Employment Lawyer In Your Pocket

Due to popular demand (one listener), Simon returns for the final episode of Season 7. He is joined by Jack and Blair and they discuss three Christmas party employment tribunal claims. One case involves a fight on the dancefloor (Westlake v ZSL London Zoo). The second involves a Christmas party promise (Judge v Crown Leisure Limited). And the third involves a Christmas party fling (Nixon v Ross Co...

In the last episode of season 7, we reach the end of the “Long and Winding (Newbie) Road”. Employment lawyers Jack, Blair and Stephen discuss how “We Can Work It Out” when taking a new recruit through a probationary period and induction process.  Blair gives some valuable tips on how “To Hold the Hand” of new starts; Jack offers advice on sorting out who within the organisation should “Carry...

Employment Lawyers Stephen, Blair and Jack discuss the do’s and don’ts of pre-employment health questions.   In addition to lots of useful tips about how to avoid exposing your business to a discrimination risk, we also learn which member of the team is a demon on the dancefloor.  Blair shines in the mini quiz.  Stephen is getting into the spirit of festive party season and urg...

The Newbies well and truly take over this week as Stephen is joined by Paul Nash of Blackadders Corporate team with a focus on all things data protection. We look at why it is important for employers to be aware of their data protection obligations from the outset and throughout a recruitment process and offer our top tips on the main areas which can give rise to problems. We also find out about t...

In Episode 5 of Season 7, Simon returns and is joined by Jack and Blair to discuss confidentiality and restrictive covenants. They highlight top tips when drafting confidentiality clauses in employment contracts and how make sure that restrictive covenants are enforceable. We also find out which song one of Simon’s clients performed when giving evidence at a tribunal. ‘I gotta feeling’ that it’s g...

Season 7 is ‘The Newbies’ series of podcasts. The ELiYP team will be looking at the ins and outs of recruiting and integrating new employees into the business, together with identifying some legal pitfalls. In this episode: Employment Lawyers Stephen, Blair and Jack discuss the all important employment contract and job offer letter.   In addition to lots of useful tips about the document...

Season 7 is ‘The Newbies’ series of podcasts . The ELiYP team will be looking at the ins and outs of recruiting and integrating new employees into the business, together with identifying some legal pitfalls. In this episode: Stephen, Jack and Blair discuss the important checks that need to be carried out before formally employing any successful applicant. They talk about Right to Work Checks, prev...

In Season 7 Episode 2, Employment Lawyers Simon, Jack and (newbie) Blair discuss the selection process which may involve shortlisting applicants, interviews and reasonable adjustments for suitable candidates. They also give some examples of questions not to ask during an interview process and there’s a niche Trainspotting reference thrown in. But, will we ever hear about the circumstances sur...

Season 7 is 'The Newbies' series of podcasts . The ELiYP team will be looking at the ins and outs of recruiting and integrating new employees into the business, together with identifying some legal pitfalls. In this first episode, Employment Lawyers Simon Allison and Jack Boyle welcome a new colleague to engage in a discussion about the initial stages of a recruitment process, focusing on the appl...

Given the massive demand for more podcasts before Autumn, Simon and Jack have relented and released their final (bonus) podcast in The Law Behind The Headlines season. Season 6:  'The Law Behind the Headlines' series of podcasts. We take a look at the stories making the headlines and ask, “Is this case for real? How did the employer get away with that? And what is the law behind the head...

In this season,  we take a look at the stories making the headlines and ask, “Is this case for real? How did the employer get away with that? And what is the law behind the headlines?” In the finale of Season 6:  Simon and Jack discuss the headline “Scots Costa Worker wins £14k payout after being sacked for grabbing jacket during fire alarm”. The Employment Lawyers brew over the fac...

In this season,  we take a look at the stories making the headlines and ask, “Is this case for real? How did the employer get away with that? And what is the law behind the headlines?” In this episode, Michelin-starred chef is dismissed for letting his two young boys play football in his restaurant during a private party for friends and family. Simon and Jack discuss the case of Williams v Th...

