Can it be reasonable to dismiss on written evidence alone
The case of Charalambous v National Bank of Greece looks at whether a Disciplinary Manager must meet with an employee before deciding to dismiss. Mr Charalambous was accused of data breach because he was alleged to have breached the company’s data security policies. The hearing found him guilty and he was dismissed for gross misconduct. However, the […]
Can calling someone bald amount to harassment?
What is the case about? In the case of Mr A Finn v The British Bung Manufacturing Company Ltd, the employment tribunal considered whether a bald man was subjected to sex related harassment in the workplace by his line manager or whether the name calling was an insult which did not meet the threshold of […]
What makes a dismissal fair?
In this article we discuss what makes a fair dismissal. We look at the 5 potentially fair reasons for dismissal, the importance of policies and procedures, consistent treatment, and what is meant by the phrase “band of reasonable responses”. The legal test The Employment Rights Act 1996, section 98 (4) (ERA) sets out the statutory […]
How to minimise risk: disciplinary investigations
To ensure the process is deemed legally ‘fair’, a disciplinary procedure must begin with an appropriate investigation. Disciplinary investigation reports Investigations at work are often considered to be the ‘easy bit’ as there is no formal outcome, only a report which recommends whether the matter should go to a disciplinary hearing. However, did you know […]
Football Managers: How Would They Be Punished in the Office?
As HR Knowledge Manager at HR Solutions, I had the interesting task of helping Viking, suppliers of office equipment, with their recently selected real-life offences from football management. They asked me to compare what might have happened if the offences committed had taken place in an office environment. The pressure cooker of football management can sometimes get […]
Employee health and wellbeing: managing absence and lateness
Let’s discuss employee health and wellbeing in relation to absence as well as lateness. What are the effects that absence and lateness can have on your business, and what are the most effective ways to manage them? Absent and constantly late employees don’t just affect your organisation’s productivity; they can also have a negative impact […]
End of the Road for Jeremy Clarkson and the BBC?
How would you manage an employee like the outspoken Top Gear presenter? UPDATED 25/03/2015 The Daily Telegraph last night reported that Jeremy Clarkson is going to be sacked by the BBC following an internal investigation into an alleged incident earlier this month. If the purported facts of the incident are true then the BBC would […]