How do I get help for my employment problem?
One of the first things callers say when they make contact with Mathews Walker is, ‘I’m not sure where to start,’ ‘I’m not sure if you can help me,’ or ‘I’ve never done this before.’ Most people only experience a situation where they need employment advice once or twice in their lives, so it's ok not to know what you are doing. But here are some tips to help make it a little easier on you, and a little easier for us to help.
Why are you calling?
It’s ok not to know the legal terminology or relevant legislation regarding your work situation. It is enough to know that something isn’t right and that you need help. There can be a lot of different things going on that have contributed to the situation so try and work out what the main issue is and start from there.
We handle disputes for employees who have been made redundant, accused or dismissed for misconduct or serious misconduct, been underpaid or incorrectly paid, or have been bullied, harassed or discriminated against by their employer.
Before you turn to AI for help, give Mathews Walker a call and tell us, in your own words, what has happened.
Examples: ‘My boss said I am being made redundant,’ ‘My colleague has made a complaint about me and I have to go to a meeting,’ or ‘My manager has been bullying me and I can’t take it anymore.’
How long has this been going on?
One of the first things you will be asked by our team is how long the situation has been going on for. One of the best things you can do before you make the call, is sit down and make a timeline of what happened and when. Include anything that is relevant to your current situation and have that information handy when you call.
It is also often helpful to have relevant documentation regarding your employment - the latest version of your employment contract and any relevant correspondence (email, letter, txt) regarding the current situation i.e. proposal for restructuring, invitation to disciplinary meeting etc.
There are some important deadlines for handling employment disputes so it is good to have the detail on when things happened. I.e. a Personal Grievance needs to be filed within 90 days.
What has just happened that has made you call us?
When a dispute is ongoing for some time at work, there can be one incident or trigger which causes you to make the decision to contact us for help. If you have a long list of issues which have occurred over a long period of time, it can be a good idea to focus on the most recent incident - the straw that broke the camel’s back - when you make contact. We can then ask you for more information on the situation leading up to that incident to provide any context we need.
For example: If your manager has been bullying you for some time and it has just got to the point where you have needed to take time off for stress leave, or you have raised an issue a number of times with your employer and they have just told you 'that you just need to get on with it on your own'.
What outcome do you want?
While it will be down to the advocate to provide you with your options in terms of next steps and potential remedies, it is good it think beforehand about what the optimal outcome would be for you.
Do you want to keep your job or do you think it has come to a point where you need to leave?
Do you want to file a personal grievance against your employer or do you just want to never have to deal with them again and exit.
Having a sense of what you are prepared to do, and what you think you deserve to get out of the situation, can be a good starting point for your discussions with your advocate.
What will happen when I call Mathews Walker?
When you call Mathews Walker Employment Law, we will listen and make a first assessment on what your options might be.
We will talk you through how the process works and what you need to know about potential next steps.
If we think you would benefit from some legal advice or representation, we will explain our fee structure and organise an initial free consultation for you to talk to one of our advocates about your case.
And we won’t leave you waiting. Our advocate will call you within 24 hours to help with your case.
Why choose Mathews Walker Employment Law?
Mathews Walker Employment Law has recently received its 500th five-star google review. Our clients have made the following comments about using our services:
“Simon provided grounded, sensible advice with zero fluff, carefully waking me through every option and its potential outcomes.”
“Paul broke things down into simple explanations and gave advice you could tell was from experience and caring.”
“The process was quite stressful at times, and having guidance helped me feel more confident navigating it.”
“Emma was professional, kind, supportive, and very knowledgeable throughout my employment case.”
If you have a problem at work and need some help figuring out your next steps, get in touch today for a free consultation. MathewsWalker.co.nz | Employment Problems Solved | 0800 612 355
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. While we strive to keep the information accurate and up to date, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the blog or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the blog for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. For specific legal advice tailored to your situation, please contact a qualified legal professional.
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