Location: Northern Ireland
Rep.of Ireland
Location: Northern Ireland
Rep.of Ireland

First Tuesday Q&A

The claimant was dismissed by reason of gross misconduct and in particular.

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When it comes to determining the appropriate sanction for an incident of misconduct, can an employer take into account a previous first written warning?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 06/11/2018 When determining an appropriate sanction for an act of misconduct, employers should ensure that they are familiar with the LRA Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures, which sets out the different sanctions available, from warnings right up to dismissal. From a practical perspecti...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Discipline and Grievance Policies and Procedures

Can an employer treat maternity-related absences in the same way as standard sickness absences?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 06/11/2018 Under the Sex Discrimination (NI) Order 1976, pregnant employees have specific legal rights which regulate their relationship with their employers. It is unlawful pregnancy discrimination to treat an employee less favourably: On the grounds that she is pregnant; For a reason relating to her pregna...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Absence and Sickness Discrimination and Equality Policies and Procedures

If an employee on maternity leave is made redundant, does her former employer have a continuing obligation to pay her statutory maternity pay?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 06/11/2018 First and foremost, employers must exercise caution when making an employee who is pregnant or on maternity leave redundant, and ensure that fair and proper procedure is followed. Statutory maternity pay (‘SMP’) is available to a woman who is or has been an employee under section 160 of the Social ...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Redundancy Discrimination and Equality Policies and Procedures Pay

Can an employer contact an employee off on long-term sick leave?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 02/10/2018 It is important for employers to maintain appropriate levels of contact with an employee who is off on sick leave. However, the amount of contact will depend, amongst other things, on the employee’s role and the size of the employer’s business. An employer needs to try and strike the correct balanc...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Absence and Sickness Policies and Procedures

Can an employee take pre-booked holidays whilst suspended?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 02/10/2018 A period of suspension should not change the normal position with regard to holiday and this should be clearly stated in the employee’s contract of employment or in the staff handbook. Therefore, provided that the annual leave was booked and approved in line with the employer’s holiday procedure, a...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Discipline and Grievance Contracts of Employment Working Time Policies and Procedures

Can an employer refuse a request for flexible working?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 04/09/2018 Yes, an employer can refuse a flexible working request if the employee making the request is not entitled to do so. In order to be entitled, an individual must: (a) Be an employee not simply a worker or agency worker; (b) Have a minimum of 26 weeks continuous service; (c) Not have made a fl...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Discrimination and Equality A-Typical Working Policies and Procedures

How can employers support a growing band of aging workers and avoid age discrimination through their practices and policies?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 04/09/2018 There are many practices that employers can implement to show support to ageing workers and thus prevent age discrimination. Although age discrimination is well established in statute under the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006, there remains an increasing number of age ...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Discrimination and Equality Contracts of Employment Policies and Procedures Recruitment and Selection

During a redundancy consultation process is an employer entitled to interview external candidates for a vacant position in addition to interviewing employees at risk of redundancy? 

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 07/08/2018 It would not normally be appropriate to consider external candidates for a vacancy during a redundancy exercise. There is nothing wrong with implementing a competitive interview process to choose between candidates (i.e. to match vacant roles with the potentially redundant employees) but to conside...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Redundancy Policies and Procedures

What should an employer do if an employee who has submitted a grievance then submits a claim to the tribunal before the grievance has been dealt with?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 07/08/2018 Firstly, employers should note that there is no legislative prohibition on an employee commencing a tribunal claim before their grievance has been concluded. In fact, it is relatively common for employees or ex-employees to bring a claim prior to a grievance outcome being reached. This is due to th...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Discipline and Grievance Contracts of Employment Policies and Procedures Tribunal Practice Procedures and Jurisdictional Issues

What are the consequences for an employer who does not let an employee bring a companion to a disciplinary or grievance hearing?

Posted in: First Tuesday Q&A NI on 03/07/2018 All individuals engaged under a contract of employment, agency workers and home workers have a statutory right under Article 12 of the Employment Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, to be accompanied to a disciplinary or grievance meeting. The accompanying individual may be a colleague, trade ...
This article is listed under the following topics:
Discipline and Grievance Contracts of Employment Policies and Procedures