Employment Law Solicitors – for Employees
Our Employment Law Solicitors understand how stressful losing your job can be. Employment law is complex and changes regularly. You need to get the right legal advice.
Expert Employment Solicitors at our Salisbury, Fordingbridge and Andover offices will advise on your employment rights and attempt to negotiate a settlement. Where this is impossible we represent clients at Employment Tribunals in Wiltshire, Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset and further afield.
We also act for employers – click here to find out more about Employment Law for Employers
Worried about an employment law question? Call our specialist team on Salisbury 01722 422300 or FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 for FREE initial phone advice – with no strings attached.
Employment Law 2025: key expected changes – in the new Employment Rights Bill
The Labour government have announced plans for a new Employment Rights Bill which will extend workers rights.
The new bill is unlikely to be passed before summer 2025, and in any event, it’s unlikely that many of the planned changes will come into effect until 2026.
However, among the critical expected changes are the following:
- “Day one” right against unfair dismissal: this is perhaps one of if not the biggest change currently expected. In short it will abolish the need for workers to have been employed for a qualifying period before claiming unfair dismissal – that right will be available from the 1st day of a new job. but until the new changes come into effect (probably in 2026), the current two-year qualifying period will continue to apply.
- Additional day one rights: the new legislation will involve increased rights to statutory sick pay, unpaid parental leave and paternity leave, maternity protection and new rights to paid bereavement leave
- Limits on zero-hours contracts: in future, employers will need to offer guaranteed hours both to zero-hours employees and employees who are currently on “low” guaranteed hours but who routinely work longer hours. New rules allowing compensation for workers whose shifts are cancelled or finish early are also expected
- Limits on “Firing and Rehiring”: under the new act, it will be automatically unfair to dismiss workers and rehire them or someone else to do the same job – in certain situations
- Harassment: the new legislation will require employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment.
- Increased rights for flexible working.
How long do I have to bring an Employment Tribunal claim?
Generally, you have three months minus one day from any incident to bring an employment law Tribunal claim. If you have been dismissed, you have three months from when your employment ended. If you think you have a claim, don’t delay –contact our Employment Solicitors today because these time limits are strictly enforced.
An employment tribunal does, however, have the discretion to permit a reasonable extension if they feel it wasn’t reasonably practical for you to issue the claim in the normal 3 month period. However, it has long been the view of employment tribunals that if the reason for missing the deadline is your solicitor’s professional negligence, no extension will be made. In this case you would be able to pursue a claim to the employment tribunal – instead your remedy would be a professional negligence claim against your solicitor
How can I pay my Solicitor’s fees?
- Our Employment Lawyers offer an initial FREE telephone consultation
- Fixed fees for Settlement Agreements – the cost of which are usually dealt with by your employer as part of the compromise agreement.
How much compensation could I get from an Employment Tribunal?
If you are the subject of an Unfair Dismissal you are entitled to both basic and compensatory awards.
- The basic award takes into account your age, salary and length of service.
- There may also be a compensatory award based on any financial loss you have suffered resulting from your dismissal.
- The amount of compensation depends on the time you are unemployed and on how a new job pays compared with your old job.
- You must take reasonable steps to minimise your financial loss. You should take appropriate steps looking for work and consider joining employment agencies.
- Keep a record of attempts to find work and copies of relevant correspondence.
A Tribunal the power to order your employer to give you your old job back – called ‘reinstatement’ – if that is what you want.
If you have suffered discrimination you will also be entitled to compensation for injury to your feelings.
How long will an Employment Tribunal claim take?
Some years ago Employment Tribunals aimed to hear most cases within six months. But since then the backlog and delay for Tribunal claims has grown and grown. In fact things have got so bad that some applications wait up to two years for a Tribunal hearing. And sadly there are no signs of things getting better.
However, the majority of employment disputes don’t make it all the way to a fully contested hearing – a compromise completed in a settlement agreement is a very common outcome, and one which doesn’t need to wait for a Tribunal hearing. And that’s something our experienced team can help you with.
Employment Law Services
Our Employment Solicitors offer a comprehensive range of employment law advice including:
- Advice on the NHS MARS scheme (Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme)
- Breach of contract
- Contracts of Employment
- Contract termination
- Constructive dismissal
- Disciplinary and grievance procedures
- Flexible working
- Minimum Wage claims
- Maternity, paternity and family friendly employment rights
- Redundancy
- Restrictive covenants, and in particular whether they are enforceable by your employer
- Settlement agreements [previously known as Compromise Agreements] – click here to find out more about how our Settlement Agreement Solicitors can help you
- Severance packages
- Transfer of an undertaking
- Unfair dismissal compensation
- Whistleblowing
- Workplace harassment and bullying at work claims
- Wrongful Dismissal
Accident at work? Thinking of claiming compensation? our specialist Law Society Panel accredited Personal Injury Solicitors can help you – click here to read more about work accident compensation claims
Contact our Employment Law Solicitors
Our Employment Solicitors can run your case instructions by Zoom or Teams video, email and phone wherever you are based – you don’t even need to travel to see us.
We act for clients in employment claims across Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset and throughout England and Wales – meeting face-to-face or taking instructions by Zoom or Teams video, email and phone.
For legal advice from an expert Employment Solicitor contact our team today.
