Author Archives: Usefully Employed

Suit You

An interesting study bears out what I’ve noticed myself – the suit is in decline in the British workplace. This study, by the Aziz Corporation, surveyed employers for their attitudes towards office dress. Less than one in four offices now … Continue reading

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Compromise Agreements – subsequent discovery of misconduct

I remember Collidge -v- Freeport plc [2008] EWCA Civ 485 when it was at first instance, dealing as it does with the very common clause found in compromise agreements that: “Subject to and conditional upon the terms set out below, [Freeport] … Continue reading

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Acas consults on draft Code of Practice on discipline and grievance

The Code is intended to come into force in April 2009 at the same time as the abolition of the hated statutory Dispute Resolution procedures, and is currently open for consultation. Acas have taken the tack of having two documents – … Continue reading

Posted in Disciplinary, Dispute Resolution regulations, Employment Tribunal, Grievance, Unfair Dismissal | Tagged , | 2 Comments

TUPE isn’t rocket science

…it’s not exactly straightforward either, but any competent adviser can identify warning signs that mean the issue should be looked at. Say, for example, Mr Bloggs is tired of running Bloggs pharmacy, so he closes it and reaches a financial agreement with … Continue reading

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Delusional

Everyone’s been laughing it up at this case where a man dismissed from his job as a kitchen porter at a hotel brought an unfair dismissal claim, stating that his dismissal had been orchestrated by Jehovah’s Witnesses. According to the … Continue reading

Posted in Rambling, Unfair Dismissal | Tagged | 2 Comments

Blacklist

The National Staff Dismissal Register will be a searchable database of employees who have been dismissed for ‘dishonesty’ or have resigned while dismissal proceedings are ongoing - see the article on Personnel Today. I’m amazed this hasn’t generated more headlines. It’s … Continue reading

Posted in Constructive Dismissal, Disciplinary, Discrimination, Unfair Dismissal | Tagged | 8 Comments

Solicitors – Qualified for…

The Law21 blog entry on marketing has again inspired me to rant on the future of the legal profession. ‘Your solicitor, qualified to answer’ is a major national advertising and PR campaign to promote solicitors to the public. Our aim … Continue reading

Posted in Lawyers, Rambling, Solicitors | Tagged | 7 Comments

Phoenix jiggery-pokery

It’s a cynical view that all you do when your company goes bust is put it into administration and buy it back, but would seem to be amply demonstrated by this case. Company goes into administration, administrator has no money … Continue reading

Posted in TUPE, Unfair Dismissal | Tagged | 1 Comment

Chefs

Charon QC, quoting The Prisoners Voice, quoting the Telegraph, reports on a case where a chef was prosecuted for hitting his brother over the head with a shovel following a row on whether or not Shepherd’s Pie properly comes with … Continue reading

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Excavating a Sharp pain in the family jewels

It’s happened to me metaphorically but never literally: being grabbed by the balls can give you a good constructive dismissal claim, as this funny case shows. The report is so short it also acts as a good swot-sheet for constructive … Continue reading

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