In an employment tribunal situation, it is not uncommon for a last-minute settlement to be made. On the one hand, this can be a good thing, especially if you can come to a mutual agreement with your employer and it saves you both the hassle of going through the hearing. On the other hand, it can be fraught with problems, especially if you have nobody representing you.
Before the hearing starts a representative of the employer may approach you to try and reach a settlement. If you have a representative then they will handle this discussion on your behalf and ensure that your best interests are represented. If you don’t have a representative then this kind of situation can you leave you on the back-foot and totally unprepared for the negotiation.
It is easy to get intimidated in this type of scenario and have pressure put on you by the employer to withdraw your case or settle. At no point should you agree on a settlement without knowing the full implications and if you do reach an agreement then it is imperative that you ask the tribunal to record the terms of the settlement. By doing this you will have a recorded document of the settlement and you will be able to hold your employer to account if they don’t carry it out.
If you are in the process of taking your employer to a tribunal then it is in your best interest to seek legal representation. At Mark Reynolds Solicitors we have many years experience in representing employees and we will guide and support you throughout the process. And in the event of a last minute settlement being made, we will ensure that your best interests are represented and that any settlement that it made is worked to your advantage. Contact us now to discuss your case with us.