9 March 2005

Don''t miss out on legal representation

It has come to the attention of the BPIF that a previous member, who refused our advice, has an ongoing Employment Tribunal case in which their exposure is over £100,000. So just a reminder that free legal advice and representation at the Employment Tribunal is available to all Platinum members under the terms of their subscription. BPIF HR Advisers are on hand to give guidance on general best practice in employment matters and specific advice on problems which arise. But sometimes it can go wrong, and even the most exemplary employers can receive a Claim against them from a disgruntled ex-employee. Regardless of whether or not the Claim has any merit, it must still be responded to and dealt with within time limits – otherwise the Claimant may receive judgment in his favour by default. It is an onerous process: your defence must be filed with the court, and certain documents submitted, witness statements must be taken and protocol with the Claimant or his solicitors followed. And then there is the daunting prospect of the Hearing itself – usually at least a whole day in court, sometimes several days. If you get it wrong the exposure can be very great – Employment Tribunals can award unlimited compensation in many cases. The BPIF legal department will, subject to certain qualifying conditions, run the entire case for you, from the moment you receive the Notice of Claim to the final conclusion of the case, including representing you at any Hearings. So don’t put yourself at unnecessary risk – use the legal service to which your Platinum membership entitles you free of charge, or think about upgrading your subscription from Gold to Platinum. Contact the legal team on 01454 336346/7 or your regional business centre to discuss upgrading.