Managing employees can be one of the most challenging aspects of running a business. From everyday questions about contracts, sickness absence and performance to more complex issues involving grievances, disciplinary action, redundancy or dismissal, getting the right advice at the right time can prevent problems from escalating.
Our experienced employment law solicitors provide practical HR advice and employment law support to businesses of all sizes.
Whether you need occasional advice when an issue arises or ongoing HR support for your business, we can provide a service tailored to your organisation.
Our aim is simple: to give you clear, commercially focused advice that helps you manage your employees confidently while reducing employment law risk.
HR Support from Employment Law Solicitors
Employment law and HR frequently overlap.
An everyday management issue can quickly develop into a grievance, discrimination complaint or Employment Tribunal claim if it is not handled correctly.
Having access to experienced employment law solicitors means you can get advice before making important decisions rather than seeking legal assistance only after a dispute has developed.
Our employment team can provide day-to-day HR advice as well as support with complex or sensitive employment matters.
We focus on practical solutions, explaining your options and the potential risks in plain English so that you can make informed decisions for your business.
What HR Issues Can We Help With?
Our employment law solicitors advise employers across a wide range of HR and employee relations matters.
We can help with:
- contracts of employment;
- employee handbooks;
- workplace policies and procedures;
- disciplinary procedures;
- employee grievances;
- managing poor performance;
- capability procedures;
- sickness and absence management;
- flexible working requests;
- discrimination and equality issues;
- maternity and family leave;
- workplace disputes;
- whistleblowing;
- redundancy and restructuring;
- TUPE and business transfers;
- settlement agreements;
- negotiating employee exits;
- post-termination restrictions;
- dismissals;
- ACAS Early Conciliation; and
- Employment Tribunal claims.
Whatever the situation, we can help you understand your legal position and identify a practical way forward.
Day-to-Day HR Advice for Employers
Not every employment issue requires lengthy legal correspondence or formal proceedings.
Often, employers simply need someone experienced to speak to before making a decision.
You might want to know whether you can refuse a holiday request, how to respond to repeated short-term absences, what to do when an employee is underperforming or whether you can start a disciplinary process.
Getting advice early can help prevent relatively straightforward management issues from becoming much more complicated.
Our employment law team can provide practical advice on everyday employee relations issues, giving managers and business owners confidence that they are following an appropriate process.
Disciplinary and Grievance Support
Disciplinary and grievance procedures are a common source of difficulty for employers.
A poorly managed procedure can damage workplace relationships and potentially increase the risk of Employment Tribunal proceedings.
Our employment solicitors can support you throughout disciplinary and grievance matters.
Managing Employee Performance
Poor performance can have a significant impact on a business, particularly where managers are unsure how to address the issue.
Employers are entitled to expect employees to meet reasonable standards, but performance concerns should normally be managed through an appropriate and fair process.
We can advise you on performance management and capability procedures, including setting appropriate objectives, issuing warnings and determining when further action may be justified.
We can also help identify situations where an employee's performance may be connected to a disability or health condition and where additional legal considerations may apply.
Sickness Absence and Employee Health
Employee absence can be difficult to manage, particularly where sickness becomes frequent or long-term.
Businesses need to balance operational requirements with their responsibilities towards employees.
Getting advice at an early stage can help you manage absence consistently while reducing the risk of discrimination and unfair dismissal claims.
Contracts, Policies and Employee Handbooks
Clear employment contracts and workplace policies can prevent uncertainty and provide managers with a framework for dealing with workplace issues.
We can prepare and review employment documentation tailored to your business, including contracts of employment, employee handbooks and sickness policies.
Rather than relying on generic templates, we can help ensure your documents reflect the way your organisation actually operates.
Redundancy and Restructuring Support
Changes in trading conditions, organisational structure or staffing requirements can sometimes mean businesses need to consider redundancies.
Redundancy procedures can create significant legal risk if consultation, selection or dismissal processes are not handled appropriately.
Early advice can help employers plan a fair and commercially workable process.
Help with Difficult Employee Exits
Sometimes an employment relationship is no longer working and an employer needs to consider how it can be brought to an end.
There may be several options available depending on the circumstances.
We can advise you on the risks associated with dismissal as well as alternative approaches, including protected conversations, negotiated exits and settlement agreements.
Where a negotiated departure is appropriate, we can help with the strategy, negotiations and preparation of the settlement agreement.
Our objective is to help you reach a practical resolution while protecting your business.
HR Advice on Discrimination and Equality
Employers have extensive responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010.
Discrimination issues can arise during recruitment and throughout employment, including in relation to pay, promotion, flexible working, disciplinary action, redundancy and dismissal.
Our employment law team can advise on discrimination involving protected characteristics including age, disability, race and sexual orientation.
We can also advise on reasonable adjustments, harassment, victimisation and workplace equality policies.
If an employee raises a discrimination complaint, getting advice early can help you respond appropriately and assess the potential legal risks.
HR Support During Workplace Disputes
Workplace disagreements can quickly affect morale, productivity and working relationships.
Where possible, addressing problems early can prevent them from developing into formal grievances or Employment Tribunal proceedings.
Our team can help employers understand the underlying issues and consider the available options.
Depending on the circumstances, this could involve an internal process, negotiation or workplace mediation.
Consilia Legal also has specialist workplace mediation expertise, which can provide businesses with an alternative way of resolving difficult workplace relationships and disputes.
Employment Tribunal and ACAS Support
Sometimes a workplace dispute cannot be resolved internally.
If an employee begins ACAS Early Conciliation or brings an Employment Tribunal claim, our employment law solicitors can support your business throughout the process.
We can assist with:
- assessing the merits and value of a potential claim;
- ACAS Early Conciliation;
- settlement negotiations;
- preparing an Employment Tribunal response;
- disclosure and preparation of evidence;
- witness statements;
- preliminary hearings;
- Tribunal preparation; and
- representation at hearings.
We will explain the commercial and legal risks so that you can make an informed decision about whether to defend or seek to resolve the claim.
Ongoing HR Support for Your Business
Some businesses need employment law advice only occasionally. Others want the reassurance of having ongoing HR and employment law support available whenever an issue arises.
We can provide ongoing support tailored to the requirements of your organisation.
Having access to employment law specialists means your managers can seek advice before taking action, helping to avoid mistakes and manage employee issues more effectively.
This can be particularly valuable for growing businesses that do not have a dedicated in-house HR or employment law team.
Why Choose Consilia Legal for HR Advice?
Employment issues rarely have a simple one-size-fits-all answer.
Our approach is to understand your organisation, the people involved and the commercial outcome you want to achieve before advising you on your options.
Working with Consilia Legal gives your business access to experienced employment law professionals who can provide:
- practical, straightforward advice;
- employment law expertise;
- commercially focused solutions;
- support with both everyday and complex HR matters;
- assistance with documentation and procedures;
- advice aimed at preventing disputes before they escalate; and
- support when Employment Tribunal proceedings cannot be avoided.
We aim to become a trusted extension of your business, giving you the confidence to deal with employment matters effectively.
Get In Touch With Consilia Legal’s HR & Employment Law Team
Whether you have an immediate employee issue or are looking for ongoing HR support, our employment law team can help.
We advise businesses of all sizes on day-to-day HR matters, employment law compliance and workplace disputes.
Speak to Consilia Legal to discuss your business and find out how our HR advice and support service can help. Contact us today on 0113 322 9222 or email enquiries@consilialegal.co.uk
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