Making sense of constant change
£200 + VAT (member) / £250 + VAT (non-member)
Murrayfield Stadium is the venue for the next event in our Scots Law Conference Series, exclusively available to delegates in person on the day.
We are delighted to welcome Tony Hadden of Brodies who will be chairing our new Employment Conference which will focus on the implications of what seems like constant change in one of the most dynamic fields of legal practice. Topics ranging from returning to the workplace, leave and holiday pay, to sexual harassment and employment status will all be considered
Tony will be joined by a panel of expert speakers including David Morgan of Burness Paull, Donna Reynolds from Blackadders, Sarah Gilzean of Morton Fraser MacRoberts, Chris Boyle from Brodies, Eilidh Wood of Burges Salmon and Anthony Convery from Pinsent Masons, book now to make sure that you don’t miss out on this important conference.
Questions to be considered will include:
- what are the legal risks and practical considerations associated with employers who want greater workplace attendance?
- what does the future hold for employment status?
- what are the current trends in industrial relations?
- how are employers approaching the prevention of sexual harassment?
- what are the key considerations in settling future claims?
- what is significant about the FCA Proposals on non-financial misconduct?
What's being covered?
How are employers really approaching the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace and how you can help your clients?
From October 2024, the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 places a new duty on employers to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment. While different employers will take different preventive measures depending on factors such as size, sector, working environment and resources, they should be doing something – but are employers taking proactive steps, are they enough and what challenges do they face? Employment lawyers can help their clients and this presentation will focus on the priority areas of policies, training, reporting procedures and dealing with complaints.
Donna Reynolds, Blackadders
Employment status – where are we now and what does the future hold?
This session will provide an overview of the way UK law categorises employees; workers; directors; contractors and self employed people. You will learn how to help clients categorise their workforce; the legal issues involved and the implications for different employment rights. We will also discuss the Government's proposals and what the future may hold.
Tony Hadden, Brodies
Trends in industrial relations and employee voice
- Reflections on discontent and the current industrial relations climate under a Labour Government
- Lessons from union collective bargaining in a cost-of-living crisis
- Pay disputes, strikes and industrial action short of strike
- Employee voice and all-employee engagement – a viable alternative to unionisation and/or complementary approach?
- Start-up activities to set up an Employee Forum
David Morgan, Burness Paull
Settlement of employment claims - where are we now?
This presentation will explore key considerations when settling employment claims and consider recent developments in relation to settling future claims. Sarah will also look at developments in the law and guidance concerning NDAs, their enforceability, potential reform and solicitors' duties north and south of the border.
Sarah Gilzean, Morton Fraser MacRoberts
Time off work
In this session we will look at two key areas where the right to time off work arises: family leave and annual leave. We will look at the basics of these rights, with a focus on recent changes. In particular, we will look at the extension of the right to be offered a suitable alternative vacancy in a redundancy situation to employees who are in the protected period of pregnancy and during an additional protected period after returning to work from maternity leave, adoption leave or shared parental leave. We will also cover recent amendments to the Working Time Regulations 1998 in relation to annual leave and holiday pay.
Anthony Convery, Pinsent Masons
Current and future trends of hybrid working
This presentation will explore the current trends we are seeing in relation to hybrid working, including a discussion of the legal risks and practical considerations associated with employers who want greater workplace attendance. We will also look at how to manage requests for flexible working including requests to work from home. We will consider the current legal position in relation to flexible working, taking into account the recent changes, as well as looking at likely future trends in light of the new Labour government’s proposal to make flexible working the default.
Eilidh Wood, Burges Salmon
FCA Proposals on non-financial misconduct - key HR issues for financial services firms to consider
Following a number of high-profile cases in regulated financial services firms and changing societal expectations, the FCA is proposing to change its approach to non-financial misconduct. This session will discuss the significance of the FCA's proposals and how regulated firms can make sure they're on the front foot with their handling and reporting of incidents from both an employment law and compliance perspective.
Chris Boyle, Brodies
