Our service involves advising on the relevant procedure and ensuring the employee's statutory rights are adhered to.
We can also facilitate meetings and draft documents as required.
Where an employee wishes to raise a complaint with their employer, we can review and advise on the merits of the complaint and draft documents on behalf of the employee and make proposals for resolution of the issues.
For all those involved, confidentiality needs to be assured.
By engaging an external partner, such as HR First, both parties immediately have confidence in the process, secure in the knowledge that the dispute will be managed with discretion and impartiality and with the aim of preventing a complaint from having to go to court.
Our expert guidance ensures fair outcomes, reduces stress, and protects your business reputation.
Claire Cook at HR First helped me through one of the most difficult times of my life, one I thought I would never have to face. I highly recommend their services and would recommend Claire to anyone going through employment difficulties and challenges
HR First is able to provide clients with impartial employment law advice and support and to conduct a full and proper investigation of the issues and underlying causes where applicable.
Our team of experts engages with both the employer and employee to discuss and understand the concerns.
Our extensive experience of dealing with workplace issues means that we are effective at exploring areas of common ground and rebuilding trust.
With our expert guidance, both parties can navigate through what appears to be a minefield of intractable and contentious issues to a pathway resulting in a lasting win-win resolution.
Our team of consultants organise and facilitate grievance hearings in compliance with legal requirements.
The allocated consultant will also draft documents on behalf of the employer.
Our team of consultants works with employees who have a complaint about their treatment at work. We seek to work in the interests of the client, negotiating ways forward.
We can advise on employment law aspects, appropriate processes, and draft documents on behalf of the employee.
HR First can provide separate consultants to respond to grievance appeals.
Consultants will investigate the grounds of an appeal and produce a report of the findings.
Our team of consultants can facilitate the appeal meeting and draft documentation to confirm the outcomes of the appeal as required.
For certain cases, we also offer a mediation arbitration service as an alternative to resolving disputes. Our consultants are trained mediators and engage with both the employer and employee. The mediators are trained in mediation techniques for conflict resolution.
At the end of mediation, both parties sign an agreement to confirm the mediation outcomes and what is agreed for future reference.
We have experience in working with union representatives for those employers who recognise unions or for those employees who are members of a trade union and have a statutory right to be represented by a union representative.
See how recent cases impact your approach, Unconscious bias and discrimination.
There are some employment disputes where, despite an employer taking a reasonable position to resolve a complaint, the employee decides to progress the issue at an employment tribunal.
If unlawful treatment has occurred and an employment dispute is not resolved informally between the employee and employer through conciliation, a claim to an employment tribunal can be made. When making a claim, there are important time limits which apply.
Unlawful treatment includes:
Unfair dismissal
Discrimination
Breach of contract
Failure to pay agreed wages or entitlements
The claimant must make the claim within 3 months of the incident occurring or employment ending.
Unfair dismissal claims are one of the most common disputes to be brought to a tribunal.
HR First offers advice on how best to defend against such claims and how to progress a claim at the employment tribunal if you feel you have been subject to unfair treatment.
Discrimination in the workplace involves mistreatment based on a protected characteristic, as defined under the Equality Act. At HR First we support employees to progress a claim and employers who need to defend a claim of discrimination.
Protected characteristics include:
Race
Sex
Age
Religion or belief
Sexual Orientation
Disability
Once a tribunal claim is submitted, and if all the parties agree, the alternative dispute resolution pathway of mediation may be offered, facilitated by a judge.
This pathway can be less costly and less time-consuming and result in a swifter outcome than attending a full court hearing.
At HR First we will support clients who wish to seek resolution of a workplace complaint via the mediation route.
For most employment tribunal claims, including discrimination, claims must be submitted within 3 months of the incident or, for unfair dismissal cases, 3 months from the effective termination date.
We can advise clients on specific deadlines to ensure full compliance.
See how recent cases impact your approach, Work Group Chats, increasingly used in evidence at Employment Tribunals.
We support clients with complaints, disputes, and workplace claims, including unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing, and family rights.
Our team works discreetly and professionally to protect our client's best interests to ensure justice.
We organise, facilitate, and document the entire process for our clients, ensuring they follow legal procedures. We can draft all the needed documents for you, including responses and settlement agreements, ensuring compliance.
Yes. If a dispute goes to an employment tribunal, HR First provides full representation and legal expertise during tribunal hearings.
We help you understand the potential benefits and risks while negotiating effectively and maintaining professional representation at all stages.
Running a business is challenging, managing people shouldn’t be. Whether you need fully outsourced HR or support for your in-house team, we’ll make HR simple, compliant, and stress-free. Let’s find the solution that fits your business.
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