The process of selecting staff for redundancy is fraught with legal pitfalls and seeking professional advice at the outset can in the long run save you from serious financial and reputational damage. In a case on point, a local authority reaped a whirlwind after mismanaging
Many employers quite understandably treat certain forms of misconduct particularly seriously, but the adoption of so-called ‘zero-tolerance’ policies is replete with legal pitfalls. That was certainly so in the case of the Home Office’s tough stance on employee misuse of its IT systems. The case
So-called team moves, in which key personnel simultaneously resign and move in concert to a competitor, can have a devastating impact on any business. However, as a High Court case underlined, those on the receiving end of such a manoeuvre do not have to take
Personality clashes in the workplace are sadly common but, if senior managers fail to keep their cool, the financial consequences can be severe. In a case on point, an eminent forensic scientist who resigned after suffering discrimination and bullying during a fractious meeting won the
Sexual harassment in the workplace is a very serious matter and employers should think long and hard before making such an allegation. In a case where that signally failed to happen, a wrongly accused executive succeeded in an unfair dismissal claim and was awarded more
Fixed-term employment contracts mean what they say and expire at the end of their terms without the need for any notice of termination. The Court of Appeal so ruled in a case which clarified the interrelationship between fixed-term contracts and public sector collective agreements. The
Informal workplace atmospheres are positively encouraged by many employers, but they should beware of a culture of discriminatory and offensive banter developing. In one case, a mental health charity paid a heavy financial and reputational price for failing to stamp out such behaviour. The charity
Those who play fast and loose with the contractual obligations they owe to their employers can expect severe consequences. That was certainly so in the case of a highly paid financier who resigned from his job, without notice, at a time when he had for
Employers must provide all the equipment needed to help disabled workers perform as efficiently as possible, and failing to do so can by itself amount to discrimination. A case on point concerned an NHS nurse who, due to a range of disabilities, needed specialised software
It is a popular misconception that workplace whistleblowing protection is available to anyone who points a finger of accusation. As an Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) ruling underlined, making allegations is one thing and providing actual information in what you believe to be the public interest
