In 2009, a new ACAS code was published encouraging the use of mediation for workplace conflict. On top of this, the Ministry of Justice has recently published a long report by a very experienced Appeal Court Judge because of real concerns over the high cost of litigation and access to justice through the courts....
The Employment Tribunal Annual Statistics for 2009/10 have now been published. Key figures are as follows:...
Accidents at work are likely to be investigated by the enforcing authorities, often the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE have wide powers and can enter premises at any reasonable time, remove equipment, take photographs, require people to answer questions, copy documents etc....
The government has announced that the implementation of the Equality Act will start (as planned by the previous Labour Government) on 1 October 2010. Implementation will be in stages and further information as to which provisions will come into force when, is expected in the next week or so....
In Charlton v Orange PCS Ltd ET/2513166/09 the Tribunal has held (in a majority verdict) that a manager who allegedly attempted to touch a male colleague`s genitals at a work related social event, was fairly dismissed for gross misconduct. This was despite him having worked for the employer for 9 years and having an unblemished disciplinary record until that point in time....
Public sector organisations are more susceptible to public scrutiny and need to account for significant decisions made or catastrophes that arise. A high profile case surrounding the outbreak of a superbug in hospitals was recently heard in the Court of Appeal....
Parties in employment tribunal cases usually pay their own costs regardless of whether they are successful or not, unlike civil courts. Although costs can be ordered in the tribunal, they have traditionally been relatively rare....
The employee in the case of Adegbuji v Meteor Parking Ltd failed in his appeal against the tribunal`s decision to dismiss his claim on the basis of fresh evidence. The employee in this case had brought a number of claims including unfair dismissal, breach of contract and race discrimination. The employer challenged whether the tribunal had jurisdiction to hear some of the claims as the employee had not raised a grievance in respect of his claims....
There has been a lot of publicity in the press lately about employers being found guilty of breaching health & safety standards and being fined colossal amounts - enough to bring some companies into liquidation....
According to the HSE`s annual data, the number of people killed at work in the UK last year declined to a record low of 151 workers between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010. This is down on the number of deaths in the previous year of 178. Of these deaths, 23 were in Scotland, 26 fewer than in 2008-09. Whilst these figures are encouraging, the HSE has stated that the reductions may have been a result of the smaller number of people in employment during the recession....
Can a resignation be effective from the date when a conditional letter of resignation is handed in?...
Advice passing from solicitor to client regarding the proceedings of a case is generally protected under litigation privilege and/or legal privilege and therefore does not have to be disclosed. However is the same protection afforded, if advice has been sought from a non-legal professional?...
The public is being invited by the government to nominate laws they want to abolish by proposing ways to get rid of pointless regulation and red tape on the Your Freedom website. Another exercise on the site asks public sector workers where the cuts should come....
When you were younger, was your mum always telling you to sit up straight? Well it turns out her advice may have been wrong. Research carried out at Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen has utilised MRI technology to show that sitting upright in your chair is actually bad for office workers as it places an unnecessary strain on your back....
The Home Secretary, Theresa May, today gave details of the Conservative Party`s manifesto pledge to cap non-EU immigration. A temporary cap will be implemented straight away pending the introduction of the main cap in April 2011....
Thirteen room attendants working at a five-star London hotel , operated by Park Plaza Hotels, have won back pay and compensation after following an investigation undertaken by the BBC programme Newsnight, it emerged they were being paid below minimum wage....
Rose Gibb, the former Chief Executive of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has succeeded with her breach of contract claim against the Trust recovering more than £190,000 in damages. The Court of Appeal`s judgment included scathing criticisms of the Trust`s approach and the involvement of the former Government in relation to the hospital bug crisis which led to the deaths of 90 patients (including the mother in law of former Bucks Fizz singer, Cheryl Baker)....
Chancellor, George Osbourne, confirmed in Tuesday`s Budget that the coalition government will start to consult on how to remove the default retirement age (DRA) from April 2011....
Doubt over the implementation of the Equality Act arose last week when the Government Equalities Office (GEO) removed reference to October 2010 as the commencement date of the majority of the Equality Act 2010 from its website...
The coalition government today announced it`s first budget. Here are the key points for businesses and the public sector....