In Brief: Important Updates from February 2021

A number of useful articles were added to the Legal Island Employment Law Hub throughout February 2021. Here is a quick recap of some of the recent additions to the Coronavirus employment-related and Brexit hubs. 

Coronavirus Employment-Related Updates

Compelling Employees to be Vaccinated for Covid-19 – How Do I Handle It?

There has been much discussion of late around the ‘no jab-no job’ issue and Rachel Richardson, Tughans sets out the implications of requiring existing employees to get the Covid-19 vaccination.

First Tuesday Q&A: Covid-19 Vaccinations

Chris Fullerton, Associate Solicitor in the Corporate and Commercial teams at Arthur Cox addresses key questions around compulsory vaccination for Covid-19 and guidance for employers when employees refuse to have the vaccination.

Masking the Problem

The recent case of Kubilius v Kent Foods Limited [2021] is helpful in emphasising the importance of following recommended Health and Safety guidance to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. The employee is this case was found by an Employment Tribunal to have been fairly dismissed for refusing to wear a face mask in his vehicle while on a customer’s premises.

The Growth of Agile Working – A Look at Policy And Practice Considerations

Leeanne Armstrong, TLT NI considers her very comprehensive Employee Handbook series with a review of flexible and agile working setting out very helpful guidance for create an Agile Working policy – an important addition to the Employee Handbook during these changed times.

Performance Conversations and Motivation of Remote-based Millennials

In this excellent discussion around the importance of performance conversations in motivating remote-based millennials Michelle Halloran, Director, Human Resource Management Services suggests amongst other brilliant ideas that any pay rises an employer wishes to give should be following successful completion of the probationary period rather than when an employee has completed one year’s service.

Brexit Updates

Right To Work Checks After Brexit

Kiera Lee, Partner in the Employment Team at Mills Selig Kiera Lee considers how employers can draft their contracts to help demonstrate compliance with right to work checks when recruiting new staff.

Brexit: Implications for NI Employers of EU Nationals

Ciara Fulton, Partner at Employment Law Specialists, Jones Cassidy Brett Solicitors, outlines the Brexit implications for NI employers of EU nationals.

Brexit and European Court Case Law on Transfers: EU Retained Case Law: How Will It Work?

In this article, Dr John McMullen discusses two aspects of EU-derived employment rights: the status of pre-Brexit jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice; and the status of EU-derived legislation applicable in the UK prior to Brexit.