Getting Back to Business
£185 + VAT (member) / £225 + VAT (non-member)
With the remaining Covid restrictions falling away, the legal profession can turn its principal focus back to the business and practice of law under more normal circumstances.
Our next Scots Law series, Getting Back to Business, reflects this shift by providing an analysis of practical, statutory and caselaw developments in eight key practice areas that will help you offer best advice to your clients.
As employers seek to make their organisations attractive to their employees, our new online Employment Conference will consider the rights underpinning family friendly policies and also the steps employers can take to make their workplaces safe from harassment.
For when things do go wrong, the latest developments in relation to whistleblowing, unfair dismissal and the impact of insolvency will all be considered.
Including sessions on how best to handle subject access requests, advising financial services employers and TUPE, join us and our panel of experts who will consider possible solutions to the following questions to help your practice and guide the advice you provide to your clients:
- what are the enhanced rights and legal provisions available to support family friendly policies?
- how do employee grievances and dismissal/constructive dismissal interact?
- what are the recent case law developments with regard to whistleblowing?
- how does insolvency impact on the employment relationship?
- what are the issues to be aware of when advising firms, or individuals, in the financial services sector?
- how do you deal with Data Subject Access Requests effectively and efficiently?
- what steps should be taken by employers to prevent sexual harassment from occurring in the workplace?
We look forward to welcoming you to this important online conference.
What's being covered?
Family Matters – an overview of some of the more recent, and lesser known, family related rights
This talk will look at legal provisions and rights relating to shared parental leave and shared parental pay; rights relating to prospective adoptive parents; the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act 2018 and what rights women undergoing IVF, or other fertility treatment, might have. With more and more workplaces seeking to highlight their family friendly policies, enhanced rights in these areas are becoming more and more common. These rights are central to achieving a level of equality between men and women in the workplace. More men accessing these provisions, and taking up the benefits offered, will undoubtedly help tackle the widespread discrimination suffered, at work, by women deemed to be of ‘child bearing’ age.
Jillian Merchant, Thompsons
Sexual harassment and bullying - lessons from MPs and DJs for ETs
Recent reports have highlighted that sexual harassment is still a prevalent issue in the workplace. Whether it is watching inappropriate videos in the House of Commons or high-profile radio DJ’s making unwanted sexual advances, there continue to be many publicised instances of conduct which would amount to unlawful behaviour under the Equality Act 2010. Following a brief introduction to the provisions relating to sexual harassment, the presentation will focus on the types of behaviour that can amount to sexual harassment; how claims of sexual harassment and bullying interlink; and the steps that should be taken by employers to prevent sexual harassment from occurring in the workplace and the relevance of the “reasonable steps” defence when advising on claims of sexual harassment. The session will conclude with an overview of the government’s current legislative proposals with regard to sexual harassment in the workplace.
Stephen Connolly, Blackadders
Dealing with DSARs – It does not have to be so painful
The right to request personal data was founded on good intentions. But like many well intended laws it has come with a range of unintended consequences not least of which is the burgeoning size of tribunal bundles. But DSARs are now a key part of any employment litigation so employers and their advisers need to be right on top of the rules and the tactics. Michael will attempt to demystify this complex area and provide practical tips on how to deal with DSARs effectively and efficiently.
Michael McLaughlin, Shoosmiths
Whistleblowing: the framework and case law update
The first part of the session will cover the legal framework, considering: what is a protected disclosure; the test for detriment and dismissal; and interim relief. The remainder of the session will cover recent case law developments.
Paula Chan, BDBF LLP
Unfair dismissal – an analysis of some of the latest cases and hints and tips on best practice when drafting ET1s/ET3s
In this session we will consider the interaction between employee grievances and dismissal/constructive dismissal, the impact of appeals on the question of fairness of dismissals, the interaction of unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal and remedies.
Lindsey Cartwright, Morton Fraser
Insolvency and the employment relationship
In this session we will explore the impact of insolvency on the employment relationship, including the circumstances in which the employment contract is automatically terminated and how it might be 'adopted', in what circumstances collective consultation may be triggered and the special provisions that apply under TUPE in respect of transfers involving an insolvent entity. We will also consider how employee liabilities and debts are ranked on insolvency and what steps employees can take to recover sums they are owed, including how they can bring claims in the Employment Tribunal and the role of the National Insurance Fund.
Elise Turner, Morton Fraser
TUPE and property transactions
- What is a TUPE transfer?
- Information and Consultation – what are your obligations?
- Why TUPE matters
- What contractual changes can you make, post-transfer?
- TUPE and redundancy consultation
- Spotlight on service provision changes
Ingrid McGhee, Weightmans
Financial services knowhow for employment lawyers
This presentation will cover issues to be aware of when advising firms, or individuals, in the financial services sector. This will include how the FCA/PRA Conduct Rules tie in with disciplinary action; regulated references; and whistleblowing considerations.
Sarah Jackman, Dentons