Disciplinary Investigations. The ACAS Code of Practice made investigations critically important prior to a formal disciplinary hearing.
Disciplinary Investigations
Fathers Entitled To Attend Ante Natal Appointments
From 1 October 2014 fathers and a pregnant woman’s partner will have a new right to attend ante natal appointments with the pregnant woman.
Shared Parental Leave
Shared parental leave applies in relation to babies due on or after 5 April 2015. The first women who will benefit from shared parental leave will shortly be informing their employers about their pregnancy and asking questions about the new right.
Read my overview of the key elements of this new regime,
Contract of Employment
The Contract of Employment is one of the most important documents in the employment relationship. This guide explains what must be included, the difference between a contract and a Section 1 Statement, and how employers can ensure their documentation remains legally compliant and fit for purpose.
Time Off For Dependents
The time off for dependents legislation entitles all employees to take a reasonable amount of time off work for a variety of sudden or unexpected events that affect someone who is dependent on the individual
Surrogate Parents Entitled To Adoption Leave and Pay
The issue of maternity rights for surrogate parents has recently caused confusion with two Advocates General to the Court of Justice of the European Union (‘CJEU’) giving conflicting guidance.
Read my overview of the differing opinions of the Court’s advisers.
Settlement Agreements
Settlement Agreement are legally binding agreements in which the employee agrees not to pursue any claim they may have to an employment tribunal and in return the employer usually provides a severance payment. Notice, as outlined in the contract of employment, is usually included in the agreement and generally provides for a “payment in lieu”.
Read my Top Tips to the terms a settlement agreement should contain.
Attendance at Disciplinary Hearings
Can an employee refuse to attend a disciplinary hearing? This guide explains attendance requirements, postponements, sickness absence, companion availability and when employers may be able to proceed in an employee’s absence.
Carry Over Of Holiday And Long Term Sickness
The relationship between workers’ rights, their holiday and how those rights are affected by sickness absence has been a much debated subject in recent years. A particular issue has been to what extent a worker on long-term sick leave, who has been unable to take holiday due to sickness, is entitled to carry forward accrued but untaken holiday to the following leave year.
Probationary Periods – best practice
The primary purpose of using probationary periods is to provide a clear framework for assessing the suitability of new employees in terms of performance, behaviour and attendance against the standards you have set for the role.
This means when you use a probationary period you should clearly set out your standards and expectations from the very start so the new employee fully understands what you expect from them in terms of performance, behaviour and attendance and the consequences of failing to achieve those standards.
