UK employment law training

Who should attend

This introduction to UK employment law course is aimed at all those who have responsibility for UK-based employees but are unfamiliar with employment law and HR practice in the UK, for example international HR managers and directors or inhouse employment counsel whose regional responsibility includes UK HR matters, but also UK based HR or line managers who are quite new to their role and looking for an introductory overview of how employment law shapes HR practice. It will also be useful to employers who anticipate entering the UK market and wish to develop an awareness of their potential employment responsibilities. A prior knowledge of the employment laws applicable in the UK is not required to attend this course.

Synopsis

The United Kingdom (UK) comprises the whole of the island of Great Britain (GB) - containing England, Wales and Scotland - plus Northern Ireland. However, technically, “UK employment law” is a misnomer.

There is the employment law applicable to England and Wales, which Scotland has largely adopted, although there are some notable differences, for example, relating to the interpretation of employment contracts and in employment tribunal practice and procedure. Employment law is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland which, over the last decade, has seen a divergence from the position in GB.

Employment law across the UK is derived from a combination of: common law principles (based upon custom and practice and judicial precedents); domestic legislation in each devolved nation (namely, Statutes and Statutory Instruments) and EU legislation (although the latter has been affected by Brexit). Bearing in mind that employment law is also constantly evolving, this means some employers can find the management of their UK workforces to be more challenging than they might have anticipated.

Led by lawyers with extensive experience of advising international clients, this course will provide an overview of the main employment laws in each of the devolved nations within the UK and the practical implications employers should be aware of.

Please note that this course programme will run over two afternoons (2 x 3 hour course sessions). Day 1 will take place on 23 January 2024 and Day 2 will take place on 25 January 2024.

Day 1

Day 2

Background

sources of employment law
key players e.g. the role of trade unions, Acas/LRA, EHRC and ECNI
the significance of employment status

Day-to-day employee management (part 2)

managing poor performance
managing sickness absence

Getting started

recruitment issues: interviews, probation periods and references
key terms in employment contracts
typical benefits

Termination of employment

unfair and wrongful dismissals
employment tribunal claims and awards
use of settlement agreements

Day-to-day employee management (part 1)

anti-discrimination laws, including the unique laws in NI
managing discipline and grievance issues

Key differences in Scots and Northern Irish law

NI – mandatory registration and fair employment monitoring and reporting

Scotland-a focus on the contract of employment and employment tribunal practice and procedure.

Cost: £499

All prices are exclusive of VAT

Select a date

23/01/2024 - 25/01/2024
virtual online
13:00 - 16:00 (Local time)

Eversheds Sutherland is the name and brand under which the members of Eversheds Sutherland Limited (Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP and Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP) and their respective controlled, managed and affiliated firms and the members of Eversheds Sutherland (Europe) Limited (each an "Eversheds Sutherland Entity" and together the "Eversheds Sutherland Entities") provide legal or other services to clients around the world. Eversheds Sutherland Entities are constituted and regulated in accordance with relevant local regulatory and legal requirements and operate in accordance with their locally registered names. The use of the name Eversheds Sutherland, is for description purposes only and does not imply that the Eversheds Sutherland Entities are in a partnership or are part of a global LLP. The responsibility for the provision of services to the client is defined in the terms of engagement between the instructed firm and the client.