Nursery World - Business Development: Know where you stand

Problems to do with litigious staff are bound to affect every business, even those that pride themselves on loyal and motivated teams. Ensuring you get the best employment law advice can save money and much heartache, says Sarah Steel, manager of the Old Station nursery chain

When I first started my company, a friend in business asked what I was going to do and when I explained, he said, 'That's all very well, but you really should do something that doesn't involve people'. At the time I laughed and decided that he was just a cynic; after all, staff are at the very heart of what we do in daycare.

Nine years on, I am sadly becoming more cynical, as the employment law in this country is stacked totally against the employer and has allowed things to get out of hand.

During the last two years the number of employment tribunals has increased at a staggering rate and there is no cost to the employee at all, whereas an employer is expected to be represented by an advocate and therefore automatically racks up a bill of several thousand pounds - even if they have done absolutely nothing wrong.

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