News

Employment legislation changes 

The annual 6 April date for the introduction of changes in employment law brings a number of new challenges for everyone. Changes include increase in holiday entitlement; flexible working; penalties for failure to pay National Minimum Wage; increases to statutory sick pay, maternity, paternity and adoption pay; employment agencies; directors' remuneration; and withdrawal of VAT staff hire concession ... read more

New ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures 

The Government's attempts to encourage employers and employees to resolve disputes internally through the statutory minimum disciplinary, dismissal and grievance procedures have been abandoned. It is widely acknowledged that those complex and cumbersome procedures proved to be a weapon of mass frustration.  In their wake, a more flexible regime took effect on Monday 6 April 2009 ... read more

This month's top seven employment cases

• Heyday challenge to mandatory retirement age
• Sick leave and holiday pay
• TUPE consultation ends on the transfer
• No show clauses
• Religious discrimination – Christians and sexual orientation
• Restrictive covenant reminder
• TUPE in administration

Click here to read brief summaries about these recent cases.

Insight

Managing your cost base - alternatives to redundancy

As organisations continue to rationalise their cost base the question of redundancies remains high on the corporate agenda. We examine the implications of redundancy programmes, the viable alternatives and the potential legal and HR ramifications of each ... read more

Redundancy selection criteria

When redundancies are necessary, businesses need to make sure they get the selection right to avoid claims, but more importantly to make sure the business retains the skills and experience it will need in the short and longer term. We look at the key legal issues to consider in relation to selection pools and criteria, as well as examining how to ensure your organisation's objectives are met by maximising the flexibility the law offers ... read more

In the press

Ask the expert: Reduced working hours and pay

Due to the current climate, employers may wish to reduce working hours to three days per week. Speechly Bircham's Matthew Whelan advises on the legal implications to be aware of in terms of a reduction in pay ... read more

Poaching staff ...

Workplace conflict and discussion of the application of the new ACAS Code of Practice

Tuesday 26 May 2009

8.30am registration

Resolving workplace conflict has always been a key part of HR's role. The survey results, from our joint survey with King's College London, show that levels of internal conflict continue to rise and are expected to continue to do so. Further, the background appears to be increasingly aggressive management actions. With the recent abolition of the much criticised statutory procedures, this event will help employers understand the new landscape and what different approaches they can take to resolving workplace conflict going forward. 

For more information on the issues raised in this newsletter, please contact

Alan Julyan, Head of Employment and Partner

Trevor Bettany, Partner

Richard Martin, Partner

Robert Thomas, Partner

Tracy Evlogidis, Head of Immigration