OUR EXPERTISE
Employment and social security law is an extensive and very diverse branch of law with which Degrande Law firm feels greatly at ease.
We attempt to solve any issue our clients present to us at short notice and in an efficient manner. We try to find negotiated solutions “out of court”. Legal proceedings are the ultimate remedy.
Employment Laws
We advise on all aspects of employment, in particular in negotiating and/or drafting employment contracts containing individual clauses designed specially for particular forms of business. We help clients define and implement individual lay-offs and end-of-career schemes for executives and older workers (unemployment allowances with company top-up, time-credit, sabbaticals, etc.). We also assist clients in emergencies: disciplinary proceedings or termination on serious grounds.
Work Permits
We assist employers and self-employed contractors in obtaining the required work and residence permits in Belgium.
Collective industrial relations
We help clients in the application of all the rules relating to employee representation bodies (works council, safety committee, trade union delegation and European works council), including social elections. We also get involved in negotiating and drafting collective bargaining agreements plus court cases in relation to collective industrial conflicts.
Discrimination
We assist clients in implementing practices and pay scales that comply with the law. We help draft anti-discrimination procedures and manage complaints that arise; if needed, we represent clients before the courts or the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men and the Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism.
Employment Audits
We carry out complete audits of clients’ HR documentation and practices: standard contracts, works regulations, internal procedures, expense refunds, pay and benefits, etc. The objective is to make sure not only that the company is in line with its statutory obligations but that it also has optimum records and practices that will best protect its interests.
Employment criminal law
We advise clients on how to ensure their practices comply with the employment regulations. In the event of an audit or proceedings further to suspected breach of the Employment Criminal Code, we help and guide our clients and their officers at inspection hearings. We maintain appropriate contacts with the employment public prosecutors and the judicial authorities and represent clients before the criminal and civil courts.
Reorganisations
We have developed a specialised expertise in the field of reorganisations, collective lay-offs and closures of (parts of) undertakings. The range of our involvement particularly covers information, consultation and negotiation with the employee representatives. We deal with the official formalities, notifications to the authorities, creation of employment cells, etc.
We also help clients in operations of transfers of (parts of) undertakings, outsourcing and in mergers and acquisitions.
Service and consultancy contracts
We help clients draw up and implement working arrangements that go beyond the employment contract. We assess whether using such forms of engagement are advantageous or legal and prepare the appropriate paperwork.
Well-being in the workplace
Issues linked to well-being in the workplace and the pyscho-social burden generated at and by work, have in recent times become one of the major bugbears in the management of human resources. You can rely on our widespread experience to assist you in dealing with these issues, whether at a preventive stage or in dealing with disputes.
Social security law
We offer extensive and practical knowledge of all possible aspects of social security law. Typical cases for Degrande Advocaten relating to social security law include:
Inspections by the Social Security Inspection Department
Questions on whether certain benefits are part of the salary or not
International employment relationships: salary split, expats…
Incapacity to work or occupational diseases
Work accidents
Inspections by the Migration Department
Unemployment
Relocation Services
We assist with practical and administrative issues for your transferees and their family. This service starts even before arrival in Belgium: opening a bank account, obtaining the right documents abroad for registration once they are in Belgium. To ensure everything is in compliance with the law and the company regulations, we review the lease and other contracts that a transferee needs to sign. We make sure that the correct work permit and visa are obtained, and keep track of the timing to renew the permit.
Social Compliance Management
Set up and follow up the daily administration of your Belgian social compliance.