We understand that choosing a solicitor for your legal requirements can often be a daunting prospect. At DSW Apex Employment Law, we pride ourselves on offering a sympathetic and constructive approach. We are employment law experts based in Maidstone, Kent. But we can work with you wherever you are based in the country.
Disciplinary and Grievance Issues
There may be times when you face disciplinary action at work or need to raise a grievance relating to the treatment you have experienced. Both of these situations can have a devastating effect on your career and health.
In these circumstances, we help to guide you through the legal processes. We provide straightforward, easy-to-understand advice to ensure you are in the best possible position. Furthermore, if, at any time, it seems that leaving might be the best option, we can negotiate with your employer and advise you on any settlement.
Discrimination
Discrimination against an employee can take many forms. You should not suffer discrimination because of a protected characteristic. If you believe you have been treated less favourably on the grounds of any of the following, please get in touch with us:
- Race
- Age
- Disability
- Sex
- Religion or belief
- Sexual orientation
- Maternity and pregnancy
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Gender reassignment
Early legal advice can ensure you are fully aware of your legal rights. Call us to find out more about how we can help you. Remember, we might be based in Kent, but you don’t have to be. We work with clients across the UK.
Breach of Contract
If you believe your employer has breached your employment contract in some way, please reach out. We can advise you of your options and whether you have the right to demand the breach is rectified. We can assist with claims in both the Tribunal and Civil Courts.
Unfair Dismissal
All employees with two or more years of continuous employment have the right not to be unfairly dismissed. Your employer can only dismiss you based on specific grounds. Furthermore, they must follow a fair procedure per the ACAS guidelines. If you consider you have been or may be unfairly dismissed, contact us for advice about your options and the next steps.
Redundancy
Redundancy is a common reason for dismissal. However, the redundancy process is a complex one. Your employer has to get it right to ensure a fair dismissal. If you think you have been unfairly selected for redundancy or that redundancy is not the valid reason for your dismissal, contact us for specialist advice to help you plan your next steps.
TUPE
The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employees) Regulations (TUPE) are designed to protect your job when possible if your employer sells their business. It is designed to ensure that your employment rights are transferred to your new employer and that you are not unfairly treated due to the transfer. If you believe that TUPE is applicable in your circumstances and that you have suffered a detriment as a result, contact us to discuss your options and whether or not you have a claim.
Employment Tribunal
We handle numerous cases for our clients each year. We are based in Maidstone, Kent, but we attend Employment Tribunals across the UK. We’ll help you understand the issues clearly. We’ll also give you a precise appraisal of your case’s merits and costs at an early stage. If you wish to make a claim to an Employment Tribunal, you must do so within three months of the date of dismissal. Otherwise, you will lose your right to make a claim. Contact us for early advice to ensure your claim is presented correctly and within the correct timeframes. We can also engage with the compulsory ACAS early conciliation process on your behalf and try to negotiate a settlement without litigation.
Settlement Agreements
On the termination of employment, employers will often request that the outgoing employee enter a Settlement Agreement. In short, this is a legally binding agreement which will most often award an employee a sum of money in compensation for loss of employment in return for an express agreement to waive their rights to bring any claim against the employer.
As your solicitor, we will advise on the terms and conditions of a proposed agreement but will also discuss with you the circumstances leading up to the settlement agreement and whether you should enter the Agreement or not. Sometimes you may be entitled to an increase in compensation. If we consider this the case, we can negotiate more favourable terms on your behalf.
We can sometimes turn Settlement Agreements around in a matter of hours, so please do not hesitate to contact us for advice.