Free legal information for small business structures
20 August 2025 | Comment(s) |
Maxence Bridy
Are you self-employed or run a small business and have insurance for daily allowance in case of illness, accident insurance or occupational pension insurance with Groupe Mutuel? We also offer support when you need expert advice on legal matters.
For owners of microenterprises and freelancers
This free legal information service provides quick access to the expertise of lawyers and legal experts from our partner Dextra Protection Juridique SA. Insured companies can obtain professional advice in a wide range of legal areas, including employment law, private and social insurance, contracts and criminal law.
Two levels of service are available, depending on whether the client company has one or more insurance policies with Groupe Mutuel. Services range from telephone calls and legal consultations to, if necessary, referral to a lawyer at negotiated rates.
To give you a clearer idea, here are a few examples of situations experienced by our clients who have used the free legal information service.
Do we have to pay for overtime?
A small engineering firm employs several permanent project managers. During peak periods, they regularly work overtime, especially at weekends. After several months, and based on internal emails, work reports and company practice, one of the employees claims retroactive compensation for these services.
The office management is surprised because the employment contract provided for a flat rate for overtime. It therefore does not know whether the claim is justified, what obligations it could entail and how to avoid such situations in the future.
- The company obtained clear and immediate answers to this case by seeking the legal support offered.
What is the impact of a private incident on the employer?
A small regional transport company employs around ten drivers, including a long-standing employee who has always shown exemplary commitment. Following a private incident involving drink driving, the employee lost his driving licence for several months.
For the employer, this absence not only causes a problem in terms of route planning, but also raises questions about how to deal with such a case: can the employee continue to work part-time in planning or in the warehouse? Can he be dismissed? Are there any liability risks if the case becomes public or if customers find out about it?
- Thanks to the legal support provided, the company quickly obtained precise answers to its specific questions.
Can an employee be dismissed after an illness?
A small cleaning company employs several part-time staff. One of them was absent for several months due to a back injury and was then dismissed shortly after the expiry of the statutory protection period. However, the employee remains convinced that her dismissal is directly related to her medical history and is threatening to take legal action for unfair dismissal.
The management of the cleaning company then wondered whether the dismissal was legal, whether it should fear financial consequences and how it should respond to the accusations. There were also uncertainties regarding the role of daily allowances and internal communication.
- By contacting legal assistance, the company was able to quickly obtain reliable advice on the legal steps to take in this situation.
Are these new charges justified?
A small creative agency has been renting offices in an old building in the city centre for several years. Until now, it has received a credit note when the annual service charges were settled. However, in the last statement, the company noticed new charges that had not been invoiced before: security costs, general electricity, environmental charges, annual drain cleaning and a flat fee for the property management company to calculate the charges. This meant that the charges had increased by almost 30% compared to the previous year.
The property management company only provided general references to common practice in the sector, and the agency manager fears that the additional costs may be unjustified.
- When the company consulted real estate lawyers, it immediately received the necessary information on how to proceed.
To find out more about this free service offered by Groupe Mutuel and the conditions of access, visit the dedicated web page.
Did you know?
Groupe Mutuel is the only comprehensive insurer for individuals in Switzerland. It offers a complete range of products covering all areas of personal insurance for businesses. You will benefit from the expertise and skills of dedicated professionals.
