EMPLOYMENT LAW AND PRACTICE
1
,EXAM
2-5 questions (multiple claims)
Independent questions
The employee has been dismissed – explain how and this will help the burden of proof
Remember the continuous employment point (6th April)
Contracts and restrictive covenants
If explaining how to change the contract – explain why you are making the change
Confidentiality clauses
o Explain and apply Faccenda Chicken
Restrictive covenants
o Void for uncertainty?
o Explain and apply law
o Consider if blue pencil test will help employer
Claims analysis = key skill
Eligibility: be succinct
Sensible order
o WD, RP, UD normally & usually quickest
o TUPE, UD, RP, WD may be better
Avoid long repetition
o Common points for several claims?
o Combine points together?
o Use “see above” if making the same pints
Drafting & claims forms
Some marks may be for style/structure
ET1/ET3
o Follow guidelines in similar tasks in course
Letters/memo (mrs macky latter PTN)
o Adopt appropriate style
o Cover legal and factual points
o May feel artificial but include the law
2
,Contents
EMPLOYMENT LAW AND PRACTICE.................................................................................................................................1
Recruitment issues and employment relations...............................................................................................................7
National minimum wage (NMW).................................................................................................................................7
Reviewing a draft contract (See amended pre-task contract)......................................................................................8
Summary of basic working time rights.....................................................................................................................9
Employee policies....................................................................................................................................................9
Contracts................................................................................................................................................................... 10
CHANGING TERMS OF A CONTRACT......................................................................................................................10
Written statement (s.1 Employment Rights Act 1988)...............................................................................................11
Implied terms............................................................................................................................................................12
Employers duties...................................................................................................................................................12
Employees duties...................................................................................................................................................12
Confidentiality...........................................................................................................................................................13
Structure for answering a confidentiality question................................................................................................13
Restrictive covenants.................................................................................................................................................14
Structure for answering a restrictive covenant question.......................................................................................16
EFFECT OF WRONGFUL DISMISSAL........................................................................................................................16
Blue pencil test and mode of enforcement............................................................................................................16
Human rights act.......................................................................................................................................................17
Data protection act 1988...........................................................................................................................................17
Wrongful dismissal........................................................................................................................................................18
TIME LIMIT.................................................................................................................................................................18
Explaining the concept of constructive dismissal to a client..................................................................................19
2.Is the dismissal wrongful?.......................................................................................................................................19
3.Compensation: damages for breach of contract.....................................................................................................20
CALCULATING DAMAGES.......................................................................................................................................20
Employers remedies..............................................................................................................................................23
Where to make a claim..........................................................................................................................................23
Advantages & disadvantages OF COURT/TRIBUNAL..............................................................................................23
WRITING A LETTER OF ADVICE TO A CLIENT..............................................................................................................24
4.The next step (further documents required).......................................................................................................24
Commercially realistic options available to an employee for repudiatory breach.....................................................25
COMMERCIAlly realistic options available to an employer for repudiatory breach...................................................25
Unfair dismissal.............................................................................................................................................................26
3
, 1.Eligibility (burden of proof on employee)...............................................................................................................26
2.Dismissal (burden of proof on employee)...............................................................................................................27
3.Reason for dismissal (burden of proof on employer).............................................................................................28
Employee rights.....................................................................................................................................................30
Automatic unfair dismissals...................................................................................................................................30
4.Consider fairness of dismissal.................................................................................................................................31
5.Remedies................................................................................................................................................................33
Compensation.......................................................................................................................................................34
6.Consider other claims.............................................................................................................................................35
DRAFTING EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL CLAIM AND RESPONSE FORMS.......................................................................35
Employment tribunals Procedure..........................................................................................................................35
Completing an ET 1 form...........................................................................................................................................35
Details of the claim................................................................................................................................................36
Completing form ET 3................................................................................................................................................36
Redundancy................................................................................................................................................................... 37
1.Is the claimant eligible for a redundancy payment? (burden of proof on claimant)...............................................37
2.Has the employee beEn dismissed?........................................................................................................................37
3.(a) Is there a redundancy situation? (ERA 1996, s.139)..........................................................................................39
3.(B) Two part test for employee redundancy and place of work..............................................................................39
4.Did the employer offer suitable alternative job/old job back?...............................................................................40
5.Did the employee accept the new job, even if not suitable?..................................................................................40
6.Did the employee unreasonably refuse the offer or unreasonably terminate during the trial period?..................40
REJECTION OF THE OFFER......................................................................................................................................40
TRIAL PERIOD.........................................................................................................................................................41
7.Calculate payment..................................................................................................................................................41
Enforcement..........................................................................................................................................................42
Consultation..........................................................................................................................................................42
Overlapping claims................................................................................................................................................43
Direct discrimination.....................................................................................................................................................44
1.Eligibility................................................................................................................................................................. 44
2.UNLAWFUL ACT......................................................................................................................................................44
3.Type of claim...........................................................................................................................................................45
4.Direct discrimination..............................................................................................................................................45
5.NO Defence (if proven there is no defence)............................................................................................................47
6.Vicarious liability.....................................................................................................................................................47
