Employment Law

Widdows Mason act on behalf of Employers and Employees on a wide  range of employment topics.

• bringing and defending cases in the Employment Tribunal.
• drafting and advising on Contracts of Employment, Company Handbooks  and Compromise Agreements.
• 24 hour Legal Service to Employers either on a fixed fee basis or on  a case by case basis.
• 'No Win, No Fee' arrangements for Employees if the case is suitable.

Employment Law Bulletin

Click below to download our Employment Law Bulletin:
Issue 1 - April 2009 - Holiday Pay/Employment Act 2008
Issue 2 - October 2009 - Compromise Agreements
Issue 3 - Spring 2010 - Terms and Conditions/Whistleblowing
Issue 4 - Autumn 2010 - Reundancy or Reorganisation/Misconduct Dismissals
Issue 5 - Spring 2011 - Sex Discrimination and Harrassment/Disciplinary Action for Sex Discrimination
Issue 6 - Summer 2011 - How to Retire Employees/Dismissal for Capability

For more information contact Gary Jackson.

Employment Tribunal Claims

Employment Law as a result of the extensive legislation and case law has become a minefield for both Employers and Employees. We at Widdows Mason specialise in unravelling such legislation. We will bring or defend proceedings in the Employment Tribunal or the Employment Appeal Tribunal on your behalf covering such diverse areas as:-

1. Unfair and Constructive Dismissal;
2. Discrimination cases including disability, race, sexual harassment, sexual orientation, religion or age;
3. Non-payment of wages, holiday pay or payments in lieu of notice;
4. Grievance procedures and Appeals from such;
5. Contracts of Employment including the breach of such.

We cover all aspects of claims or defences including preliminary hearings, full hearings and Employment Appeal Tribunal action. All matters are handled 'in house' without the additional expense of Barristers. We prepare all documentation on your behalf. If possible we would try to avoid attending such Tribunals and negotiate on your behalf the best possible 'commercial deal' for you.

For more information contact Gary Jackson.

Drafting Services for Employers

As part of an ongoing service to Employers we provide a comprehensive drafting facility to help Employers bring their documentation up to date.

Contracts of Employment

We can help Employers to bring into force detailed Contracts of Employment for all their Employees to ensure compliance with the latest case law and legislation.

Company Handbooks

Every Employer should have a comprehensive Company Handbook setting out in detail the attitude and rules of the Employer to many diverse matters such as company vehicles, dress policy, public disclosure policy, and many other issues.

A well drafted Company Handbook will include all aspects of the working relationships between a good Employer and Employee. It will clarify aspects of working life which may be a trigger point for disputes and provide a more ready means of resolving differences which will result in far less controversial and time consuming and expensive appearances in Tribunals.

Compromise Agreements

A useful tool in assisting Employers and dealing with different situations is the 'Compromise Agreement'. This enables differences between the parties to be resolved amicably and speedily and providing for a less confrontational approach to employment problems.

We specialise in the drafting of such documents and make the Employer's life very much easier which will enable the Employer to concentrate on running their business and not having to resolve complicated employment disputes.

For more information contact Gary Jackson.

Advising Employers

The main aim of Lawyers acting for Employers is to prevent cases reaching Tribunal and thus avoid unnecessary Court costs. In this regard we strive to advise Employers at an early stage to avoid proceedings being issued in the first place. This includes if required seminars on various subjects on a regular basis to help Employers and Managers keep up to date and to ensure that mistakes are not made.

We provide an 'end of the telephone' advice service which exists for prevention rather than cure and is a service which is invaluable to small/medium sized companies. Our services are available if required 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No employer should be in a position of having to act quickly without the benefit of correct legal advice.

Widdows Mason run two schemes to assist employers:-

Firstly there is the Fixed Fee Scheme which for a payment of a fixed sum the Employer can have a tailored scheme to include all advice appearances at Tribunal and drafting service. This is totally comprehensive and should enable an Employer to be and remain trouble fee. It is in essence an insurance scheme.

Secondly, there is the case by case basis which means that the service provided is the same but the Employer only pays for the services when required, but on an hourly basis.

For more information contact Gary Jackson.

Advising Employees

From an Employee's point of view the realisation that they have suddenly been 'sacked' or made redundant of discriminated against is a traumatic experience. Employees are very vulnerable when confronted with an Investigatory Meeting or Disciplinary Meeting and require advice at an early stage.

Widdows Mason provide a fully comprehensive advice service and can be managed on either a 'No Win, No Fee' basis or on a 'Pay As You Go' basis. Either way the Employee receives the first class advice when they need it. If necessary we will submit cases to Employment Tribunals and Employment Appeal Tribunals if the merits of the case are such that we consider the Employee has a better than even chance of succeeding.

We provide an 'end of the telephone' advice service and the first interview with the Employee is free. Employment cases for Employees are crucial in their initial stages. An Employee only has a maximum period of three months to bring a case against the Employer. This is strictly enforced by the Tribunal. It is therefore of paramount importance that the employee acts promptly and correctly. We at Widdows Mason are here to assist quickly and efficiently and will always go the 'extra mile' to help.

For more information contact Gary Jackson.