Employment Legal Advice Service
By Naomi Ilagoswa, Head of Strategic Partnerships & External Projects, The Growth Company
The Growth Company together with Citizens Advice Manchester, Citizens Advice Bury and Bolton and a network of legal partners, have set up Employment Legal Advice – a new service to help individuals across Greater Manchester to access free employment-related legal support. The service is designed to help you access the right advice at the right time as quickly and easily as possible. They have supported people with a wide range of employment issues including discrimination, unpaid wages, dismissal, bullying, contractual issues, harassment, long term sickness, redundancy and pregnancy.
Of those who contact the service; 35% are disabled or have a health condition, 13% speak English as a second language and 17% work in a low paid industry
Hayley Hughes, Head of Business Development & Local Services, Citizen’s Advice Manchester: “Our key reason for partnering on this project was an increase in the demand for employment advice, although this specific increase was generated by the pandemic, we have long been aware that there is a gap in access to employment (legal) advice in Manchester. Unfortunately, when people encounter an employment issue, they are often left with nowhere else to turn other than fee paying solicitors. Many of the people who access this service simply do not have the financial means to instruct a solicitor and therefore often they will not pursue their case.”
Stockport Homes also commented: “The free Employment Legal Advice Service provided has been exceptional. The empathic, professional, supportive and efficient service the customers have received has not only resulted in successful outcomes but also provided reassurance, hope, clarity and direction at a time when customers are feeling most vulnerable, overwhelmed and unable to cope.”
For more information please visit the website.
