I was delighted to receive a five star review from a client who had been offered a Settlement Agreement by her employer. Read on for more details.
My Client’s Story
My client had been working for her employer for many years. Due to the current economic situation, her employers had indicated that they would need to make redundancies. My client spoke to her employers about volunteering for redundancy. She had been planning to retire in a few years’ time, but, thought that if she could agree a financial package with her employer, she could bring this forward. Being a very kind lady, she also thought that by volunteering, she could save someone else from being made compulsorily redundant. Her employers were grateful for her pragmatic approach and a compensatory package was agreed. My client’s employers asked that she sign a Settlement Agreement in exchange for the financial package she was receiving.
How I Helped
My client booked in with me for an appointment to go through the Settlement Agreement. I explained to her that the agreement was an important document which would:-
- Set out the details of how her employment would come to an end;
- Terminate her employment;
- Waive and settle any employment rights and claims she may have;
- Set out details of notice and contractual payments; and,
- Set out details of her compensatory package.
I went through the background of the situation with my client and noted it was all very amicable. Unfortunately, my client’s employer had downloaded a standard template for the Settlement Agreement which did not reflect what had been agreed in their discussions. Also, some information was missing which could have left my client vulnerable in respect of the tax treatment of her compensation.
As the situation had been very amicable, I reassured my client that I was not going to cause difficulty or start unnecessary arguments. However, it was important that the Settlement Agreement accurately reflected what was intended by my client and her employer. Also, it was very important that any payments were correctly identified so that she did not have to pay tax on her compensation.
I, therefore, contacted my client’s employer and requested amendments to the Settlement Agreement. The employer agreed that the changes I requested were reasonable and better reflected what was intended. Having obtained the revised Settlement Agreement, my client was able to sign.
My Client’s Review
My client very kindly answered our questions about our service and left the review below:
What were the circumstances that caused you to look for a legal adviser?
I was offered a voluntary redundancy package.
How did Sally Hubbard help you?
She advised me on the settlement agreement I had been offered. Although I was keen to sign the agreement offered, Sally scrutinised the agreement and saw how some ambiguous wording could be improved upon to make things crystal clear. My employers were in agreement with Sally and took on board her suggestions and amended the wording.
Have you seen the outcome you were hoping for?
Yes.
What could they have done better?
There is nothing else Sally could have done. I am pleased that I chose to consult a specialist solicitor, rather than a general practice.
Can Lincs Law Employment Solicitors Help You?
If you have been offered a Settlement Agreement, please contact us on 01522 440512 for an initial free, no obligation, telephone consultation. Alternatively, if you would like more information about Settlement Agreements, please visit our website at https://lincslaw.co.uk/services/settlement-agreement/
Sally Hubbard
Specialist Employment Solicitor
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