COVID-19 – Employment Law

Employers are facing many employment law changes and issues as restrictions begin to ease and more employees can come back to work. Our specialist solicitors can advise and support you through all the changes as the occur.

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Our Process

We’ll handle the whole thing for you. Paperwork, court preparation and appearances – we do it all. We’re on your side. We literally ‘have your back.’

1. Pre-Call

Initial call to understand your requirements and how Surenity can help you

2. Establish Your Needs

A 30-minute call with a solicitor to establish needs and actions

3. Onboarding

Engagement letter sent to you by email for e-signature and assignment of an expert solicitor to you

4. Follow Up Email

We will send you an email clarifying next steps and an estimate of costs

As we move through the phased easing of lockdown, employers and employees will be anxious to ensure that any return to the workplace is safe and obligations are clear through new policies. Businesses do not want to find themselves falling foul of any employment laws.

Difficult decisions are being made by businesses. Redundancies and pay cuts in some sectors will be unavoidable. Where employees are being retained, there may be a need to change employees’ terms and conditions or working hours.

There are certain procedures that must be adhered to if businesses want to change terms lawfully and to ensure that they do not fall foul employment law.

Our expert team are on hand to advise and support businesses ensuring they remain compliant and to help employees defend their rights should the need arise.

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Free Initial Discussion

For a free initial discussion and a no-obligation quote, get in touch with us today by simply calling us on 0203 282 6675 or email us at info@surenity.co.uk and one of our employment solicitors will get back to you.

Changes to Terms and Conditions

It is critical to ensure employees are treated fairly in respect of changes to any workplace terms and conditions to avoid claims for discrimination and equal pay.

Employees will hopefully understand businesses have to act quickly and decisively to protect jobs but, at the same time, they are only likely to accept a significant change to their terms if there appears to be a legitimate business need for it and they are appropriately consulted.

Flexible Working

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that there has been no choice for businesses but to become more flexible. Employers therefore need to prepare themselves for an influx of flexible working requests.

There are many benefits to permitting flexible working, for both the employer and the employee, including improved morale and productivity, better work-life balance, recruitment, reduced overheads and improved profitability.

Employees have rights arising from their contract which affect working patterns. In addition, there are statutory rights such as those under the working time, flexible working and anti-discrimination legislation. The best approach when making changes to employee working arrangements is always to agree to those changes with employees and seek professional legal advice.

For advice on employment matters please call one of our friendly team who are ready to assist.

Best Selling Packages

Our charges are transparent, crystal clear. We will always provide you with a fee estimate and often we are able to provide you with a fixed fee, if you prefer that. Where we charge by an hourly rate our fees are based on £350 + VAT per hour for a senior employment specialist solicitor. We do not compete on price, we compete on excellence.

Junior Employment Contract

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Standard clauses & 2 hours’ worth of revisions

Suitable for mid level junior employees

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Occupation Health

On 4 June 2020, the Department of Employment and Labour issued the consolidated Direction on Occupational Health and Safety Measures in Certain Workplaces.

Employers should firstly, formally assess the risk posed by COVID-19. They should then start putting in place fair arrangements to reduce the risk so far as is reasonably practicable. Employers are under a duty to ensure, that their employees, contractors, visitors to their premises are not exposed to the virus.

The updated Directive now includes an obligation on employers to take special measures to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 for employees that are considered vulnerable in line with the requirement under the Regulations.

Dealing with Poor Performance Remotely

During COVID-19, managers must support, encourage and remotely guide their teams. As part of this, they also need to manage performance and be ready to have difficult conversations if productivity falls below satisfactory levels.

If an employer has policies regarding working from home, those policies must be reviewed to ensure they are still practical and achievable in the current climate.

A common issue with remote work is the inability for managers to have a clear understanding of exactly what employees are doing whilst working.

How Surenity Can Help

Our team of employment and HR advisors can provide specialist expertise allowing you to navigate complex employment law and HR changes and issues related to Covid-19.

Our aim is always to help our clients avoid disputes and claims, however, if needed we have experienced advocates who will defend or pursue claims on your behalf in the Employment Tribunal and courts.

Testimonials

Recent Case Study

Covid 19: How To Deal With HR Issues In A Pandemic

We advised a hospitality chain on employment and HR issues arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic. The business had been dramatically impacted by lockdown and needed clear, pragmatic advice on how to deal with changes in terms and conditions, redundancies and other issues arising out of the pandemic. The business was able to decide on a restructuring process based on our advice and move forward with certainty and confidence.

How to Get in Contact

For a free initial discussion and a no-obligation quote, get in touch with us today by simply calling us on +44 203 282 6675 or email us at info@surenity.co.uk and one of our employment solicitors will get back to you.

We specialise in employment law and have an excellent reputation across the country. We can assist wherever you are in the based and we also have offices in central London.

Get our 10 biggest insights on the way your business will change due to Covid-19

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