| Nobody needs to be reminded that due to the | | | | Regular Employment Meetings |
| economic recession we are currently experiencing, | | | | You should also ensure that the scheme offers |
| times are hard for all businesses, whatever their | | | | regular employment meetings, where the |
| size. Although it may not the first thing that | | | | company you have hired will meet and talk with |
| comes to your mind if you are involved in running | | | | you or your HR department, management team |
| a business, clear, concise employment law advice | | | | and other key members of your team. This will |
| should be strongly considered no matter what the | | | | enable them to understand and review your |
| economic climate, especially if you are looking to | | | | terms and conditions of employment, disciplinary |
| reduce the size of your workforce or review | | | | and grievance procedures, absenteeism, flexibility, |
| contractual terms and conditions. Consequently, | | | | equal opportunities and redundancy arrangements |
| here are seven tips on what to look for if you | | | | and to make appropriate amendments. |
| need employment law advice: | | | | A Risk Management Report |
| 1. Ensure it is affordable | | | | Following your health check, you should ask for a |
| 2. Risk Management Service | | | | comprehensive risk management report. This will |
| 3. Regular Employment Meetings | | | | review your current policies, practices and |
| 4. Ask for a Risk Management Report | | | | compliance with legislation. It will also include an |
| 5. An Employment Manual | | | | action plan for any improvements that could |
| 6. Insurance Cover | | | | reduce the risk of disputes with your staff. |
| 7. Online Consultant Service | | | | An Employment Manual |
| Ensure it is Affordable | | | | If you have made the right choice in hiring an |
| It is obvious to most people that you want to | | | | employment law advisor, they will also supply you |
| ensure you get value for money from the advice | | | | with an employment manual - an invaluable source |
| you receive. However, there are inherent dangers | | | | of reference for good employment practice. This |
| in seeking the cheapest option. There is usually a | | | | includes information on fair procedures for |
| reason you are given a low estimate of costs and | | | | recruitment and absenteeism, guidance on how to |
| it may be that the person concerned lacks the | | | | draft employment contracts, a selection of over |
| experience that you require. Many firms of | | | | 100 specimen letters and forms, and many other |
| solicitors with employment specialists now offer | | | | aspects of good HR practice. |
| HR and employment protection schemes that | | | | Insurance Cover |
| were previously the territory of non legal firms. | | | | Insurance cover is also important. When you're |
| The advantage of selecting a firm of solicitors | | | | protected by insurance cover, you'll no longer |
| who operate such a scheme is not only their | | | | have to worry about the costs of defending an |
| levels of expertise but that they will be fully | | | | action brought against you by an employee as a |
| insured with a well established complaints | | | | high-quality policy will cover legal costs and |
| procedure if things go wrong. Unlike most of the | | | | expenses to defend employment disputes of up |
| non legal companies, you should also be able to | | | | to £100,000 per claim. In certain |
| find a solicitor's employment law protection | | | | circumstances, compensation awards that you're |
| scheme that only lasts for one year, which allows | | | | ordered to pay by an employment tribunal and |
| you to evaluate the service over that period | | | | out of court settlements agreed by insurers will |
| before you decide whether to renew the service | | | | also be covered. |
| or not. | | | | Online Consultant Service |
| Risk Management Service | | | | In this age of modern technology, it may seem |
| A good employment law advisor will first of all | | | | like a given but some Employment Law Advisor |
| carry out a free risk management audit, which is | | | | do not necessarily offer online consultant services. |
| basically a health check of your employment | | | | By using an external consultant service you have |
| practices. A specialist employment solicitor will visit | | | | control over exactly what HR services are |
| you to look at your personnel records, review | | | | delivered to you and how it is implemented. |
| procedures, uncover any weaknesses, and assess | | | | This article is free to republish provided the |
| what needs to be done to improve any problem | | | | authors resource box below remains intact. |
| areas. | | | | |