HR Advice & Support
In the course of managing your team and running your business, many issues arise in respect of the people involved. Often, managers and business owners consciously or subconsciously avoid dealing with issues they perceive to be difficult (e.g. interpersonal issues among staff) or quite often, they deal with matters (such as disciplinary issues) without following proper procedure. Talbot Pierce are available to provide expert, prompt advice & support on HR issues from the simple to the complex.
In our experience, the root cause of many grievance and disciplinary issues is a mismatch in expectations between employees and employers. Good recruitment & selections methods, good communication and effective management, inter alia, can create an environment where disciplinary issues and grievances are kept to a minimum, if not avoided.
Please contact us on (01) 902 00 31 or [email protected] to discuss your requirements.
Some examples of areas in which we provide Expert Advice & Support
Handling disciplinary issues:
There is a multitude of case law, Codes of Practice and legislative requirements to consider when handling disciplinary issues effectively. It is not, however, as complicated as many people believe, or as many people want you to believe! Dealing appropriately with such matters involves the application of some very simple principles to situations that are often very complex. We can take the mystery out of dealing with these issues and guide you through the process in a practical way, leading to a positive outcome, or at least to an outcome that you can stand over in the event that disciplinary action is required. These issues often arise without warning (e.g. gross misconduct) and require prompt effective action to balance interests that sometimes appear to be conflicting: avoiding escalation, treating the employee fairly, protecting the business and the employer’s position if the matter does progress to a third-party hearing (civil court, Labour Court, Employment Appeals Tribunal, etc.).
Our approach is to work with the relevant manager(s) to deal with the matter at the earliest stage possible, avoiding unnecessary escalation.
Not only can we advise and support you on the handling of the issue, we can advise on, provide and deliver the appropriate dispute resolution intervention (see ADR | INVESTIGATIONS | APPEALS section). In addition, we can write/review your policy/procedure if the process highlights issues that need to be addressed (see HR Policies & Procedures | Contracts section).
Handling grievances:
Effectively handling grievances can result in an improvement in employee relations, morale and productivity, even if the employee does not achieve the desired result (e.g. a change in working arrangements) however, grievances that are not dealt with appropriately or at all can fester and can escalate unnecessarily.
Our approach is to work with the relevant manager(s) to deal with the matter at the earliest stage possible, avoiding unnecessary escalation.
Not only can we advise and support you on the handling of the issue, we can advise on, provide and deliver the appropriate dispute resolution intervention (see ADR | INVESTIGATIONS | APPEALS section). In addition, we can write/review your policy/procedure if the process highlights issues that need to be addressed (see HR Policies & Procedures | Contracts section).
Managing Absences:
Many organisations find managing absence, either a single, extended absence or multiple absences, a significant challenge. A common misunderstanding is that an organisation can do nothing, however, this is not the case. It is the case, however, that caution should be exercised. An increasingly common feature of work absences is ‘stress’ or ‘work-related stress’ which often arises in conjunction with other issues in the workplace. These situations require careful handling, without which, a company can find itself in significant legal and other difficulties, not least of which can be the impact on morale of other staff.
Talbot Pierce have the expertise and experience to advise on and guide you through these and any other HR issues. Contact us to discuss how we can assist.
Partnership with Lavelle Solicitors
We partner with Employment Law Solicitors, Lavelle Solicitors, to provide seamless legal representation and advice if required. Marc Fitzgibbon, Partner, and his team of Employment Law specialists at Lavelle Solicitors provide advice on all aspects of the employment relationship, including pension schemes and employee benefits.
Marc and his team also work closely with Lavelle Solicitors’ Corporate and Commercial Group and advise organisations establishing companies in Ireland on their employment law obligations.
For more information on Lavelle Solicitors’ Employment Law Group visit:
