clear practical advice

1. employment law round up 2011 Michael Ord & Jackie Turner22 November 2011 clear practical advice

2. Topics to be covered • Legislative changes in 2011 • Case round-up • Changes coming in 2012

3. Statutory changes 2011 • Agency Workers Regulations • Abolition of Default Retirement Age • Positive action in recruitment • Public Sector Equality Duty • Bribery Act • Additional Paternity Leave • Compensation Limits

4. Agency workers regulations • In Force 1.10.2011 • “agency worker” • “temporary work agency” • “hirer” • “supply” • day 1 rights • “12 weeks” rights

5. Agency workers • Day 1 Rights • Collective facilities and amenities • Information on job vacancies • Rights after 12 Weeks • Basic working and employment conditions • Information re breach of that right • Deemed compliance • Anti-avoidance

6. End of DRA • 1.10.11 – no enforced retirement through DRA • 4.1.12 – last possible day to request working beyond DRA • 4.4.12 – last day on which notice of retirement can take effect (unextended) • 4.10.12 – last day if extended by 6 months

7. End of DRA (Cont …) • What now? • Contractual Retirement Age? • Objective Justification • Seldon v Clarkson, Wright & Jacks • Workforce Planning? • Cost? Cost alone? • Proportionality • SOSR?

8. No CRA • Workforce Planning • Discussions on career intentions • Acceptance of flexible arrangements • More rigorous line management

9. Positive action • 1.10.10 • People with protected characteristic • [a] overcome disadvantage; [b] meet needs or [c] participate in activity • Can use as a tie breaker in employment • NOT OBLIGED TO DO SO

10. Public sector equality duty • s149-157 EA “have due regard to the need to…..eliminate ……..conduct …prohibited by or under the Act [and]…advance equality of opportunity [and]…foster good relations…”

11. Equality duty which means to…. “have regard to the need to…remove or minimise disadvantages …take steps to meet the needs of…and persuade participation by [people with a protected characteristic]”

12. Equality duty (Cont…) • Which means • Placing contracts • Outsourcing • TUPE issues • Tendering Your compliance with equality issues will be pre qualification.

13. Bribery Act • Risk Assessment • The geographical scope of your activities • The nature of the work your business does • Transactional risk • Business partnership risk

14. Bribery Act (cont …) • Ensure you have an appropriate policy • Check your disciplinary policies • Review contracts / service agreements • Whistleblowing policy? Special provision? • Communication of policy and “values”

15. Additional paternity leave • 6 April 2011 • 26 weeks’ service • Child due, born or placed after 3.4.11 • Father of C; married to M; having care responsibilities • M has returned to work • Up to 26 weeks • 20 to 52 weeks from birth or placement

16. Compensation limits • 1.2.11 • Weeks’ pay £400 • Compensatory Award £68,400 • Additional award £10,400 – 20,800 • Statutory redundancy pay £12,000

17. Notable cases

18. Working time • Compensatory rest • Hughes v Corps of Commissionaires • Lay-over is not “work” • Baxter v Titan Aviation

19. Status • Am I an employee? • Autoclenz v Belcher • Have I been dismissed yet? • Societe General, London v Geys

20. Unfair dismissal • Email usage (private) • Gosden v Lifeline Project Ltd. • Failure to appeal previous final warning • Davies v Sandwell MBC • Need to ensure policies clear and consistent • Liberty Living plc v Reid

21. Unfair dismissal (cont …) • Range of Reasonable Responses and Substitution of view by ET/EAT • Bowater v N W London hospitals NHS Trust • Breakdown of Relations • Ezsias v North Glamorgan NHS Trust • Justifying different treatment • Glowacki v General Mills

22. Equality and discrimination • Avoiding enhanced benefits not unfair? • Woodcock v Cumbria PCT • Dual discrimination • O’Reilly v BBC • Volunteers • X v Mid Sussex CAB • Treating woman on Mat. leave “too favourably” • Eversheds v De Belin

23. Sickness and holiday pay • Does the employee absent through sickness have to request holiday pay? • YES • Fraser v St George’s NHS Trust • NO • NHS Leeds v Lerner

24. “others” • Intention important in Constructive dismissal claim • Tullett Pebron plc v BGC Brokers • Employer liable for theft by employee? • Brinks Global Services v Igrox Ltd.

25. “Others” • Withdrawing notice • C F Capital v Willoughby • Discrimination victim turning down alternative post with employer • Debique v Ministry of Defence • Is misleading reference still (potentially) lawful? • Jackson v Liverpool City Council

26. What’s ahead? • 6 April 2012 – qualifying period for Unfair Dismissal claims • Fees in the Employment Tribunal • £250 issue • £1000 on listing • More if over £30,000 • Refunding and Waiver • Cases heard by Employment Judge alone • “Protected discussions”

27. CONTACT DETAILS • Michael Ord • 0845 901 2036 (desk) • 07850 199 846 (mobile) • Michael.Ord@watsonburton.com • Jackie Turner • 0845 901 2032 (desk) • 07870 680 289 (mobile) • Jacqueline.Turner@watsonburton.com

28. employment law round up 2011 Michael Ord & Jackie Turner22 November 2011 clear practical advice