Anyone searching for an employment law solicitor in Ballyragget is usually trying to make sense of something that has gone wrong at work, a dismissal, a redundancy, or a grievance that has stalled. Ballyragget sits about 16 km north of Kilkenny city, with Jenkinstown and Lisdowney each only about 6 km away and Freshford a little further again, and we take calls from employees and employers right across that part of north Kilkenny. The advice is handled by Richard O’Shea, solicitor, with matters arranged through our website’s contact page.
Why Employees and Employers in Ballyragget Contact Us
A good deal of what we hear about from this area involves smaller workplaces, where there is no dedicated HR department and the owner or manager is handling personnel matters alongside everything else. That often means contracts were never put in writing properly, or a disciplinary process was started without anyone being quite sure of the right steps. We also hear from employees who feel a grievance was never properly addressed, or who are dealing with ongoing stress or bullying and do not know whether, or how, to raise it formally.
Redundancy situations come up regularly too, particularly where a business has had to restructure and an employee wants to understand whether the redundancy was handled correctly. Unfair dismissal and constructive dismissal queries are common, as are questions about settlement agreements once an employer has proposed one. We also advise on discrimination and equality concerns, protected disclosures, and data privacy issues connected to the workplace, such as access to personnel files or monitoring of staff.
Getting Your Employment Matter Underway
The first step is usually a conversation to establish what has actually happened, in what order, and what documents exist already, such as a contract of employment, written warnings, minutes of meetings, or correspondence with the WRC. You do not need to have everything organised before you contact us, but it helps to have a rough timeline in your head of the key dates and conversations. We will ask about these early on so we can give advice that fits your situation rather than a general outline.
From there, the next steps depend on what you are dealing with. Some matters are resolved through correspondence and negotiation, others involve a WRC complaint, and some are really about getting a contract or grievance procedure drafted properly before a dispute arises at all. We explain what is involved at each stage as we go, and nothing is submitted or sent on your behalf without you understanding what it means first. You can get this started by using the contact page on our website.
This Part of North Kilkenny: Ballyragget, Jenkinstown, Lisdowney and Freshford
We act for clients across Ballyragget and the towns around it, including Jenkinstown and Lisdowney a short distance away, and Freshford a little further out, as well as Kilkenny city itself, about 16 km to the south. Employment law does not change from one townland to the next, so the advice we give someone in Ballyragget is the same advice we would give a client anywhere else in County Kilkenny, shaped around the facts of their own case.
You do not need to travel to an office to get started. Consultations can be arranged by phone or video call once you contact us through the website, and documents can be exchanged electronically, which suits clients who are working around farm, shop or shift hours and cannot easily take a half day off.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to come to an office in Kilkenny city or Dublin to get advice?
No. We can arrange a consultation by phone or video call, and documents can be sent and signed electronically, so you do not need to travel from Ballyragget to meet with us in person.
I think I have been unfairly dismissed, what should I do first?
Try to gather together your contract of employment, any written warnings or correspondence, and a note of the key dates before you contact us. The position depends on the circumstances and the current law, so it is best to get advice on your specific situation rather than assume a general rule applies.
Can you help with a workplace problem that has not yet gone to the WRC?
Yes. A lot of what we do is advising at an earlier stage, on a grievance, a disciplinary process, or a settlement proposal, before any complaint is lodged, since many matters are resolved through correspondence and discussion.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Your position depends on your circumstances and the current law; please get advice on your own situation. In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.