Season 6:  'The Law Behind the Headlines' series of podcasts. The ELiYP team tell a story, week by week, about a situation which the team has encountered. The team then discuss the law relating to that situation.  In this episode:  Simon and Jack discuss the headline “Care worker sacked over Facebook post, saying there were no decent, honest Muslims”. Linda Henderson wins her u...

Season 6:  'The Law Behind the Headlines' series of podcasts. The ELiYP team tell a story, week by week, about a situation which the team has encountered. The team then discuss the law relating to that situation.  In this episode: Lidl caretaker is dismissed for showing colleagues his swastika tattoo. He lodges race discrimination and unfair dismissal claims and wins compensation. S...

Season 6:  'The Law Behind the Headlines' series of podcasts. The ELiYP team tell a story, week by week, about a situation which the team has encountered. The team then discuss the law relating to that situation.  In this episode:  Simon, Jack and Ruth discuss the headline, “Gym trainer with fear of sweat wins disability claim after refusing to pick up dirty towels”. Ms Burton...

In this season, we take a look at the stories making the headlines and ask, “Is this case for real? How did the employer get away with that? And what is the law behind the headlines?” In this episode, Simon and Jack discuss the headline, “What?????? University Lecturer wins £15k for using too many question marks in texts – but Judge rules excessive punctuation IS unnecessary aggressive”. They cons...

Season 6.4: The Law Behind The Headlines | Half A Man In this season, we take a look at the stories making the headlines and ask, “Is this case for real? How did the employer get away with that? And what is the law behind the headlines?” In this episode, Simon and Jack discuss the case of Staines v North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. This case made the headlines since it involved a Yorkshire...

In this season, we take a look at the stories making the headlines and ask, “Is this case for real? How did the employer get away with that? And what is the law behind the headlines?” In this episode, Simon, Jack and Ruth discuss a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal case against Victoria Whelan with the headline, “Junior solicitor suspended over email sent in “moment of blind panic”. They discu...

In this season, we take a look at the stories making the headlines and ask, “Is this case for real? How did the employer get away with that? And what is the law behind the headlines?” In this episode, Simon and Jack discuss the Daily Mail headline, “Officer sacked for calling black colleague ‘King of the Jungle’ wins £16,000 payout as Judge rules his remark wasn’t racist.” They discuss the reasons...

Season 6, Episode 1: In this season, we take a look at the stories making the headlines and ask, “Is this case for real? How did the employer get away with that? And what is the law behind the headlines?” In this episode, Simon and Jack discuss the landmark case of Kubilius v Kent Food Limited which is the first reported case that determined the wearing of face masks on site. The driver was sacked...

In this podcast, Simon, Jack and Duncan recap the previous season and give their respective views as to whether the employer was correct in its actions against Bruce.

During Bruce’s appeal hearing, he alleges that the chemicals used to make up the pills were not properly labelled, in breach of health and safety legislation. Bruce states that it was only a matter of time before somebody else made his mistake. Does Bruce’s statement make him a “whistle blower”?  If so, does Bruce have a claim for detriment against his employer?  What should the appeal officer (J....

So Bruce has been dismissed. However, he has appealed the decision to dismiss him. His letter states that he has rheumatoid arthritis and this causes him to have sore fists. Does Bruce’s condition amount to a disability? If so, what investigation, does his employer need to carry out at the appeal stage about his “disability”? Is Bruce’s dismissal discriminatory even if the decision to dismiss him...

Following his dismissal, Bruce is annoyed with SHIELD and phones HR. During the call he is upset and complaining about the way he has been treated and mentions he wants to see information that supports the allegations made. He finishes the call by vowing to “make SHIELD sorry” for messing with him (with flecks of green appearing in his eyes)! The next day, an email is received from Betty Ross on b...

Simon and Jack discuss Bruce’s circumstances. Bruce has requested an adjournment of the disciplinary hearing. Ms Potts, the employer’s HR Manager, allows Bruce’s request and tells Bruce that the meeting will instead take place the following week. The day before the adjourned hearing, Bruce submits a fit note, stating that he has sore fists and is unable to attend the meeting. The meeting takes pla...