Business immigration

Reducing complexity and risk

A shortage of skills in the UK makes recruiting workers from abroad an attractive option. Red tape can make the process laborious and complicated, however,  now that we have left the EU it’s likely to become more challenging. We’re here to help.

Ensure you avoid criminal sanctions

As it’s a criminal offence to employ someone who doesn’t have the right to work in the UK, it’s crucial to know and follow the rules. We can guide you through the whole process, helping you to navigate the various procedures and dealing with the red tape on your behalf.

Support for recruitment and settlement

We can also help you to obtain sponsorship licences and certificates of sponsorship. And we can advise you on the most appropriate route to the visa needed for each employee, and the settlement and pre-settlement schemes for EU nationals.

Download our business immigration brochure here.

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Health and safety

Volume settlement agreements

We have developed bespoke technology which allows us to successfully complete significant numbers of settlement agreements – typically 100+ per day if required.

It is important to us that those employees faced with either losing their job or having it radically changed are dealt with in a manner that their employers expect and that both parties receive service level excellence.

To achieve this, we:

• Deliver robust legal advice in a sensitive manner to those affected employees
• Help to achieve the businesses’ objectives of a fair and reasonable process preceding either the departure of their valued staff or changes to their terms and conditions of employment
• Reduce the risk of litigation and internal grievances
• Provide a cost-effective, time-critical service that both parties benefit from

As the economic instability continues, we’re advising a growing number of businesses

Supporting a major global airline through a mass redundancy and restructure
We successfully completed more than 1300 settlement agreements in relation to the employees of a global airline, advising up to 100 employees per day.

Managing mass redundancies in person
The closure of an entire manufacturing site which required face-to-face on-site meetings over a three-month period, and the successful managed exit of almost 500 staff.

Senior Management Team restructure and redundancies
Advising senior staff and Board members following a management buy-out of a large greeting card company, including advice on post-termination restrictions and share-option schemes.

Our service is always transparent, and our technology platform provides real-time access, allowing users to see both progress and cost on each case.

We provide compassionate advice and work hard to ensure that the settlement agreement process is fair and reasonable. We do not compromise our impartiality, but we do ensure that each business we assist can be confident that we will work with them to achieve their stated goals. 

We’re here to make the process as simple and stress-free as possible, get in touch

John Robinson understands the complex issues that may arise during collective redundancy processes and restructures. He has pioneered an approach that incorporates the service level excellence businesses deserve when dealing with large-scale settlement agreements.

Email – Johnrobinson@schofieldsweeney.co.uk
Telephone – 0113 849 4053

Individual settlement agreements

Settling employee claims legally

Settlement agreements are used to resolve employment-related claims. Typically, they involve an employee receiving money in exchange for agreeing to terminate their employment and settle any claims. For the agreement to be legally binding, the employee must get legal advice on the terms of the agreement, and employers usually contribute towards the cost of this.

Guidance for employers

If you need to arrange a settlement agreement, the whole process needs handling with care as getting it wrong can lead to costly claims. We can guide you through the procedures and protected conversations it involves. We’ll explain how to approach the employee and agree terms, and can conduct negotiations for you if needed.

Support for employees

If you’re an employee and have been offered a settlement agreement by your employer, we can also advise you. We can reassure you as to the fairness of the offer or negotiate for a better deal on your behalf, if necessary.

Capacity for large volumes, UK wide

In difficult times, employers may need to conduct large-scale redundancy procedures and need numerous employees to enter into settlement agreements quickly. We can handle this kind of high-volume work and meet tight deadlines, and welcome referrals from other law firms that don’t have this capacity. We advise clients across the country and can provide prompt guidance remotely.

HR health check

The HR health check is a valuable service we offer to employers for additional reassurance and insights into their current employment contracts and policies. By completing our questionnaire, you can identify potential deficiencies or areas that may require attention within your HR practices.

We want to help you better understand how you are meeting the legal requirements for contracts of employment, policies and procedures.

Once you have completed the questionnaire, a member of the team will be in touch to explain the results and support you with any areas for improvement.

Complete questionnaire here

If you would like to speak to a member of the team, email employment@schofieldsweeney.co.uk  or call 0800 368 9818.

HR training for your business

Our training courses are delivered by experienced employment solicitors, who will tailor a session to meet your objectives.

All of our courses are commercially focused, interactive and incorporate real-life examples.

Delegates are provided with all materials and a certificate of attendance. We can deliver the course at our offices, your office or any other suitable venue.

Content will be determined after an initial call to discuss your requirements.

Whether you need an in-depth look at a challenging situation or need some practical insights to help relieve the day-to-day pressures, our training for HR professionals and people managers will provide you with all the support you need.

If you would like to speak to a member of the team about training for your business, email employment@schofieldsweeney.co.uk  or call 0800 368 9818.

Download the training brochure here