Employment Law
Sacked During the Probationary Period and With Less than Two Years’ Service
When Frank contacted Castle Associates for help with a dismissal appeal he admits he did not expect too much – but he did get his desired outcome.Frank, a carer, was distraught when he was dismisse...
Losing your job but maintaining the right to be treated fairly
If you were told you were at risk of redundancy and made redundant the following day, what would you do?In recent months tens of thousands of employees have lost their jobs by way of redundancy.Man...
A need for fairness in the extraordinary times we are living in
The phrase ‘these are unprecedented times’ has been much used recently but it should not become a convenient excuse to treat employees unfairly.The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has changed many ...
Understanding the damaging effect of workplace bullying
Bullying in the workplace is abhorrent and should be stopped but how much do we really know about the impact on the victim.It can make working life miserable and unbearable. It can ruin lives.Bully...
A good deed that resulted in bad disciplinary action
Ernie would often help out colleagues in trouble at work and it was a selfless act of goodwill that left him in an unfair battle to save his job.The long-serving maintenance worker, and former trad...
Recruitment challenges and the innovation helping to get the job done.
There is a saying that we are defined by the choices we make and for those working in recruitment it is highly appropriate.Choosing the right candidate for a job can be a thankless task at the best...
Learning the hard way that failing to be on your best behaviour at all times can lead to disciplinary trouble.
Valuable lessons can be learned during away training days including ones about the serious repercussions that can follow any alleged bad behaviourExperienced car part sales advisor Greg faced the t...
The aim of disciplinary action and factors to consider
Most people are likely to agree an employee deserves to be punished if they do something wrong - but is it how disciplinary action should really work?The disciplinary procedure is the formal ...
Justice prevails after police intervention leads to workplace problem
Being arrested for a criminal offence and admitting wrongdoing can have serious repercussions for an employee.Jonah did not tell his employer that he had been arrested for leaving his child h...
A second bite at the disciplinary cherry can leave a nasty taste
Being cleared of a disciplinary allegation is a huge relief…so facing the threat of dismissal many months later for exactly the same allegation can be an enormous shock.It is fair to say that Emma,...
How does being off sick work?
It’s probably a safe bet to say that most of us will not achieve something Jim Owen did during his working life, but the chances are that you’ve never heard of him.The dedicated council surveyor wa...
Calculating redundancy pay
Fear of the financial impact of redundancy is usually a main concern with the news of any potential job losses.The coronavirus pandemic has led to a wave of redundancies and left tens of thousands ...
Ask The Experts - Employment Law Advice For Businesses
Ask the Experts Employment law advice for businessesThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses are taking steps to protect not only their staff, but clients and suppliers alike.It's a difficult t...
The trouble if the message gets lost in the music
It is understandable that a parent will do what they can to support their child but if that puts their job at risk it’s fair to ask: was it really worth it?Construction worker Wes was accused of th...
Disciplinary for theft
Getting the right disciplinary outcome really is something to celebrateCaretaker John could have been forgiven for popping open a bottle of bubbly of his own after being cleared of stealing champag...
The working relationship involving HR and employment law
Viewed in some quarters as the enforcers in the employment relationship Human Resources (HR) play a crucial role in ensuring an employer acts legally.There is an image of HR in which it hires and f...
How to avoid that sickly feeling by managing absence in the right way
We all know that there are laws that govern the employer and employee working relationship, so you could be forgiven for asking: what legislation actually covers absence management?There are no spe...
Redundancy and Takeover
For an employee the takeover of the company they work for can be a time of great uncertainty and spark real fear about what the future holds.A new owner may have their own ideas about how they wish...
A word of warning when making what you think is a throwaway comment
Dispatch manager Kevin was relieved when he was cleared of any wrongdoing for comparing a colleague to a girl.He was facing dismissal after he confronted a workmate over an incorrect order, which h...
The important business of employment law
Failing to comply with any law runs a risk and it is the same with employment law and business.The legislation is designed to protect the rights of the employee and covers almost all aspects of the...
