Trent Law And Employment Law: How We Can Help

Sooner or later most of us meet a problem at work: a manager acting unfairly, a colleague behaving improperly, a dismissal that arrives without warning or honest explanation. Many such problems are not merely unpleasant but unlawful, and knowing the difference is where good advice begins. At Trent Law we act for employees and employers alike, from settlement agreements to unfair dismissal claims, and with employment law presently undergoing significant reform, timely advice matters more than ever.

What is employment law?

Employment law governs the relationship between employer and employee. It sets the standards for fair hiring, fair treatment and fair dismissal, and it exists to combat discrimination and promote equality at work. Employer and employee alike are bound by it, and both benefit from understanding their obligations before difficulty arises rather than after.

Redundancy

Redundancy is procedure-heavy, and the procedure is the protection. An employer must follow a fair selection process and consult with staff before deciding. A redundancy may be unfair where selection was flawed, and it will certainly be unfair where the true reason was discriminatory, or a response to an employee asserting a statutory right.

Discrimination

Discrimination arises in hiring and in employment, and it is not always loud. Beyond the familiar grounds of race, sex, disability and pregnancy, it can be subtle: favourable treatment of some, repeated remarks touching a protected characteristic, conduct shading into harassment. Those on the receiving end often feel targeted and isolated, which compounds the harm. If you believe you have been discriminated against at work, speak to a legal professional and find out exactly where you stand.

Breach of contract

A breach of contract is the violation of any agreed term: late or short payment, altered hours, departure without proper notice. Contracts are dense documents, and whether a change is permitted depends on what the contract itself allows; where it does not, alterations require agreement on both sides. Our team has dealt with a great many contract disputes over four decades of practice, and the lesson is consistent: read the document early, and take advice before positions harden.

Unfair dismissal

A dismissal unrelated to your performance may well be unfair, and the stated reason is not always the real one. Some reasons are automatically unfair, including dismissal for raising a health and safety concern about working conditions or unsafe procedures. If the explanation you have been given does not ring true, weigh your options with someone who knows what to look for.

Beyond employment: our other services

Our expertise runs well beyond the workplace. It includes family law, for divorce, separation and matters involving children; immigration law, with clear fixed fees for immigration work; personal injury claims, assessed free of charge and pursued on a no win, no fee basis; wills and probate, with fixed fee estimates wherever possible; and a notary public service for documents destined for use abroad.

About the author: Dr Aamir Nawaz, LLB (Hons), LLM, PhD, Solicitor, Barrister (np) and Notary Public.