditions, a site closure, the sale or acquisition of a business or an outsourcing. However large or small the project, the key to its successful delivery is having a plan.
Working with you, we can help you devise a strategic plan to deliver the outcomes you are looking for. That plan will take account of the legal responsibilities that arise, provide solutions to minimise any legal risk and be clear on the processes to be followed, including collective consultation with employee representative or trade unions, where relevant.
For larger scale projects, which are business transaction focused, a project team can be created to provide the broad expertise of the Employment, Property and Corporate Teams.
Our guidance does not just end at the planning stage, we are able assist you in the delivery of your plan, working seamlessly with your management team and other service providers. For example, TUPE due diligence can be undertaken; all relevant documentation and communications can be prepared; on the ground support can be provided for consultation meetings including the election, appointment and training of employee representatives; and support can be provided when negotiating with trade unions.
While the aim is to minimise the opportunity for disputes, change can be unsettling and may lead to redundancies which can create an arena for legal challenges. If a dispute occurs, we will be on hand to manage and resolve it.
Disputes
While our preferred approach is “prevention is better than cure”, hence our Employment Law Advisory Service, even in the best run businesses things can go wrong.
We are highly experienced in dealing with disputes arising from issues in the workplace whether this be a complex grievance involving bullying and harassment, high court proceedings about post-termination restrictions or a bonus, addressing a complaint made to the Information Commissioner regarding employee data or a multi-day discrimination claim in the employment tribunal.
In the face of a dispute, you will always receive honest and practical advice, including options for a speedy and cost effective resolution; our advice will also acknowledge the legal, financial and reputational risks the dispute may present, allowing you to make informed decision about how the dispute should be managed. Where there is litigation, we will work with you to ensure that the case is properly prepared for hearing and the appropriate tactics are adopted to achieve the best outcome for the business.