Can anyone recommend a good employment solicitor in the Worthing/Brighton area?

[lexis200]

If anyone knows of a good one, I'd really appreciate a number or URL please.


OH is likely to need to start a constructive dismissal claim in the very near future, and I'd much rather use someone based on a recommendation than just pick one at random.


Thanks


Lexis x

[Celestine]

Re: Can anyone recommend a good employment solicitor in the Worthing/Brighton area?

Hi Lexis

I have a good friend who's an Employment Lawyer in Hove. But it Might be wise putting a summary up for Eloise to look at as she is a specialist and very good indeed?

[Eloise01]

Re: Can anyone recommend a good employment solicitor in the Worthing/Brighton area?

OH is well advised to not even consider constructive dismissal - they are almost impossible to win. The worst odds of any claim - less than 3% of such claims win. You would need a powerful case to win - few people have them.

Happy to advise if I can help - but constructive dismissal is a scary type of case to take on and few lawyers will touch them unless you pay. Becase they invariably lose.

[gravytrain]

Re: Can anyone recommend a good employment solicitor in the Worthing/Brighton area?

http://www.jobwatch.org.au/images/st...-_Jan_2013.pdf

[PlanB]

Re: Can anyone recommend a good employment solicitor in the Worthing/Brighton area?

[QUOTE=lexis200] OH is likely to need to start a constructive dismissal claim in the very near future, and I'd much rather use someone based on a recommendation than just pick one at random./QUOTE]



There are some people on here who have personal experience of *constructive dismissal* who can maybe help with initial advice because it doesn't always have to end up in the hands of lawyers. Are you able to tell us the story behind your OH's problem so we can see what may be the best way forward ?

Also if he has lost his job is he now claiming all the benefits he's entitled to? We can guide you on that too

[lexis200]

Re: Can anyone recommend a good employment solicitor in the Worthing/Brighton area?

Hi

Thanks everyone for your input, I really appreciate it.

I can't put up details of what's gone on, as OH is very concerned about his employers/employers' sols spotting it.

It's been going on for over 3 years, and an incident on Friday is the last straw, and I believe a breach of implied terms of his contract. There have been issues of physical abuse, bringing a formal procedure against my husband based on (entirely provable) lies, general humiliation, some private and some in front of the entire office. This is the tip of the iceberg. The only reason he has stuck it out is as he absolutely could not afford to lose his job, but now there is no way he can continue to work there. It's causing him untold stress and will not get better as this appears to be a completely personal issue his boss has with him.

I am more than happy to PM with all details, and discuss any thoughts openly here (as long as it's kept general), I just can't post the problems openly - it'd be far too easy to relate the issue to my husband if it was seen by anyone at his work.

Btw, he hasn't resigned yet as obviously we don't want to jump into anything without advice - this all came to a head on Friday afternoon (a particular favourite of his boss, giving s**t news on a Friday so that OH has the whole weekend to worry, and can't get any advice before having to go back to work). We have been looking at options over the weekend, and quite frankly neither of us could give two hoots about getting a payout, but we want this person brought to task for his behaviour and the only way this will happen is if someone removed from the company can see what's gone on.

For more reasons I can't openly discuss, the company is not going to be impartial with my husband. He started the process of making a formal complaint a while ago after the last incident, and when it was realised that he was serious about it he was in no uncertain terms warned off, being told he would almost certainly lose his job whilst his boss would remain untouched. I know that sounds very dodgy, and as though OH has no case, but this is not how it actually is.

I'm going to spend a bit of time trying to set everything down in case anyone is ok with being PM'd, please let me know if you'd like it when I'm done.

Thanks again

Lexis

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Can anyone recommend a good employment solicitor in the Worthing/Brighton area?

There are some people on here who have personal experience of *constructive dismissal* who can maybe help with initial advice because it doesn't always have to end up in the hands of lawyers. Are you able to tell us the story behind your OH's problem so we can see what may be the best way forward ?

Also if he has lost his job is he now claiming all the benefits he's entitled to? We can guide you on that too

One of them would be Mr $quandaŁot, but he ended up accepting a modest settlement and agreed reference.

Lawyers were involved, not in terms of actual representation, but he did have legal advice from this free advice place ---> http://www.toynbeehall.org.uk which was recommended to me and I in turn have recommended to a few others. The Central London location may not suit everyone and I think they only do face-to-face advice.

