Corporate Focus - February 2010

Know your limits

As a result of a decrease in the Retail Prices Index during 2009, the maximum compensatory award in cases of unfair dismissal fell from £66,200 to £65,300 on 1 February 2010.  However, the limit on a weeks pay used to calculate redundancy pay and basic awards in unfair dismissal cases remains at £380 following a one off increase in October last year, and will stay at its current figure until February 2011 at the earliest.

It still remains the case however, that compensation in successful claims of discrimination is unlimited, and such claims can be brought not just by employees, but also by job applicants as Claimants do not need to have completed the one years qualifying service requirement needed in cases of unfair dismissal

Weightmans LLP recognises the challenges faced by employers in managing their day to day employment issues. Weightmans’ HR Rely service has been launched specifically to support employers, to take away the burden and risk associated with managing staff. For a fixed annual fee, employers receive access to advice, as and when they need it from specialist lawyers that know and understand their business. In addition Weightmans can arrange insurance to provide protection against the cost of employee claims for compensation. 

For more information about this service please click here: http://www.weightmans.com/our_expertise/hr_rely.aspx