Worcester law firm, Parkinson Wright LLP, has seen an increase in employment law related cases in the last 12 months as the county struggles through the downturn. Typical cases include disciplinary and grievance issues, redundancy and unfair or wrongful dismissal.
Frances Woods from Parkinson Wright’s Litigation department comments, “Last month’s unemployment figures compiled and released by Worcestershire County Council’s Research and Intelligence Unit shows that the county unemployment rate is 3.9%, a 0.1% decrease on last month’s figures and comparing favourably to the higher unemployment rates for the West
Midlands region (6.7%) and England and Wales (5.5%).”
She also notes that the “county” unemployment count was 10,843 people in October, well below a peak of 23,000 in February 1993 during the last recession. “So things have been worse for the Worcestershire working population in the past but that is little relief for those that are struggling with an employment dispute now.”
Parkinson Wright’s employment specialists believe that there is a possibility that some unlawful employment actions could have come about because of decreasing business confidence. This point is supported by the results of the most recent Chamber of Commerce Survey that suggest ‘deterioration in the economic situation and signs of stagnation in the economy as a whole.’
“The important message for any employer or employee, if they feel they have a case is just ask for advice. A recession is not an excuse for unlawful acts or behaviour on any side.”