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Can anyone recommend a good employment solicitor in the Worthing/Brighton area?

Hi

Thanks everyone for your input, I really appreciate it.

I can't put up details of what's gone on, as OH is very concerned about his employers/employers' sols spotting it.

You may feel more comfortable upgrading to VIP so you can post in an area which is not out in the open.

It's been going on for over 3 years, and an incident on Friday is the last straw, and I believe a breach of implied terms of his contract. There have been issues of physical abuse, bringing a formal procedure against my husband based on (entirely provable) lies, general humiliation, some private and some in front of the entire office. This is the tip of the iceberg. The only reason he has stuck it out is as he absolutely could not afford to lose his job, but now there is no way he can continue to work there. It's causing him untold stress and will not get better as this appears to be a completely personal issue his boss has with him.

I am more than happy to PM with all details, and discuss any thoughts openly here (as long as it's kept general), I just can't post the problems openly - it'd be far too easy to relate the issue to my husband if it was seen by anyone at his work.

Btw, he hasn't resigned yet as obviously we don't want to jump into anything without advice - this all came to a head on Friday afternoon (a particular favourite of his boss, giving s**t news on a Friday so that OH has the whole weekend to worry, and can't get any advice before having to go back to work). We have been looking at options over the weekend, and quite frankly neither of us could give two hoots about getting a payout, but we want this person brought to task for his behaviour and the only way this will happen is if someone removed from the company can see what's gone on.

For more reasons I can't openly discuss, the company is not going to be impartial with my husband. He started the process of making a formal complaint a while ago after the last incident, and when it was realised that he was serious about it he was in no uncertain terms warned off, being told he would almost certainly lose his job whilst his boss would remain untouched. I know that sounds very dodgy, and as though OH has no case, but this is not how it actually is.

I'm going to spend a bit of time trying to set everything down in case anyone is ok with being PM'd, please let me know if you'd like it when I'm done.

Thanks again

Lexis

I would suggest PMing Eloise01, she knows her employment stuff inside out :first: and was very helpful with me! :clap2:

[Eloise01]

Re: Can anyone recommend a good employment solicitor in the Worthing/Brighton area?

Hi

Thanks everyone for your input, I really appreciate it.

I can't put up details of what's gone on, as OH is very concerned about his employers/employers' sols spotting it.

It's been going on for over 3 years, and an incident on Friday is the last straw, and I believe a breach of implied terms of his contract. There have been issues of physical abuse, bringing a formal procedure against my husband based on (entirely provable) lies, general humiliation, some private and some in front of the entire office. This is the tip of the iceberg. The only reason he has stuck it out is as he absolutely could not afford to lose his job, but now there is no way he can continue to work there. It's causing him untold stress and will not get better as this appears to be a completely personal issue his boss has with him.

I am more than happy to PM with all details, and discuss any thoughts openly here (as long as it's kept general), I just can't post the problems openly - it'd be far too easy to relate the issue to my husband if it was seen by anyone at his work.

Btw, he hasn't resigned yet as obviously we don't want to jump into anything without advice - this all came to a head on Friday afternoon (a particular favourite of his boss, giving s**t news on a Friday so that OH has the whole weekend to worry, and can't get any advice before having to go back to work). We have been looking at options over the weekend, and quite frankly neither of us could give two hoots about getting a payout, but we want this person brought to task for his behaviour and the only way this will happen is if someone removed from the company can see what's gone on.

For more reasons I can't openly discuss, the company is not going to be impartial with my husband. He started the process of making a formal complaint a while ago after the last incident, and when it was realised that he was serious about it he was in no uncertain terms warned off, being told he would almost certainly lose his job whilst his boss would remain untouched. I know that sounds very dodgy, and as though OH has no case, but this is not how it actually is.

I'm going to spend a bit of time trying to set everything down in case anyone is ok with being PM'd, please let me know if you'd like it when I'm done.

Thanks again

Lexis

Provided site admin is ok with it (advice by PM is discouraged for very good reasons - you actually have no idea who is advising you or whether the advice is accurate) then I will accept a PM.

You might also check this out though - it's very basic but it clarifies some of the issues you have mentioned here: http://www.redundancyforum.co.uk/fre...ive-dismissal/

[lexis200]

Re: Can anyone recommend a good employment solicitor in the Worthing/Brighton area?

Hi

Thanks again

I'm just compiling a background - trying to keep it short but it's tricky!

