More workers seek employment advice

With UK unemployment numbers currently standing at 1.92 million people, home insurer LV= has revealed that it has seen a sharp rise in the number of calls made to its legal helpline for advice on employment issues.

According to the insurer, the number of calls received in the first quarter of 2009 has risen by 21%, and a quarter of all calls relate to employment issues such as redundancy. This represents a rise of a third when compared with 2008.

On a wider scale, research by conducted by Opinium reveals that up to one million people having to take legal advice on employment issues in the last 12 months. Almost half (47%) of those cited the recession as the cause of their problems, and common areas of concern included being asked to work reduced hours, being asked to take a pay cut or being made redundant.

LV=’s analysis of employment related calls made to its legal advice helpline in the first quarter of 2009 shows that employers were acting illegally in a third of cases. The research also revealed that potentially over half of all UK adults (55%) have had to take some form of legal advice in the past, with the average cost of such advice coming in at £708 per case.

John O’Roarke, managing director of LV= home insurance, commented:

“The statistics from our helpline show that an increasing number of people are looking for legal help because of employment problems caused directly by the recession. The issues are far ranging, covering redundancies, a reduction in hours and pay, or changes in employment contracts.”

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