Employment Solicitor Services in the UK — Grievances, Dismissal Appeals & Settlement Agreements

Problems at work affect your income, your career and your wellbeing. Perhaps you have been dismissed unfairly. Perhaps you are facing a disciplinary. Or perhaps you have been offered a settlement agreement and do not know whether to sign.

Our employment solicitor services in the UK give employees and employers clear, ACAS-compliant documents and reviews at fixed fees. Importantly, employment tribunal time limits are short — usually three months less one day from the dismissal or act complained of. Moreover, you must normally contact ACAS for early conciliation first.

Therefore, acting promptly — and putting things in writing — protects your options.

Raising a grievance

A grievance is a formal complaint to your employer. It creates a written record and gives the employer a chance to put things right.

Our Employment Grievance Letter follows the ACAS Code of Practice. It sets out the issues, the evidence and the outcome you want. Importantly, if a claim reaches a tribunal, an unreasonable failure to follow the ACAS Code can increase or reduce compensation.

Consequently, a well-prepared grievance helps now and protects you later.

Disciplinaries, dismissals and redundancy

If you face a disciplinary, a Disciplinary Response Letter sets out your side before the hearing. Clear, calm responses often change outcomes.

If you have been dismissed, a Dismissal Appeal Letter challenges the decision on procedural and substantive grounds. Similarly, a Redundancy Appeal Letter challenges unfair selection, poor consultation or failure to offer alternatives.

Unfair dismissal claims usually require two years' service, although reforms are changing this and some reasons — such as whistleblowing or discrimination — need no qualifying period. Therefore, get advice on your own situation.

Discrimination and flexible working

The Equality Act 2010 protects employees against discrimination based on protected characteristics, including age, disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and pregnancy.

A Workplace Discrimination Complaint sets out the incidents, comparators and the remedy you want. Moreover, disabled employees are entitled to reasonable adjustments.

Meanwhile, employees can make a Flexible Working Request from their first day of employment. A well-argued request that addresses business impact is more likely to be accepted. As a result, you give yourself the best chance of agreement.

Settlement agreements

A settlement agreement usually ends employment in exchange for a payment and a waiver of claims. For it to be valid, you must receive independent legal advice, and employers commonly contribute to the cost.

Our Settlement Agreement Review explains the terms, the tax treatment and the restrictions. Additionally, it identifies points to negotiate — for example, a higher payment, an agreed reference or the timing of the leaving date.

Consequently, you sign knowing exactly what you are giving up and receiving.

For employers

Employers must give employees a written statement of employment particulars from day one. Our Employment Contract meets that requirement.

Moreover, the Employer HR Document Pack covers disciplinary and grievance procedures, performance improvement plans, redundancy letters and a staff handbook. Clear procedures reduce risk and make fair decisions easier to show. As a result, you handle difficult situations lawfully and confidently.

Early conciliation and tribunal claims

Before most employment tribunal claims, you must notify ACAS and take part in early conciliation. ACAS contacts your employer to see whether the dispute can be settled.

Early conciliation usually lasts up to six weeks. Importantly, it pauses the tribunal time limit while it runs, and you receive a certificate number you need to issue a claim. Therefore, contact ACAS well before the three-month deadline.

Many disputes settle at this stage. For instance, an employer may agree a payment through a COT3 agreement, which works much like a settlement agreement. Consequently, a well-prepared grievance or appeal letter often strengthens your hand in these talks.

If the claim goes to a tribunal, your written records become evidence. The grievance, the appeal and the employer's replies show the tribunal what happened and when. As a result, the documents you create now may decide the outcome later.

Employers benefit from the same discipline. Clear procedures, fair hearings and written reasons are the best defence to a claim.

Keeping good records at work

Employment disputes turn on evidence. Therefore, start keeping records as soon as a problem begins.

Save emails, messages and letters. Write a short note after important meetings, recording the date, who was there and what was said. Similarly, keep copies of payslips, contracts and performance reviews.

Do not take confidential company documents you are not entitled to. However, you can usually keep records of your own treatment.

If you raise a grievance or appeal, attach the key evidence. As a result, your employer — and later a tribunal — can see exactly what happened.

Your employment dispute checklist

Act quickly. Tribunal deadlines are short.

