Services & Fees

Employment Law and Health and Safety can be tricky areas to manage for a business, and we believe it’s a wise investment for any SME to let the experts do it for you.

Smith and Brown has partnered with law firm Berg to offer our clients their WORKs solution, providing the peace of mind of having qualified experts just a phone-call away whenever queries arise.

For a fixed monthly fee based on a six or twelve month contract, it provides:

A full review of your current employment contracts and HR documentation, together with a detailed report highlighting any necessary or recommended changes

A telephone helpline providing prompt advice and guidance on day-to-day employment law issues, together with the drafting of any associated documents

Checking and amending of any employment-related documents prepared by you for your employees

Regular employment law updates

Priority access to employment law training seminars

A face-to-face review meeting every six months

Berg WORKs can also provide Health and Safety advice and support which includes:

Visits from expert consultants to review your existing H&S arrangements

Compiling a full H&S company policy and manual

A compliance check-list detailing any further arrangements which need to be put in place

Unlimited telephone access to your dedicated H&S consultant

On-going support to ensure compliance with changing legislation

Annual review visits to your business

Keeping up-to-date with legislation and ensuring compliance shouldn’t be a costly distraction for you and your organisation. You need practical solutions and pragmatic advice, helping you concentrate on what you do best – running your business.

Complying with employment law keeps your workforce happier and more productive, and saves you the cost and stress of employment tribunal claims.

However it is a complex area full of pitfalls. Getting it right means keeping in touch with developments, thinking out your policies and implementing them with care. Getting it wrong could be extremely expensive.

Employment law covers hiring, firing and everything in between including; recruitment, terms and conditions, contracts of employment, employee rights, overtime, dismissals, statutory requirements in pay, hours of work and annual leave, discrimination, redundancies, disciplinary and grievance procedures.

The main piece of legislation covering employment law is the Employment Rights Act 1996 – used to determine if a case may be brought before an employment tribunal. Other related legislation includes:

Employment Rights Act 1996

Equality Act 2010

Employment Tribunals Act 1996

Employment Tribunal Rules of Procedure 2004

Employment Appeal Tribunal Rules 1993

Employment Appeal Tribunal Procedure 2008

Mistakes in health and safety compliance can be costly for employer and employee.

The primary legislation covering health and safety in the UK is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. These set the standards that must be met to ensure the health and safety of all employees and others who may be affected by any work activity. Other regulations cover work activities that carry specific risks, such as lifting and carrying, computer work and electricity.

Implementing a robust health and safety policy will ensure your workforce is a fully effective asset, confident that they can carry out their work in a safe and supportive environment.