Disputes, Grievances and Disciplinary Procedures Solicitors
We provide clear, practical guidance for workplace disputes, grievances and disciplinary procedures
When dealing with workplace disputes, grievances, and employee disciplinary issues, it is imperative that businesses have formal procedures in place to comply with employment law and the Acas Code of Practice.
Resolving these issues fairly and with minimum disruption to the day-to-day business operation is paramount in avoiding management distraction and unnecessary cost.
Our specialist employment law solicitors are experienced in guiding business leaders through the process of resolving workplace disciplinary issues, grievances and disputes with their employees.
Having an experienced solicitor on your side helps to ensure that you follow a structured disciplinary, grievance or dispute procedure. This in turn minimises business risk and avoids the escalation of such issues to an employment tribunal claim from employees who are ultimately dismissed.
Get expert support for workplace disputes, grievances and disciplinary proceedings
Longmores Solicitors can provide various types of legal support regarding disputes, grievances and disciplinaries, including:
- Drafting grievance and disciplinary procedures
- Supporting companies to follow the Acas Code of Practice and employment law
- Legal support to solve employee disputes
- Guidance to prepare your case for an employment tribunal hearing, including representation from start to finish of the employment tribunal process
- Assistance drafting legally sound decision letters in all types of employment process
- Providing separate investigation services
Work with industry-leading employment lawyers
Our employment lawyers consistently appear in the directories of leading practitioners and are ranked by the leading client guide, The Legal 500. This provides strong assurance that we offer an exceptional service.
The team is led by Joint Senior Partner Richard Gvero, who is closely supported by Senior Solicitor Miranda Mulligan. Both Richard and Miranda are individually recommended by The Legal 500.
Miranda and Richard are members of the Employment Lawyers Association (ELA), further emphasising their specialist expertise. Richard and Miranda are also accredited mediators.
Speak to our employment experts today
To discuss your requirements with our proactive, specialist team of employment solicitors, please get in touch.
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- Richard Gvero
- Joint Senior Partner, Head of Commercial and Head of Employment
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- Miranda Mulligan
- Senior Solicitor specialising in Employment law
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Our expertise in disputes, grievances and disciplinary procedures
Drafting grievances, disputes and disciplinary procedures
Our expert employment law solicitors can support employers to draft disputes grievances, and disciplinary procedures, ensuring compliance with employment law and the Acas Code of Practice. Acas codes are used to ensure that workplaces follow fair practices and these codes are often applied if a case escalates to an employment tribunal.
Failing to have the correct procedures in place puts your business at risk, which is why specialist legal support is crucial. For more information about drafting these procedures, please contact us.
Employment tribunals
If a dispute between an employee and an employer cannot be solved internally, it is often escalated to an employment tribunal.
To ensure that you are adequately prepared for an employment tribunal, it is vital that you have legal guidance to safeguard your interests and ensure the best outcome. Our employment solicitors have plenty of experience supporting employers to reach successful outcomes at employment tribunals.
Legal support to solve employee disputes
We take time to understand how and why a specific dispute arose, the impact on your business, and how you would best like to see things resolved.
Our creative but commercial and solution-focused approach means that we try to resolve disputes through negotiation or mediation rather than litigation where possible. This approach saves your business time, cost and the possibility of adverse publicity if a tribunal claim goes against you.
Our specialist employment solicitors work with businesses to resolve a wide range of employee disputes, including:
- Breach of contract
- Bullying and harassment at work
- Allegations of unfair treatment
- Discrimination on the ground of gender, race, pregnancy, disability, age, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic
- Disciplinary processes for senior executives
- Unfair or constructive dismissal
- Issues of underperformance or misconduct.
Drafting decision letters
When you are drafting a decision letter as part of a grievance or disciplinary process, it is important that the document is legally sound. Our employment law solicitors can support businesses to draft decision letters to reflect the outcome of the case in compliance with employment law and reduce the potential of further issues in the future.
Investigation services
No matter how reasonable and fair an employer might be, it will, from to time encounter difficult HR issues which require an investigation.
This will be as a precursor to a disciplinary process or as part of a grievance process.
As employment lawyers, we have dealt with many different disciplinary and grievance situations for our clients. We are able to assist with carrying out the necessary investigation in order to provide the business with the fullest information upon which to base its disciplinary and grievance decisions.
Being external, we bring to the situation objectivity and critical detachment to the fact-finding process. This aids the business in making the right decision every time without being affected by previous involvement in the issues and investigation process.
Investigations can be of all shapes and sizes. so, it is difficult to provide a price for the exercise without understanding the scope of the investigation work. However, we are happy to provide pricing options, including fixed and capped pricing options where appropriate.
If we are able to help with a disciplinary and grievance process and the investigation phase, please make contact with either Richard Gvero, Head of Commercial and Employment or Miranda Mulligan, Senior Solicitor, to discuss the situation and to provide pricing.
Our fees
The value of good legal support when dealing with workplace disputes, grievances and disciplinary proceedings cannot be overstated. The right employment law advice can save you a lot of hassle and additional costs later on, so we strongly recommend speaking to our experts at the earliest opportunity.
We offer complete transparency with our fees. To find out more about the fees, our employment law services and to request a cost estimate, please get in touch.
Workplace disputes, grievances and disciplinary proceedings FAQs
What are formal grievance procedures for employers?
Grievance procedures are the mechanism by which employees raise concerns or disputes with their employer relating to any aspect of the relationship, be it the working environment or terms of employment. Mishandling grievances can lead to costly discrimination and constructive dismissal claims.
If an employee raises a grievance, it is the employer’s responsibility to follow a formal grievance procedure.
What are examples of types of grievance in the workplace?
There are many different types of disputes and grievances in the workplace. Common types include:
- Harassment or bullying
- Unfair treatment
- Discrimination (based on any attribute including race, sexual orientation, disability, or gender)
- Benefits and pay
- Gender pay gap grievances
- Grievances about working time and conditions
What are disciplinary procedures in the workplace?
A disciplinary procedure refers to a formal process, allowing an employer to handle an employee’s misconduct or poor performance. The employer should always attempt to informally solve the issue before resorting to a disciplinary procedure.
Performance issues
To resolve the problem before it escalates, the employer can attempt to privately or informally discuss the matter with the member of staff. The employer and the employee may be able to agree on improvements, discuss a solution or set up a training plan.
Issues of misconduct
Misconduct issues may include absence without leave, harassment, bullying, or refusal to work. Issues of misconduct can often be difficult to solve informally, meaning the employer may need to move swiftly on to a formal disciplinary procedure.
Speak to our employment experts today
To discuss your requirements with our proactive, specialist team of employment solicitors, please get in touch.
