Law firm Gordons launches employer protection scheme for Yorkshire businesses
Friday 2nd March 2007
Leeds and Bradford-based law firm Gordons LLP is offering Yorkshire companies the chance to protect themselves from increasingly complex and costly employment legislation by signing up for a new service that provides comprehensive cover from claims.
Targeted principally at businesses with between one and 750 employees, the Gordons’ Employer Protection Scheme (EPS) allows companies access to unlimited legal advice from qualified solicitors and delivers an insurance policy that caps any costs and awards relating to employment disputes.
Philip Paget, head of employment at Gordons, said: “We developed EPS in response to the increasing amount of unregulated employment law advice that is available to small to medium-sized businesses.
“Often, employers only have the option of turning to either a no frills telephone helpline or some other so-called advisor for counsel. This can mean dealing with unregulated and unqualified advisors – and cleverly constructed insurance get-out clauses – which can leave company bosses confused and substantially out of pocket.
“With EPS we offer unlimited access to advice regulated by the Law Society from our team of 10 highly experienced solicitors, and in addition we will organise an insurance policy which provides peace of mind by capping awards and costs in the event of any dispute.”
When a company engages Gordons for its EPS, the firm initially undertakes an audit of the employer’s current policies and practices. This ensures that the business can be made compliant with the latest legislation, including that relating to age discrimination.
Emma Hughes, Gordons’ business development manager for EPS, said: “The scheme has generated a great deal of interest throughout the region, and we are already in the process of undertaking audits.
“Many of the businesses we are speaking to have had previous bad experiences relating to employment issues and have not been able to source a suitable mix of sound legal advice and effective insurance cover. With EPS, we provide both.”