I'll have a look at the VIP section; I didn't realise there was one.

Thanks Eloise. I know it's not the best thing for the reason you've mentioned, but I'm really fine for it to be discussed openly, just as long as the main bits aren't 'out there'. It's only the initial background I don't want to post up.

Anyway, still going for now, and trying to get an appt with a sol a friend recommended in Worthing, hopefully tomorrow. My guess is that if OH does have a case, it'll simply be a bean-counting exercise for the company rather than anything that drags his boss down, but I live in hope!

[lexis200]

Re: Can anyone recommend a good employment solicitor in the Worthing/Brighton area?

Hi again

I've finally finished, and despite trying to keep everything to a minimum it's ended up as a novella.

I changed names with the intention of posting in the VIP area, but OH is still concerned about it going on a forum, so I've decided to keep it as a PM for the time being.

With that in mind, I hope it is still alright to send it to you Eloise? I have had it okayed by Celestine, and have sent it through to you. As I said, it is extremely long, so I do completely understand if it's too much of an ask for you to go through it. We are seeing a solicitor tomorrow as I thought OH should speak to someone face to face, so you would not be leaving us in the lurch if you're not comfortable commenting. That said, I would obviously very much welcome your thoughts, as I would always rather have more than one opinion!

Thanks again - all help and advice is really appreciated.

Lexis

[Eloise01]

Re: Can anyone recommend a good employment solicitor in the Worthing/Brighton area?

I have sent some comments back to you although I am not at all hopeful that they will be what you wanted. You may choose to post them here or not as you wish.

[lexis200]

Re: Can anyone recommend a good employment solicitor in the Worthing/Brighton area?

Thanks very much for that Eloise, I appreciate your candour even though, as you say, it's not what I'd hoped for!

We're going to speak to the solicitor now, but having read your comments and seeing in black and white the way it would be viewed in law, I suspect the same conclusion will be reached.

If you don't mind I'd like to post a couple of further questions later (on the main forum), so if you get the chance to have a look that would be great.

Thanks again,

Lexis

[Eloise01]

Re: Can anyone recommend a good employment solicitor in the Worthing/Brighton area?

Thanks very much for that Eloise, I appreciate your candour even though, as you say, it's not what I'd hoped for!

We're going to speak to the solicitor now, but having read your comments and seeing in black and white the way it would be viewed in law, I suspect the same conclusion will be reached.

If you don't mind I'd like to post a couple of further questions later (on the main forum), so if you get the chance to have a look that would be great.

Thanks again,

Lexis

No that's fine. Just as I said, no matter how good a paid for solicitor may be , or recommended to be, it is always worth running it past a no win no fee or two - it's keeps them charging you honest!

[lexis200]

Re: Can anyone recommend a good employment solicitor in the Worthing/Brighton area?

Hi again Eloise, just reporting back.


I didn't have time earlier to say thank you properly - there was an awful lot of information in your reply, and both my husband and I are very grateful for you taking the time to look through it. Obviously I'd have much rather you just told me we'd win 100% and could tar and feather his boss, but there you go

We've been to see the solicitor, and he also thought there was a breach of contract. He was of the mind that there was a claim there though, however (and it's a big however), we did not discuss fees, so I have a strong suspicion that your point above may be very valid. That and the fact Celestine has told me what your background is, so I feel it would be the height of foolishness to not take heed of your comments.

The solicitor did, as you also mentioned, suggest that a grievance would be a decent starting point. OH can not stay in the company, this last incident is really the straw that broke the camel's back. He's put up with an awful lot over the last few years in order to keep his job, and this is just a step too far. With that in mind, do you think there is anything to lose if he did this? As far as I can see, if he files a grievance he'll either a) win, lose his job and have a small payout for it, and the satisfaction that it's caused his boss a bit of annoyance, or b) lose, lose his job, not have any payout, but still have caused his boss a bit of annoyance. The only other option he has is to simply quit, and he's really not wanting to do that as then his boss does not have to answer for anything, and will just do it to the next person. Every road though leads to unemployment.

I'm personally just really sad/upset/angry (take your pick) that he's had c**p from one person for years, couldn't complain because of the situation, and now finds that because he didn't complain that same person has got him over a barrel. Talk about a vicious circle. How do you win in a situation like that? If he had complained he'd have lost his job, and because he hasn't complained he's going to have to give up his job.

It's all a bit pants at the moment.