HR Focus - October 2011

Welcome to this month’s edition of HR Focus.

Next month, we are holding breakfast seminars on employment contracts. The dates and times are as follows:

To book your place, please click here and fill in our online registration form, specifying which venue in the other information box.

Employment law reform

Paul McFarlane, partner in the London team, considers the proposals for reform and what impact, if any, they will have on employers and the Tribunal service.

Giving references

David Fagan, Partner in the Liverpool team, looks at the recent Employment Appeal Tribunal decision in Jackson v Liverpool City Council on whether employers can mention in a reference allegations made against an employee that were not subsequently investigated.

Can an employer change its mind or correct a dismissal decision made in error? 

Scott Withers, Associate in the Midlands team, reviews the decision in C.F.Capital PLC v Catherine Willoughby on whether an employer could withdraw a notice of dismissal.

What impact is stress absence having on employers? 

Mark Leach, Partner in the Manchester team, considers a recent CIPD study on stress and sickness absence.

And in our regular Q&A section, Jenny Owens, Associate in the Midlands team, answers:

One of my employees has requested time off work to have a vasectomy.  Unfortunately this will fall in the middle of a very busy period and he has not given us sufficient notice.  We want to refuse his request, can we do this?  Given he works in an all male environment how do we stand if inappropriate jokes about him are made?

Legislation pipeline document

Please click here to view our Legislation pipeline document.

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