Settlement agreement?

[marsybum]

I'm going to be entering into a settlement agreement with my employer, I don't know how much theyll be offering but I definitely don't want to go back.

Ive been with the company 5 years, always had good appraisals etc (not that they were ever written down) ill be getting a good reference etc. I'm disabled but that's not affected my performance however I do worry it'll make it harder to get a comparable position.

Does anyone know how I would know if they are offering a reasonable settlement? Ive always been paid less than others doing the same job and im worried they will follow the same principle for this? No real reason for being paid less its just always been that way, at one point 2 colleagues doing the same job were on 50% more than me - allegedly because it was "too high a jump" this has been evened out a bit over the last 3 years but there's still a difference.

Id appreciate any advice

[prh47bridge]

The settlement agreement is not binding on you unless you have had legal advice. It is therefore normal for the employer to pay your legal costs. Find a solicitor who specialises in employment law. They will be able to advise you on whether or not the settlement offered is reasonable.

[greenfolder]

Have you not got a solicitor? You really need one.

[MrsBertBibby]

Don't dream of signing it unless they pay for you to have advice from a solicitor of your choice. They are insane if they don't, as in essence, it's a way of them shiftIng liability to your lawyer's insurers.

[trinitybleu]

Don't take their first offer. Get your Solicitor to negotiate for more. I usually start at half what I have been given authority for.

And your Solicitor will find some reason to go back and query bits, in order to double their fee.

[marsybum]

They've just called me and said theyll offer the equivalent of 2 months gross pay, scary prospect really... I'm waiting for a local employment lawyer to call me back, it's all a it difficult to cope with when ive been signed off by the doctor and am struggling with anxiety caused by the way the job has made me feel.

[MrsBertBibby]

This is sounding like disability discrimination to me....

Does your household insurance give you legal advice for employment cases? Quite a few do.

[MrsBertBibby]

Also consider ACAS

www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2042

[marsybum]

I've spoken to a lawyer he will be taking a look, they've now come back and upped the offer slightly (still less than 3 months gross) They've said they want me to have it signed and back to them by the end of the week! I'm feeling totally steamrollered here, I've done nothing wrong, in 5 years ive never had any performance issues or disciplinary, this has all come from them changing my job and me trying to stand up for myself. I think they think I'm playing a game and am not really ill but I spend half the time in tears and the rest with my stomach in knots!

[Orangebird69]

Have you been signed off sick? What's happened between your job changing and your being offered an SA?