7.Remedies................................................................................................................................................................48
4
, Merits of the claim....................................................................................................................................................49
Options available to the client...................................................................................................................................49
Practical steps to progress a claim.............................................................................................................................50
EqUAL PAY AND THE EQUALITY CLAUSE.....................................................................................................................51
Indirect discrimination, HARASsment, ET1 & ET3 forms................................................................................................53
1.Eligibility................................................................................................................................................................. 53
2.Unlawful acts..........................................................................................................................................................53
3.TYPES OF CLAIM......................................................................................................................................................54
4.Indirect discrimination............................................................................................................................................55
5.Potential defence: Justification...............................................................................................................................56
6.Vicarious liability.....................................................................................................................................................57
7.Remedies................................................................................................................................................................57
Harassment and Victimisation...................................................................................................................................59
1.Eligibility.............................................................................................................................................................59
2.UNLAWFUL ACT..................................................................................................................................................59
3.TYPE OF CLAIM.......................................................................................................................................................60
4.No defence.............................................................................................................................................................61
5.Vicarious liability.....................................................................................................................................................61
6.Remedies................................................................................................................................................................62
Practical costs to the employer..................................................................................................................................62
Appropriate steps to take to minimise exposure to financial liability........................................................................62
AGE Discrimination....................................................................................................................................................63
DRAFTING AN ET3 IN RESPECT OF A CLAIM – itutorial..............................................................................................65
Disability discrimination................................................................................................................................................66
1.Eligibility................................................................................................................................................................. 66
2.Disability.................................................................................................................................................................66
3.Unlawful act...........................................................................................................................................................68
4.Type of claim...........................................................................................................................................................68
5.Vicarious liability.....................................................................................................................................................71
6.Remedies................................................................................................................................................................72
OPTIONS AVAILABLE & PRACTICAL STEPS EMPLOYEE SHOULD TAKE.........................................................................73
Options.................................................................................................................................................................. 73
Practical steps........................................................................................................................................................74
TUPE.............................................................................................................................................................................. 75
Transfer of undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/246)............................................75
1.Was there A relevant transfer (Business/services)?................................................................................................75
5
1
,EXAM
2-5 questions (multiple claims)
Independent questions
The employee has been dismissed – explain how and this will help the burden of proof
Remember the continuous employment point (6th April)
Contracts and restrictive covenants
If explaining how to change the contract – explain why you are making the change
Confidentiality clauses
o Explain and apply Faccenda Chicken
Restrictive covenants
o Void for uncertainty?
o Explain and apply law
o Consider if blue pencil test will help employer
Claims analysis = key skill
Eligibility: be succinct
Sensible order
o WD, RP, UD normally & usually quickest
o TUPE, UD, RP, WD may be better
Avoid long repetition
o Common points for several claims?
o Combine points together?
o Use “see above” if making the same pints
Drafting & claims forms
Some marks may be for style/structure
ET1/ET3
o Follow guidelines in similar tasks in course
Letters/memo (mrs macky latter PTN)
o Adopt appropriate style
o Cover legal and factual points
o May feel artificial but include the law
2
,Contents
EMPLOYMENT LAW AND PRACTICE.................................................................................................................................1
Recruitment issues and employment relations...............................................................................................................7
National minimum wage (NMW).................................................................................................................................7
Reviewing a draft contract (See amended pre-task contract)......................................................................................8
Summary of basic working time rights.....................................................................................................................9
Employee policies....................................................................................................................................................9
Contracts................................................................................................................................................................... 10
CHANGING TERMS OF A CONTRACT......................................................................................................................10
Written statement (s.1 Employment Rights Act 1988)...............................................................................................11
Implied terms............................................................................................................................................................12
Employers duties...................................................................................................................................................12
Employees duties...................................................................................................................................................12
Confidentiality...........................................................................................................................................................13
Structure for answering a confidentiality question................................................................................................13
Restrictive covenants.................................................................................................................................................14
Structure for answering a restrictive covenant question.......................................................................................16
EFFECT OF WRONGFUL DISMISSAL........................................................................................................................16
Blue pencil test and mode of enforcement............................................................................................................16
Human rights act.......................................................................................................................................................17
Data protection act 1988...........................................................................................................................................17
Wrongful dismissal........................................................................................................................................................18
TIME LIMIT.................................................................................................................................................................18
Explaining the concept of constructive dismissal to a client..................................................................................19
2.Is the dismissal wrongful?.......................................................................................................................................19
3.Compensation: damages for breach of contract.....................................................................................................20
CALCULATING DAMAGES.......................................................................................................................................20
Employers remedies..............................................................................................................................................23
Where to make a claim..........................................................................................................................................23
Advantages & disadvantages OF COURT/TRIBUNAL..............................................................................................23
WRITING A LETTER OF ADVICE TO A CLIENT..............................................................................................................24
4.The next step (further documents required).......................................................................................................24
Commercially realistic options available to an employee for repudiatory breach.....................................................25
