Weekly issue 114

News in brief

The Government has, this week, published its long awaited Equality Bill. It is expected to receive Royal Assent in spring 2010, with most provisions coming on line in October 2010.

Capability dismissals and the new ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures

In this second of my monthly columns in Thompsons Weekly LELR I would like to focus on whether or not the revised ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures (effective from 6 April) is more helpful to trade union representatives in defending their members from claims of incapability than the previous version.

Handle with care

In unfair dismissal cases, tribunals have to decide if the employer genuinely believed on reasonable grounds that the employee was guilty of misconduct and whether dismissal was a reasonable response to it.

Well rested

The 1998 Working Time Regulations (WTR) state that all workers have a right to four weeks’ annual paid leave.