Employment advice retainer package with optional insurance cover
HR Protect is our fixed price retainer package, which we have been offering to clients for over a decade. Our comprehensive employment law package offers a cost effective service, providing clients with exceptional levels of service with no hidden costs, offering real value for money.
Why Ward Hadaway?
We are the largest employment team in the North and are the only team to be named Employment Law Team of the Year on two separate occasions at the Northern Law Awards. We provide clear, commercial and practical legal solutions when dealing with HR issues.
We provide a cost effective service, managing our costs and therefore yours. We pride ourselves on transparency and offering real value for money.
What do I get as part of the HR Protect package?
You get unlimited Employment Law and HR advice from our large team of qualified solicitors, by telephone, email or meetings at our offices, regardless of the number of problems or issues you face, so you don’t have to worry about the cost of legal advice. If issues are complex and face to face meetings are required, that can be arranged at our offices in Newcastle as part of the service.
We also draft letters, guidance, agreements and documents as required, included in the price.
Do I get employment compliance documents?
As part of the package we will also draft your employment contracts, policies and procedures (or review and amend as necessary) – keeping you up to date with legislation changes.
Will I be speaking to a different person each time I call to take employment advice?
No, you will be provided with a dedicated point of contact who is a solicitor who will get to know your business and be your first port of call – but give you unlimited access to the largest team of specialist employment solicitors in the North of England.
What do I get with HR Protect in terms of standard documents?
You will have access to our online database of toolkits, documents, advice and guidance – this includes all sorts of contracts, letters and flowcharts to help you deal with matters yourself if you would rather do this.
What else is included in HR Protect?
You will also be provided with access to regular free seminars, workshops and newsletters – to keep you trained and updated on various legal issues including employment and HR.
What are the advantages of using solicitors for employment/HR advice rather than HR consultants?
As the advice is given by qualified lawyers, not only is the advice of a consistently high quality, it is also protected by legal advice privilege and does not need to be disclosed under a subject access request, which is something which HR consultants cannot provide.
Does the employment retainer tie me in for a long period of time?
No, unlike many other providers you only sign up for 12 months at a time, with the option to renew at the end of that period.
What is the benefit of fixing my legal spend?
For the duration of your retainer with us you have the certainty of no hidden costs. You can budget your legal spend for the year and won’t be in the position of sourcing legal advice as a disaster purchase.
Is anything excluded from the HR Protect employment retainer package?
The package is designed to cover day to day employment law and HR advice and therefore there are some exclusions. The package does not include detailed advice on: TUPE transfers, business acquisitions, collective consultation exercises, detailed National Minimum Wage issues or drafting director service agreements. Should you require advice on any of these matters we will provide you with a quote based on a discounted rate for HR Protect clients.
Do you offer insurance against claims as part of the employment retainer package?
Yes, we offer optional insurance to cover any Employment Tribunal claims. This pays for us to handle any Employment Tribunal claims and provide solicitor representation hearings, within the fixed monthly cost. Our success rate is over 90% in the Employment Tribunal. Should you lose, or if we need to settle, then the insurer will also pay any compensation or any settlement payment due. The insurer picks up the cost and fees for any claim – the only proviso to them picking up those costs and fees is that you must have taken our advice on any matter that leads to a claim.
What is different about the insurance cover you offer?
Most insurance policies contain reasonable prospects clause, meaning that the insurer will only cover a claim where you have a better than 50% chance of being successful in an Employment Tribunal claim. Our insurance is not the same. So long as you take legal advice, and follow that advice, then the cost of any claim that subsequently arises will be covered.
Does the insurance cover only Employment Tribunal claims?
No, the insurance policy also covers non-employment issues, such as:
- Claims by employees for breach of contract/non-payment of wages brought in the Civil Courts
- Action to enforce and defend the enforcement of restrictive covenants (if key employees leave and we want to stop them stealing business).
- Support in relation to PR management when your business reputation is affected.
- HSE prosecution.
- Data Protection enforcement/action.
- Trading standards enforcement/action.
- Most regulatory type enforcement/action.
What are the options for level of insurance cover under the retainer package?
We offer cover of up to £50k, £100k or £250k, with a range of different excess options depending on budget and levels of risk.
How much will the employment law retainer package cost?
For a quote for our HR Protect retainer package, with or without insurance, please get in touch.