COMMERCIAlly realistic options available to an employer for repudiatory breach...................................................25
Unfair dismissal.............................................................................................................................................................26
3
, 1.Eligibility (burden of proof on employee)...............................................................................................................26
2.Dismissal (burden of proof on employee)...............................................................................................................27
3.Reason for dismissal (burden of proof on employer).............................................................................................28
Employee rights.....................................................................................................................................................30
Automatic unfair dismissals...................................................................................................................................30
4.Consider fairness of dismissal.................................................................................................................................31
5.Remedies................................................................................................................................................................33
Compensation.......................................................................................................................................................34
6.Consider other claims.............................................................................................................................................35
DRAFTING EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL CLAIM AND RESPONSE FORMS.......................................................................35
Employment tribunals Procedure..........................................................................................................................35
Completing an ET 1 form...........................................................................................................................................35
Details of the claim................................................................................................................................................36
Completing form ET 3................................................................................................................................................36
Redundancy................................................................................................................................................................... 37
1.Is the claimant eligible for a redundancy payment? (burden of proof on claimant)...............................................37
2.Has the employee beEn dismissed?........................................................................................................................37
3.(a) Is there a redundancy situation? (ERA 1996, s.139)..........................................................................................39
3.(B) Two part test for employee redundancy and place of work..............................................................................39
4.Did the employer offer suitable alternative job/old job back?...............................................................................40
5.Did the employee accept the new job, even if not suitable?..................................................................................40
6.Did the employee unreasonably refuse the offer or unreasonably terminate during the trial period?..................40
REJECTION OF THE OFFER......................................................................................................................................40
TRIAL PERIOD.........................................................................................................................................................41
7.Calculate payment..................................................................................................................................................41
Enforcement..........................................................................................................................................................42
Consultation..........................................................................................................................................................42
Overlapping claims................................................................................................................................................43
Direct discrimination.....................................................................................................................................................44
1.Eligibility................................................................................................................................................................. 44
2.UNLAWFUL ACT......................................................................................................................................................44
3.Type of claim...........................................................................................................................................................45
4.Direct discrimination..............................................................................................................................................45
5.NO Defence (if proven there is no defence)............................................................................................................47
6.Vicarious liability.....................................................................................................................................................47
7.Remedies................................................................................................................................................................48
4
, Merits of the claim....................................................................................................................................................49
Options available to the client...................................................................................................................................49
Practical steps to progress a claim.............................................................................................................................50
EqUAL PAY AND THE EQUALITY CLAUSE.....................................................................................................................51
Indirect discrimination, HARASsment, ET1 & ET3 forms................................................................................................53
1.Eligibility................................................................................................................................................................. 53
2.Unlawful acts..........................................................................................................................................................53
3.TYPES OF CLAIM......................................................................................................................................................54
4.Indirect discrimination............................................................................................................................................55
5.Potential defence: Justification...............................................................................................................................56
6.Vicarious liability.....................................................................................................................................................57
7.Remedies................................................................................................................................................................57
Harassment and Victimisation...................................................................................................................................59
1.Eligibility.............................................................................................................................................................59
2.UNLAWFUL ACT..................................................................................................................................................59
3.TYPE OF CLAIM.......................................................................................................................................................60
4.No defence.............................................................................................................................................................61
5.Vicarious liability.....................................................................................................................................................61
6.Remedies................................................................................................................................................................62
Practical costs to the employer..................................................................................................................................62
Appropriate steps to take to minimise exposure to financial liability........................................................................62
AGE Discrimination....................................................................................................................................................63
DRAFTING AN ET3 IN RESPECT OF A CLAIM – itutorial..............................................................................................65
Disability discrimination................................................................................................................................................66
1.Eligibility................................................................................................................................................................. 66
2.Disability.................................................................................................................................................................66
3.Unlawful act...........................................................................................................................................................68
4.Type of claim...........................................................................................................................................................68
5.Vicarious liability.....................................................................................................................................................71
6.Remedies................................................................................................................................................................72
OPTIONS AVAILABLE & PRACTICAL STEPS EMPLOYEE SHOULD TAKE.........................................................................73
Options.................................................................................................................................................................. 73
Practical steps........................................................................................................................................................74
TUPE.............................................................................................................................................................................. 75
Transfer of undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/246)............................................75
1.Was there A relevant transfer (Business/services)?................................................................................................75
5