First, write down what happened. Include dates and names. Next, save emails and messages. Then, raise a written grievance.

If you are dismissed, appeal in writing. Contact ACAS for early conciliation. Note the three-month limit.

If offered a settlement, do not sign straight away. Get it reviewed. Consequently, you protect your rights at every stage.

Stay professional throughout. Keep emails calm. Avoid social media posts about work. Meanwhile, look after your health. Stress affects judgment. Ask for help early. In fact, early advice often leads to better outcomes.

Our Employment services in the UK

Every service below has a fixed price, is prepared by a qualified solicitor and is delivered online — wherever you are in the UK. Additionally, you can upload evidence, message your solicitor and track progress from your secure client dashboard.

Employment services near you — every region we cover

Because everything is handled online, it makes no difference where you live. Nevertheless, the law does change from England and Wales to Scotland and Northern Ireland, so every document is prepared for your local rules. Here are some of the places our clients come from most often.

Employment help in London

We prepare employment documents for London law and local court practice. Clients come to us from Westminster (near the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand), City of London (near the Central London County Court at the Thomas More Building). For example, see Dismissal Appeal Letter in Westminster, Dismissal Appeal Letter in City of London, Dismissal Appeal Letter in Camden. Similarly, see Redundancy Appeal Letter in London.

Employment help in North West

We prepare employment documents for North West law and local court practice. Clients come to us from Manchester (near the Manchester Civil Justice Centre), Liverpool (near the Liverpool Civil and Family Court). For example, see Dismissal Appeal Letter in Manchester, Dismissal Appeal Letter in Liverpool. Similarly, see Redundancy Appeal Letter in North West.

Employment help in West Midlands

We prepare employment documents for West Midlands law and local court practice. Clients come to us from Birmingham (near the Birmingham Civil and Family Justice Centre). For example, see Dismissal Appeal Letter in Birmingham, Dismissal Appeal Letter in Coventry. Similarly, see Redundancy Appeal Letter in West Midlands.

Employment help in Yorkshire and the Humber

We prepare employment documents for Yorkshire and the Humber law and local court practice. Clients come to us from Leeds (near the Leeds Combined Court Centre). For example, see Dismissal Appeal Letter in Leeds, Dismissal Appeal Letter in Sheffield. Similarly, see Redundancy Appeal Letter in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Employment help in South West

We prepare employment documents for South West law and local court practice. Clients come to us from Bristol (near the Bristol Civil and Family Justice Centre). For example, see Dismissal Appeal Letter in Bristol. Similarly, see Redundancy Appeal Letter in South West.

Employment help in North East

We prepare employment documents for North East law and local court practice. Clients come to us from Newcastle upon Tyne (near the Newcastle Combined Court Centre). For example, see Dismissal Appeal Letter in Newcastle upon Tyne. Similarly, see Redundancy Appeal Letter in North East.

Employment help in East Midlands

We prepare employment documents for East Midlands law and local court practice. Clients come to us from Nottingham (near the Nottingham County Court). For example, see Dismissal Appeal Letter in Nottingham, Dismissal Appeal Letter in Leicester. Similarly, see Redundancy Appeal Letter in East Midlands.

Employment help in Wales

We prepare employment documents for Wales law and local court practice. Clients come to us from Cardiff (near the Cardiff Civil and Family Justice Centre). For example, see Dismissal Appeal Letter in Cardiff, Dismissal Appeal Letter in Swansea. Similarly, see Redundancy Appeal Letter in Wales.

Employment help in Scotland

We prepare employment documents for Scotland law and local court practice. Clients come to us from Glasgow (near the Glasgow Sheriff Court on Carlton Place), Edinburgh (near the Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Chambers Street). For example, see Dismissal Appeal Letter in Glasgow, Dismissal Appeal Letter in Edinburgh. Similarly, see Redundancy Appeal Letter in Scotland.

Employment help in Northern Ireland

We prepare employment documents for Northern Ireland law and local court practice. Clients come to us from Belfast (near the Laganside Courts). For example, see Dismissal Appeal Letter in Belfast. Similarly, see Redundancy Appeal Letter in Northern Ireland.

We also help clients in South East, East of England. See every location we cover.

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This guide is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Every case is different — speak to a qualified solicitor before you act.