Employment Law E-Bulletin

Dec 07

QUICK LINK

Read this month's cases in detail

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ALCOHOL - MORE THAN A SEASONAL PROBLEM

A poll of 4,500 workers conducted by Onepoll on behalf of the hotel chain Travelodge in November 2007 showed that hangovers caused by Christmas parties could cost UK businesses £790 million this year in lost productivity.

The results of this survey may come as no surprise, but you should not discount alcohol as a seasonal problem. Employment issues concerning alcohol go far beyond some festive overindulgence.

Read full article

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CASES

Alcohol Cases

The first two cases that we are featuring this month are old cases but ones that highlight the dangers which arise when trying to deal with party related incidents. In Focus DIY v Nicholson dismissal for smoking cannabis at a party was held to be fair but then in Ardyne Scaffolding v Rennie the dismissal of an employee who returned to work drunk after a Christmas lunch was found to be unfair.

Recent Cases

And finally for this year, a very recent case on disability discrimination and the duty to make reasonable adjustments.

Read this month's cases in detail

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LEGISLATION

The long awaited Employment Bill was introduced in the House of Lords last week.

The Bill is eagerly anticipated in that it (eventually!) proposes the abolition of the much maligned statutory dispute resolution procedures.

Other key proposals made by the Bill are that:

• Awards to an employee be increased by up to 25% if the employer has been unreasonable in failing to comply with a Code of Practice.
• ACAS’ powers of conciliation be extended and the time limits removed.

A time scale for the implementation of the Bill is not yet clear, but it is likely to be 2009 before these changes go through and the statutory dispute resolution procedures become history!

For further information on the issues featured here or any other employment law issue contact Burnetts' employment law solicitors on 01228 552222

Dec 2007