The EAT in Lancaster University -v- The University and College Union (UCU), agreed with the Tribunal`s decision to reduce a protective award from the maximum 90 days` to 60 days` pay. The union had ‘effectively condoned` a failure to undertake a collective redundancy consultation process....
Sometimes employers need to make changes to terms and conditions of employment for sound business reasons and unfortunately those reasons do not always meet the employees` expectations. Also, it can be difficult for employees to fully understand why certain decisions are being made as, by no fault of their own, they are unlikely to be party to all the relevant information and/or the financial pressures of the employer....
A recent annual absence survey carried out by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has revealed that stress-related absence levels have increased over the past year. Workers in the public sector came off worse, with the survey finding that they took an average of 9.6 days off sick a year (3 days more than those working in the private sector)....
The Equality and Human Rights Commission`s Codes of Practice on the Equality Act 2010 were published and laid before parliament last week....
In the case of Gisda Cyf v Barratt [2010] UKSC 41, the Claimant was sent home following a disciplinary and told to expect a letter concerning possible dismissal....
In a first reading, the European Parliament has voted on the European Commission`s proposal to reform the 1992 Maternity Leave Directive, increasing the minimum period of maternity leave from 14 to 18 weeks and paying women 100 per cent of their salary during maternity leave....
The Employment Relations Minister, Ed Davey, announced this week that the government will not be amending the Agency Workers Regulations before their entry into force in October 2011. The Regulations, which are a requirement of an EC directive, were passed in the last weeks of the Labour Government and, following the general election, the Coalition Government made a pledge to review certain aspects of the Regulations in the light of concerns raised on behalf of employers, in particular by the CBI....
As the headline figure of an estimated 500,000 public sector job losses starts to sink in following today`s spending review announcement, we should remind ourselves that this is only an estimate. The really hard work of how £83 billion worth of spending cuts by 2015 will translate into job losses is likely to take some months to thrash out and even then there will be plenty of negotiations to be had with the unions....
Chancellor George Osbourne announced his Spending Review today. This was expected to set the deepest cuts in public spending in decades....
It has been widely reported in the press this week that Wayne Rooney has fallen out with manager Alex Ferguson and is looking to leave Manchester United when his current fixed term contract expires in 20 months time....
Last week it seemed everyone had an opinion on the current law on strikes in the wake of feared industrial action by public sector workers and an autumn-winter of discontent in response to the Government`s spending cuts. According to the Daily Telegraph and official figures, the number of public sector working days lost to disputes has already shot up in the 12 months to July due to walkouts such as the Civil Service strike in March and the Royal Mail action last year. A forthcoming opportunity to see how public sector workers will react to the cuts will take place on 20 October. The Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) is due to be announced then. This is the Government`s four year public spending plans and will include a sharp rise in pension contributions for nurses, teachers and other public sector staff. The BBC staff have also planned a strike that would hit the corporation`s coverage of the CSR. There is a fear that widespread unrest could jeopardise Britain`s fragile economic recovery....
The Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA) have just published their latest annual review, which includes a foreword from our Deputy Managing Partner, David Rintoul, who is this year`s BSRIA Chairman....
The BBC has reported today that large bonuses cannot be taken away from doctors, even if their performance deteriorates, because of a loophole in the system....
The Supreme Court has handed down its Judgment in Gisada Syf v Barratt, upholding the decision of the Court of Appeal that a dismissal is not effective until it is communicated to the employee. When an employee is dismissed in writing this means that, so long as the employee has not deliberately avoided reading the letter, dismissal is not effective until the employee has read the letter....
According to the Law Gazette, yes. An article published on it`s website last week predicts that Tribunal`s will ‘struggle to cope` as they are ‘submerged` by a surge in cases stemming from the Equality Act 2010....
Equal Pay for women is always a topical issue but even more so at the moment with the release of the film ‘Made in Dagenham` to stir women up. The coalition government`s emergency budget just compounded matters with the Fawcett Society stating that 72% of budget cuts will be met from women`s income. Could a second wave of feminism be brewing ......
Close to a million people are predicted to lose their jobs in the next four years as a result of budget cuts expected in the Government`s Comprehensive Spending Review, which will be announced next week....
The severity of the government cuts likely to be announced this month will inevitably lead to a substantial reduction in capital spending projects in the public sector. Coupled with uncertainties in the residential and commercial property sectors means that many main contractors are facing tough times and many could go out of business altogether....
As the new series of the Apprentice hits our screens tonight, the BBC has published a story regarding the rise of workers over 50 who are commencing apprenticeships....
Were you one of the unlucky commuters stuck in the middle of the dispute between Trade Unions and staff on the London Underground yesterday? Many commuters faced hours of delays and cancelled trains as they tried to get to and from work after 11,000 members of the RMT union and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) started a 24 hour walk out at 7pm on Sunday night....