This chapter examines various Articles of the European Convention on Human Rights in order to see how, following the passage of the Human Rights Act 1998, the subject of human rights has had an impact on UK employment law. The articles of the Convention that are considered in relation to employment law are: the right not to be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment (Art. 3); the right not to be required to perform forced or compulsory labour (Art. 4); the right to a fair trial (Art. 6); the right to respect for private life (Art. 8); the right to freedom of thought (Art. 9); the right to freedom of expression (Art. 10); the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and to join trade unions (Art. 11); and the right to enjoy the substantive rights and freedoms set forth in the Convention without discrimination (Art. 14).
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This chapter examines the most important statutory remedy that employees may have on losing their jobs. It begins by exploring the history of unfair dismissal law. It then considers the stages to be completed for employees to make a successful claim. It explains the various reasons for a dismissal that need to be established if a claim is to be made out (or defended as the case may be). It looks at the issue of remedies as well as the effects of legislation in this area and whether it has been successful in its aims.
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This chapter examines the circumstances in which it may be possible for an employee to bring a claim against the employer for a statutory redundancy payment. It first outlines the justification of the statutory scheme then considers the definition of redundancy and the circumstances in which the employee might lose a right to claim a redundancy payment. It examines issues consequent on finding a redundancy—namely, offers of new employment and the effects of a refusal. Finally, the method of calculating redundancy payments is discussed along with an examination of what the legal position is when the employer is insolvent and perhaps where there is a rescue in prospect. In so doing, the position of trade unions and employee representatives is also considered.
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Each Concentrate revision guide is packed with essential information, key cases, revision tips, exam Q&As, and more. Concentrates show you what to expect in a law exam, what examiners are looking for, and how to achieve extra marks. This chapter reviews the law on the termination of the employment contract. Employees have a statutory right not to be unfairly dismissed and the Employment Rights Act (ERA) 1996 identifies the criteria to be satisfied in order for the employee to gain protection. The common law protects against wrongful dismissal and provides tests and guidance for situations involving a breach of an employment contract. The chapter also considers redundancy situations. As this is governed by statute, it is necessary to appreciate the obligations imposed on the employer to adopt fair procedures.
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This chapter discusses law on employment discrimination. It considers the background theoretical problems of legislation in this area and its history; the forms of discrimination; and the areas of discrimination covered by the Equality Act 2010. It then examines the scope of the legislation in terms of legislative protection given to applicants for employment, employees during employment, and former employees. This is followed by an investigation into the exceptions to the statutory claims and the legal enforcement of them. The chapter concludes by looking at two areas of statutory discrimination law that are not covered by the 2010 Act: discrimination against part-time workers; and discrimination against fixed-term workers.
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The Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) Regulations aim to protect the interests of employees when the business they work for changes hands, or when their part of an operation is acquired or transferred to another business. They also apply in merger situations, when in-house processes are outsourced, when a contract to provide a service transfers from one provider to another, and when a public sector body such as a local authority ‘contracts out’ services, or indeed, brings formerly contracted out services back in house. They form a specialised corner of employment law, but one which can be very important for large numbers of people. This chapter discusses core TUPE rights, when TUPE applies, consultation requirements, contractual rights, unfair dismissal rights, sharing of information between transferors and transferees, and TUPE Regulations in respect of the takeover of insolvent businesses.
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This chapter considers the law on transfer of undertakings. The EU Acquired Rights Directive (Council Directive 77/187/EC) obligated member states to safeguard employees’ rights where businesses were transferred from one employer to another. The Government introduced the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 to put it into effect, now replaced by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) 2006 as amended. The chapter explores the types of transfer covered and conditions employees must satisfy in order to obtain the protection of the Regulations. It looks at particular issues such as the position in which only part of an undertaking is transferred and in which there are group companies involved. The right of employees not to be transferred and the effect on their pensions and their contracts of employment are also examined. Finally, the law on trade union and employee representative involvement in the process is explored.
