Employment Law
Employment Law for The 21st Century Workplace
The 20th Century saw the introduction of an unprecedented number of important changes in Employment Law. This fast paced rate of change has continued in the 21st Century workplace and shows no signs of slowing down.
With over 130 years of experience, A & W M Urquhart is well placed to help guide both employers and employees through all types of employment issues arising in the work place, from the non-contentious to the contentious.
Employers
We understand the importance that employers place on a good and stable working relationship with their employees, and that it is in the best interests of the business for any issues or problems to be resolved as quickly and pragmatically as possible.
We can advise employers on a wide range of employment issues arising in the work place. Nevertheless even the most careful of employers can sometimes find themselves defending an employment claim - we can help.
We will ensure that advice is given to you promptly and that solutions are identified and implemented as soon as is practicable. One of our most frequently asked questions to employers is “what would your best outcome be” - our way of identifying what you are trying to achieve before discussing your options with you and recommending a course of action.
Employees
If your employment relationship has broken down, we will clarify and advise you on the rights, responsibilities and obligations that exist between you and your employer.
Within any employment relationship is in difficulty or an employer needs to ensure that no member of management discriminates against an employee, as all employees are entitled to trust that they will not be discriminated against whether on the grounds of disability, race, sex, religious belief or sexual orientation, but also or even because of age, whether “age” in this context means either too old or too young. Part-time workers also deserve to be treated fairly in comparison to full-time members of staff, and employees working under fixed-term contracts frequently find themselves in a difficult position when their fixed term contracts come to an end and are not renewed. All of these matters impact on an employer/employee relationship and some of them may affect the employee’s working life. Problems do arise, often inadvertently.
If it becomes essential to take steps to protect your interests in a more formal way, we can provide you with assistance in making an application to an Employment Tribunal. We are experienced in all types of litigious employment matters and can represent you at an Employment Tribunal or, should it become necessary, at an Employment Appeal Tribunal. Should your problem take you to the level of Scotland’s highest Court, the Court of Session, we will either represent you there or instruct specialist Counsel, whichever option would seem to be in your best interests.
WE CAN HELP
We have for many years had regular contact with the component parts of what has come to be known as the Equality & Human Rights Commission and with ACAS.
We were founder members of what is now known as the Law Society of Scotland's Employment Law Group, and are active members of The Scottish Employment Rights Network and of the Scottish Discrimination Law Association.
Although we will be more than happy to act as liaison between you and any of these organisations and obtain guidance and specific advice from them on your behalf, you may find that the following links to the organisations’ websites may be helpful to you.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission – www.equalityhumanrights.com
ACAS – www.acas.org.uk
We recommend that you seek early legal advice and assistance whenever you perceive that there is a problem or even when you feel the need for clarification.
Do get in touch with us - we will be pleased to help.
Our offices are conveniently based near the centre of Edinburgh, at 16 Heriot Row and clients are most welcome to make use of our parking facilities immediately to the rear of the building.
The nature of employment problems means that an urgent appointment is sometimes necessary. We will always try to accommodate such a need.