Weekly Issue 250

New compensation limits

A number of new compensation limits come into force on 1 February 2012. These apply when the relevant event takes place on or after that date.

State Benefits

The Court of Appeal has said in Minter v Kingston Upon Hull City Council and Potter v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions that employees have to pay back overpayments of state benefits from equal pay settlements because they constitute income or earnings under the relevant Regulations.

Difference in treatment

Having established the reason for dismissing someone, Tribunals also have to take into consideration whether it was reasonable for the employer to rely on it, when deciding whether a dismissal was fair or not.