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The Q&A series offer the best preparation for tackling exam questions. Each book includes typical questions, bullet-pointed answer plans and suggested answers, author commentary and illustrative diagrams and flowcharts. This chapter presents sample exam questions about statutory employment protection and related contractual issues. Through a mixture of problem questions and essays, students are guided through some of the key issues on the topic of statutory employment protection including eligibility requirements for the right not to be unfairly dismissed, the right to written reasons for dismissal, statutory minimum notice periods, the right to be accompanied to disciplinary hearings, and the ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures. Students are also introduced to the current key debates in the area and provided with suggestions for additional reading for those who want to take things further.
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The Q&A series offer the best preparation for tackling exam questions. Each book includes typical questions, bullet-pointed answer plans and suggested answers, author commentary, and illustrative diagrams and flowcharts. This chapter presents sample exam questions about statutory employment protection and related contractual issues. Through a mixture of problem questions and essays, students are guided through some of the key issues on the topic of statutory employment protection including eligibility requirements for the right not to be unfairly dismissed, the right to written reasons for dismissal, statutory minimum notice periods, the right to be accompanied to disciplinary hearings, and the ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures. Students are also introduced to the current key debates in the area and provided with suggestions for additional reading for those who want to take things further.
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Each Concentrate revision guide is packed with essential information, key cases, revision tips, exam Q&As, and more. Concentrates show you what to expect in a law exam, what examiners are looking for, and how to achieve extra marks. This chapter discusses the law on redundancy. Employees are considered redundant if the employer has ceased or intends to cease carrying on the business for the purposes for which the employees were employed, or in the place where they are employed there has been, or will be, a diminution in the need for work of a particular kind. The burden of proof is on the employer to show that any offer of alternative employment was suitable and that any refusal by the employee was unreasonable. The size of a redundancy payment depends upon the employee’s age, length of service, and the amount of a week’s pay.
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Each Concentrate revision guide is packed with essential information, key cases, revision tips, exam Q&As, and more. Concentrates show you what to expect in a law exam, what examiners are looking for, and how to achieve extra marks. This chapter discusses the law on parental rights. Topics covered include maternity leave, parental leave, time off for dependants, the right to request flexible working, and the new right of parents to bereavement leave. The right to shared parental leave (SPL) is singled out for detailed treatment, partly because it is fairly new, and partly because, some would say, it exemplifies an old-fashioned approach to sex equality when caring for newborns. The option as to whether her partner can share in SPL is for the mother to decide; the mother may receive (by contract) enhanced maternity pay, but there is no enhanced SPL. The effect is to reinforce the mother’s staying at home because if she goes back to work, the family will lose most of the partner’s income because the rate of pay for SPL is low, around £151 a week. The latter point is arguably sex discrimination, and, during the currency of this book, the Employment Appeal Tribunal will decide this issue (at the time of writing employment tribunals are split).
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All books in this flagship series contain carefully selected substantial extracts from key cases, legislation, and academic debate, providing students with a stand-alone resource. The free movement of workers is of central importance to the EU, in both economic and social terms. This is reflected in the legislation that fleshes out the basic rights contained in Article 45 and in the European Court of Justice’s consistently purposive interpretation of the Treaty Articles and legislation to achieve the EU’s objectives in this area. This chapter considers several central legal issues that arise in the context of the free movement of workers. These include the scope of Article 45, the meaning accorded to ‘worker’, the rights of intermediate categories such as ‘job-seeker’, the kinds of restrictions that states may justifiably impose on workers and their families; and the rights which family members enjoy under EU law. The UK version contains a further section analysing issues concerning free movement of workers between the EU and the UK post-Brexit.
Chapter
All books in this flagship series contain carefully selected substantial extracts from key cases, legislation, and academic debate, providing students with a stand-alone resource. The free movement of workers is of central importance to the EU, in both economic and social terms. This is reflected in the legislation that fleshes out the basic rights contained in Article 45 and in the European Court of Justice’s consistently purposive interpretation of the Treaty Articles and legislation to achieve the EU’s objectives in this area. This chapter considers several central legal issues that arise in the context of the free movement of workers. These include the scope of Article 45, the meaning accorded to ‘worker’, the rights of intermediate categories such as ‘job-seeker’, the kinds of restrictions that states may justifiably impose on workers and their families; and the rights which family members enjoy under EU law. The UK version contains a further section analysing issues concerning free movement of workers between the EU and the UK post-Brexit.
