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Redundancies And Survivor Syndrome
Redundancies And Survivor Syndrome

22 / 08 / 2012

A redundancy exercise is traumatic for all those involved. The emotional reaction associated with those employees who remain at the company after a period of redundancy, has come to be known as survivor syndrome. Survivors may consider that the redundancy exercise has not been fair. Survivors may feel guilty that they have kept their jobs while colleagues and friends have...

Fixed-Term Contracts
Fixed-Term Contracts

13 / 08 / 2012

The London Olympics closed yesterday with an exuberant musical celebration of the UK. Many of the competitors, coaches, nutritionists and other essential support roles are now on their way home. At one time sport was one of the biggest users of the fixed term contract, often because of the relatively short term nature of funding. But as the economy continues...

Managing Sickness Absence; Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Managing Sickness Absence; Prevention Is Better Than Cure

10 / 08 / 2012

Maybe it’s the imminent onset of autumn without having had much of a summer, maybe it’s the dramatic changes in weather and temperature recently, but everyone I’ve come across recently has a bug or the sniffles. Not much fun. Sickness is inevitability and no matter how motivated and diligent the employee, he or she will get sick sometimes. Employers accept...

Subject To Redundancy
Subject To Redundancy

20 / 06 / 2012

In this month’s newsletter I referred to a case which said that a company can use subjective criteria when recruiting for an alternative position as an alternative to redundancy. However, for the purposes of redundancy selection the criteria should be objective. But in Mitchells of Lancaster (Brewers) Ltd v Tattersall the EAT was asked to consider whether subjective redundancy selection...

Unconvincing Excuses
Unconvincing Excuses

24 / 05 / 2012

We advise all our clients to have in place a robust procedure for employees reporting sickness absence. In particular, we specify that employees must phone their manager in person by a certain time. Contact by text or email is not acceptable. It is also not okay for a family member or friend to phone on behalf of an employee, except...