Do Employment Tribunals favour employers? The short answer is “NO” – but it can be difficult and/or costly to win. That’s why you need the help of expert employment lawyers like us. Here’s a longer answer… The tribunal panel is independent. The process is designed to be fair and unbiased, so they can reach a …
How do I get a compromise agreement? If you’ve been offered a compromise agreement by your employer, it probably means you’re in Northern Ireland. So are we. Our main base is just outside Belfast – in Glengormley, County Antrim. We also have offices in Leeds, London and Gateshead, which means we can assist clients across …
I’m suffering menopause symptoms. Can my boss sack me? There is an increasing number of women over 50 in the workplace. This means that more female employees are likely to go through the menopause and perimenopause while at work. Various cases (described below) set the legal precedent that menopause symptoms can count as a disability …
How long can a doctor give a sick line for? Some people call it a sick line. Others call it a sick note. It’s also known as a fit note. The technical term is ‘Statement of Fitness for Work’. Whatever you call it, it might be issued by a doctor or another healthcare professional. Basically, …
Can occupational health get you sacked? The short answer is that occupational health (OH) is there to provide information to your employer to help them make a decision about how to make your workplace more suitable to your health needs but also, from time to time, on whether to keep a person employed. It’s not …
“I’m a white man and I’ve been discriminated against” Don’t assume that discrimination is always against women or minority groups such as BAME or disabled or LGBTQ+ people. It is possible to be a white man and still be discriminated against. This article describes an example from early 2023. The story The Armed Forces have …
Let’s start by defining the various ways you might leave or lose your job: You resign, perhaps because you’ve got another job You retire, because you don’t want or need to work any more You’re dismissed fairly, maybe because you committed gross misconduct Your role is made redundant, meaning that your job isn’t available any …
What does ex gratia mean? The British legal system is descended from the European legal system, which was influenced by the courts of ancient Rome. Back then, Latin was the predominant language. It survived as such for around 1,000 years. One reason might be that Latin was the language of ‘the educated classes’ and those …
“My colleague has made sexist comments” The days are gone when it was perceived to be OK to display ‘girly’ photos on the workplace wall, and for male managers to make lecherous remarks about the pretty girls in their summer dresses. Today, most people know that no-one should have to put up with sexist remarks …
Can I be sacked for social media posts? The answer is yes, if what you post brings the company into disrepute. You might wonder how this can happen. As you may know, we have offices in Belfast, Northern Ireland (as well as in Leeds, London and Newcastle, England). These two stories are linked and recently …