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This chapter considers the rights of an individual in respect of his trade union membership and/or non-membership and remedies for breach of those rights. These rights exist vis-à-vis a trade union or against an actual or potential employer. They include the right not to be excluded from a union; the right not to be unjustifiably disciplined; the right to resign; the right not to be expelled; the right to have a ballot before industrial action; and the right to take time off work for trade union duties. The relevant statutory provisions are contained in the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (TULR(C)A), which has been amended by subsequent legislation, and reference will also be made to a number of legal decisions.
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The Q&A series offer the best preparation for tackling exam questions. Each book includes typical questions, bullet-pointed answer plans and suggested answers, author commentary and illustrative diagrams and flowcharts. This chapter presents sample exam questions about statutory redundancy payments and consultation procedures. Through a mixture of problem questions and essays, students are guided through some of the key issues on the topic of statutory redundancy pay including the qualifying period to be eligible, the definition of redundancy, procedural fairness, case law on ‘work of a particular kind’, bumping, suitable alternative employment, and calculating statutory redundancy pay. Students are also introduced to the current key debates in the area and provided with suggestions for additional reading for those who want to take things further.
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This chapter considers the rights that an employee may have against an employer, which are derived from, or influenced by, statute. These include the itemised pay statement; deductions from pay; time off work; patents; lay-off and short-time working; the minimum wage; restrictions on working time; rights under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998; grievance procedures; protection from harassment; and protection from blacklisting due to trade union membership or activities.
Chapter
The Q&A series offer the best preparation for tackling exam questions. Each book includes typical questions, bullet-pointed answer plans and suggested answers, author commentary, and illustrative diagrams and flowcharts. This chapter presents sample exam questions about statutory redundancy payments and consultation procedures. Through a mixture of problem questions and essays, students are guided through some of the key issues on the topic of statutory redundancy pay including the qualifying period to be eligible, the definition of redundancy, procedural fairness, case law on ‘work of a particular kind’, bumping, suitable alternative employment, and calculating statutory redundancy pay. Students are also introduced to the current key debates in the area and provided with suggestions for additional reading for those who want to take things further.
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This chapter focuses on the law of breach of confidence, which protects trade secrets and privacy. It is judge-made law, with its origins in equity. The action for breach of confidence now resembles a common law cause of action, but its equitable basis is still evident in the flexibility and discretion the judges adopt in deciding cases. The Human Rights Act 1998 required the courts to implement the right to private and family life. The courts have done this, in cases concerning private information, by extending the law to protect privacy where the information concerned was not secret. This is now regarded as a separate branch of the law. Special considerations also apply in relation to the duties employees owe to their employer both during and after their employment. There is a defence to an action for breach of confidence where publication is in the public interest.
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Each Concentrate revision guide is packed with essential information, key cases, revision tips, exam Q&As, and more. Concentrates show you what to expect in a law exam, what examiners are looking for, and how to achieve extra marks. This chapter discusses continuous employment and the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE). An employee’s period of continuous employment begins on the day on which the employee starts work. Although continuity provisions normally apply to employment by one employer, there are situations where a transfer from one employer to another can preserve continuity of employment. One such situation is when there is a relevant transfer under TUPE. TUPE acts to ensure that an individual’s contract of employment is transferred in its entirety when the individual employee experiences a change of employer as a result of a transfer.
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In order to quantify the amount of money payable to an employee in respect of the violation of certain specific statutory rights, it is necessary to ascertain the employee’s weekly pay, which is done by reference to the employee’s ‘normal working hours’. This chapter considers provisions of the Employment Rights Act s 221–229 which set out what a week’s pay is, as well as the precise formulae for determining how a week’s pay is to be calculated and what to take into account, and, in certain specific cases lists the situations in which there is a statutory cap on that amount.
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