HR Focus - July 2010

Hello and welcome to this month's edition of HR Focus

Work from home, save the planet?

Earlier this week, Transport Minister, Norman Baker called for employers to allow their employees to work from home one day per fortnight in a bid to cut traffic congestion and its environmental impact.

His ambitious plan is to do away with the “rush hour” and the strain it puts on the country’s transport networks.  Getting employers on board is only part of the plan, public transport operators are being encouraged to be more flexible with their season ticket type offerings as well.

In this month’s edition:

Career breaks and annual leave accrual – another blow for employers?

Tim Lang, Head of Practice Area considers the impact of recent case law on annual leave accrual on the situation where an employee takes extended leave or a career break.

Fit note update

Four months in to the fit note regime, Steve Peacock, Partner in the Liverpool team considers their success so far and the tricky issues.

Northamptonshire County Council v Entwhistle

Lee Rogers, Associate in the Liverpool team considers the recent decision in this case on time limits for unfair dismissal claims.

Termination payments in the NHS

Chloe Brittain, solicitor in the Manchester team writes for HR Magazine on the recent case of Gibb v Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

And finally in our Q&A section

Paul McFarlane, Partner in the London team considers the difficult issues in victimisation claims and clarifies some of the confusion around this concept.

Questions or comments? Email askemployment@weightmans.com  or call Laura Kearsley, the editor on 0121 200 3480, we’d love to hear from you!

This update does not attempt to provide a full analysis of those matters with which it deals and is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice and should not be treated as a substitute for legal advice. Weightmans LLP accepts no responsibility for any loss that may arise from reliance on the information in this update. The copyright in this update is owned by Weightmans.