Employment law support
Sontay is a market leader in the manufacturing of peripheral devices which use data and technology to control building environments. It has been producing these products for over 45 years from its factory in Kent.
Sontay’s devices make a difference in the performance of buildings globally including a university hospital in Spain, a museum in Dubai and a primary school in Malta. Sontay prides itself on its unrivalled customer service and believes its people are the reason for its success.
We have worked with Sontay for over two-and-a-half years, assisting its managers and directors on employment law issues so they can concentrate on operating the business effectively.
In 2022, we managed a complex absence and performance case for Sontay which included:
- preparing correspondence between the employee and employer
- liaising and negotiating with the nominated representative
- drawing up a settlement agreement based on the terms proposed and the agreement reached.
In March 2021, we worked with Sontay to review the employee handbook, to identify elements that could be excluded or updated. We developed its contents and created a new structure including separate policies. We also provided an updated contract of employment, application form and exit questionnaire to be used in the newly implemented exit interview process.
Other examples of work included:
- We provided general advice on pay and reward matters, including benchmarking salary information and supporting salary increases for employees.
- We delivered employment law and human resource updates to the board and line managers on a range of topics.
Mark Newton, Managing Director said:
“We find Watershed to be superb a support partner in this area. The team are knowledgeable, polite and deadline-driven. However, the biggest benefit to our business is that they ‘truly’ listen to a potential employment issue a member of my team raises with them, and they then help to create a straightforward plan of action. This removes the fear of ‘what should I do next?’ and empowers my management team to act with confidence and clarity whenever they face an HR issue.”
Andrew Dunning, Employment Lawyer at Watershed, with Mark Newton, Managing Director at Sontay, at the Sontay Factory in Kent.
