Weekly issue 63 - October 2001

Thug justice

The Court of Appeal have held that it may be fair of the Post Office to dismiss a football hooligan because of the press coverage of his offences.

Taxing times

The High Court have held that a lump sum paid to an employee as part of a negotiated settlement on tennination of employment was not a payment of compensation for breach of contract

Time is not always on my side

It is widely known that Applicants in discrimination cases (sex, race and disability) have three months following an act of discrimination within which to lodge a Tribunal application

Minimum wage less minimal

The National Minimum Wage rate for workers aged 22 or over increased to £4.10 per hour from £3.70 on 1 October 2001.

Careless words cost jobs

Whether references are provided following the termination of employment, and the contents of the references provided is a common employment problem referred to lawyers and trade union advisers.

Stakeholder pensions: the time is now

Every employer employing five or more employees had to have a stakeholder pension arrangement in place by 1 October 2001.

Redundancy policy: fixed termers first

A redundance policy under which fixed-term employees are dismissed first before the employers used a selection procedure to choose permanent employees for redundancy