Employment Web site gets legal aid from Kingsfords

A Kent law firm is providing legal backing for a Web site aimed at helping small and medium-sized companies avoid employment litigation.

Kingsfords will oversee the new site, www.jobsworth.com, which was set up after two of its creators were involved with avoidable employment litigation because the correct legal documents had not been used.The site includes an A-Z 'jargon buster' explaining legal terminology, along with an interactive facility which allows employers to devise their own employment contracts.

It also provides access to other legal documents and guidance on issues including disciplinary procedures and Sunday working.

Users can subscribe to e-mail alerts on the latest employment law developments, which are tailored to their specific needs.Kingsfords will keep an eye on the legal content on the site and step in if Jobsworth's legal advisers need help in providing specific employment information.

Users will also be able to seek advice from Kingsfords - either on-line or face to face - at a discounted rate.Tim Fagg, senior partner at Kingsfords, said that many small companies do not bother giving employees contracts.

'If more companies become aware of the fact that they ought to be giving out contracts, then the site could do very well,' he said, suggesting that the sanctions for not providing contracts should be stronger.The site's marketing manager, Graham Thomas, said employers are often opening themselves up to risks unnecessarily.

'Smaller companies do not have the departments or people in place to perform these functions, and so with this Web site we are fulfilling the role of human resources departments,' he said.Paula Rohan