[Finance] Any employment law experts on NSC, preferably near Shoreham ?

[Binney on acid]

My girlfriend has worked for a multi national company for 5 years. Her department are being made redundant. She has been treated contemptuously by the company, and I'd like to pay for a consultation with an employment law expert for her, as it's seriously affecting her mental wellbeing. I believe she's being asked to sign a disclaimer, in order to get anything above statutory redundancy pay, but she may have enough evidence of non compliance / underhand tactics to be able to take them to a tribunal. She needs an expert to explain the legal ramifications to her. Any volunteers out there? What's the current hourly rate ?

 

[Madafwo]

I was surprised that no-one else had pointed to the trade union as the first port of call!

It may not be too late to join. My experience is that although unions prefer you to join BEFORE you have an issue, they will try to assist her even though she has only just joined.

I recommend that she pursues this avenue ASAP. She can probably join online today (around £10 - £15 per month) and start making contact with their advice dept. tomorrow. She can get advice from the union IN ADDITION TO advice from the other avenues mentioned previously in this thread.

https://www.tuc.org.uk/join-a-union

Finally, you (and she) have my sympathy.

This would have been my advice as well, unions get a lot bad press, but they really are there for you at times like this.

 

[Professor Plum]

Not sure why you keep trying to start an argument - advising the OP speaks to specialists in employment law is exactly what everyone on this thread has been suggesting including myself because that is what the OP was specifically asking for..

No one is trying to litigate an employment case here on NSC!

Oh FFS. I’m not trying to start an argument. I’ve repeatedly agreed that the OP’s gf should get some advice if she thinks her employer has behaved illegally. My point was to offer a wider perspective based on personal experience. I’ve seen many people chasing HR depts down a rabbit hole and getting obsessed about redress when they would have been better served planning their next move. This is not aimed at the OP as (again) we don’t know the details of the case. I’m out.

 

[Coldeanseagull]

Oh good. At least it's not too expensive. :-(

Through personal experience, you pay for what they know, not what they do....sadly

 

[Zeberdi]

Oh FFS. I’m not trying to start an argument. I’ve repeatedly agreed that the OP’s gf should get some advice if she thinks her employer has behaved illegally. My point was to offer a wider perspective based on personal experience. I’ve seen many people chasing HR depts down a rabbit hole and getting obsessed about redress when they would have been better served planning their next move. This is not aimed at the OP as (again) we don’t know the details of the case. I’m out.

Please read my post above again - I agreed with your point that redundancy can cause emotional distress and people can see ‘wrongdoing’ when there may be none but that is not for me to comment on - and imo it would be inappropriate to do so. All I am suggesting is that imo contacting a union and or ACAS for employment advice is a good first step and could save the OP from unnecessary legal fees - that is not ‘legal advice’ as you seem to suggest nor an OTT response but a lay suggestion and answer to the OP’s question.

I am glad the OP has found that and other advice that’s been offered helpful.

At the end of the day, that’s what matters

 

[Uter]

Fiona Martin is great - she'll usually review the issue for free to give you an indication as to whether it's worth proceeding. I've used a few times and she's always got me a better deal and the employer to pay the legal fees.

Fiona Martin - Director and Head of Employment Team | martin searle solicitors

Fiona is a Director of martin searle solicitors and Head of Employment Law, specialising in pregnancy and maternity discrimination advice.

www.ms-solicitors.co.uk

I can echo this. She got me a better deal when I had the misfortune of redundancy a few years ago. She will basically tell you that they just want everyone to go quietly, and they will have a pot of money set aside for the cost of the redundancies. The more of a fuss you kick up and awkward you are, the better the settlement offer is likely to be. I think she is every HR departments nightmare.

Slightly off topic, I also had to use her practice partner, Cate Searle, around the same time to deal with some issues around continuing care costs for my Dad. She was amazing and we got a fantastic outcome because of her. I really couldn't recommend Cate enough if you have any issues regarding Community Care law.

 

[alanfp]

There are more and more people out of work every week

Is that actually true? Remember that data is not the plural of anecdote.

 

[alanfp]

I wouldn’t spend money on solicitors fees to progress an unfair dismissal case against a multi-national corporation - I would contact a union or conciliation service in the first instance.

I was surprised that no-one else had pointed to the trade union as the first port of call!

OOPS - Sorry I missed that. Many apologies!

 

[dazzer6666]

Is that actually true? Remember that data is not the plural of anecdote.

Labour market overview, UK - Office for National Statistics

Estimates of employment, unemployment, economic inactivity and other employment-related statistics for the UK.

www.ons.gov.uk

The UK employment rate for people aged 16 to 64 years was estimated at 74.8% in July to September 2024. This is largely unchanged on a year ago, but up in the latest quarter.

The UK unemployment rate for people aged 16 years and over was estimated at 4.3% in July to September 2024. This is above estimates of a year ago, and up in the latest quarter.

The UK economic inactivity rate for people aged 16 to 64 years was estimated at 21.8% in July to September 2024. This is below estimates of a year ago, and down in the latest quarter.

The UK Claimant Count for October 2024 increased both on the month and on the year, to 1.806 million.

The estimated number of vacancies in the UK decreased in August to October 2024, by 35,000 on the quarter to 831,000. Vacancies decreased on the quarter for the 28th consecutive period but are still above pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic levels.