Essential Employment Law

Overview

Course duration: 2 days.

This course is run in partnership with JSB.

Gain a firm grounding in the key elements of employment law. Authoritative, interactive, crystal-clear tuition will help you check your organisation’s policies against best practice and legal requirements. If you are new to the HR function, or require a refresher on the basics, then this course is for you.

Is it right for me?

This course is designed for HR and personnel professionals, employee relations managers, line managers, HR consultants, anyone else needing to know employment law essentials.

What will I learn?

By the end of this course you will be able to:

• Understand essential aspects of employment law and their practical application.
• Provide sound, authoritative advice to colleagues on latest law.
• Check your organisation’s policies against best practice.

What will it cover?

Creating the employment relationship

• The recruitment process: interviews, the offer letter, references and medicals
• Contracts of employment: what are express and implied terms?
• Restrictive covenants: when do you need them?

Employment status and contracts

• Defining employment status: ‘worker’ and ‘employee’
• Agency workers: considering the employment status of temporary workers following recent case law
• Fixed-term contracts and varying employment contracts
• Working time opt-out provisions, holiday entitlement and enforcement

Discrimination, diversity and equal opportunities

• Direct and indirect discrimination
• Sex, race and disability discrimination
• Sexual orientation, religion or belief, age discrimination
• Victimisation and harassment: defences and protection

Family-friendly rights

• Maternity, paternity and adoption rights
• Parental leave and time off for dependants
• The right to request flexible working arrangements
• The Work and Families Act

Business transfers and outsourcing

• Understanding TUPE: definitions, employer obligations and recent case law
• What are the practical effects of the regulations?
• Contracting out services
• Transfers and unfair dismissal

Grievance and disciplinary procedures

• What are the statutory dismissal and disciplinary procedures?
• Handling grievances in practice
• Handling disciplinary matters: process, procedure and hearings
• Acting fairly and reasonably

Dismissal

• Methods of termination: wrongful, unfair and constructive
• Conduct and capability
• What are automatically unfair dismissals?
• Compromise agreements

Performance and absence

• Dealing with poor performance and absenteeism
• Managing stress-related absence: avoiding common pitfalls
• Misconduct outside the workplace

Employment Tribunals: preparation and procedure

• Time limits and handling claim and response forms
• Documentation for tribunals
• Do’s and don’ts when presenting a case
• Tribunal awards and remedies