anyone work in employment law?

smallspeed · Post by **smallspeed** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:54 pm

Im not looking for representation or anything but would be grateful for a bit of advice on a recent announcement/request at work, so if anyone works within this area and can spare me 5mins I'd be really grateful..

ben

abash914 · Post by **abash914** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:01 pm

I only work with employmnent law as an employer of a few and adviser to many businesses, usually the smaller variety.
If that's any good, mixed with a bit of 'common' and a few years experience, you're welcome to air your 'issues'.
Andrew Ashley 07590 670014

mycar · Post by **mycar** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:13 pm

You might try Acass. Google them and you might find any info you need on their website. If not give them a call. I always thought they only dealt with huge companies but I found them very approachable... and helpful.

Mike.

smallspeed · Post by **smallspeed** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:05 am

Thanks guys, basically we've been told there will be 6 weeks forced unpaid leave between now and Xmas and were being asked to sign new contracts to this effect.. I'm not sure where I stand and also what happens next year if we pull out of it..

gridgway · Post by **gridgway** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 8:47 pm

I suspect that there is little you can do especially if it is a small company. I assume it's a cost containment measure. If people refuse, then the company would probably just make redundancies.

Maybe the best outcome would be to try to negotiate that you get something back when times are better, but that'll be hard. If I were the employer, I wouldn't promise anything for the future as it's too hard to define and do.

As an employer though, I would make every effort to make it up to people once things actually did get better.

HTH
Graham

904GTS · Post by **904GTS** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:17 pm

Surprisingly the government site on employment law is very good and I was looking at it recently as my wife's employer is trying to make changes to contracts without any consultation. These two links explain the basics on changes to contracts of employment :-

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ ... G_10028079

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ ... G_10037116

smallspeed · Post by **smallspeed** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:15 am

thanks again guys, will have a read through those weblinks..
its a very big company (80,000+ employees) and we're being railroaded a bit into changing our contracts which is the bit im worried about.. I dont mind doing 6weeks unpaid (I've already been told Im needed to work for 2 of them anyway) and I understand the current conditions make it difficult, however im reluctant to sign a new contract which effectively gives them the right to force me not to work when they see fit.. im contracted to 39hrs a week at the moment and dont want to be in a position where they could effectively say "we dont want you to come into work again this year and we're not paying you while you're off". im also concerned that this might be used against us in the case of redundancy pay if it happens, ie. your salary for the last 12mo was actually 85% of what you thought, hence you're 15% down on redundancy pay..
I will have more of a dig around nad see what else i can find
thanks again
b