The Employment Appeal Tribunal has made an important decision in the case of Bathgate v Technip UK Ltd regarding whether future claims that employees are not aware of can be settled through a settlement agreement. Settlement agreements are legal contracts that are often used to end a person’s employment on agreed terms. The most common features are that employees receive payment for loss of employment in return for their agreement not to pursue any claims against their employer. Before signing a settlement agreement, employees must receive independent advice on the agreement, particularly on a ..read more

FAQs for employers on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This information is intended as general guidance. If you have any specific issues, we would strongly advise you to seek legal advice.   1. The scheme means that employees can be “furloughed”. What exactly is furlough? It follows a term that is commonly used in the US, where an employer chooses to insist that an employee does not work. Under the scheme, an employee is furloughed if they do not work because of circumstances arising as a result of COVID-19.   2. Are there any categories of employees who are excluded from the sc ..read more

FAQs for employees on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This information is intended as general guidance. It relates to a scheme which is not yet in operation. If you have any specific issues, we would strongly advise you to seek legal advice.    1. What are my employer’s options if they cannot trade and cannot afford to pay me? Your employer can ask staff to agree to a reduction in hours and pay. They may also choose to make staff redundant. However, this would involve your employer paying sums of money by way of a redundancy payment and notice pay. Your employer may prefer to take advant ..read more

FAQs for employers on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.  This information is intended as general guidance. It relates to a scheme which is not yet in operation. If you have any specific issues, we would strongly advise you to seek legal advice.   1. The scheme means that employees can be “furloughed”. What exactly is furlough? It follows a term that is commonly used in the US, where an employer chooses to insist that an employee does not work. Under the scheme, furloughed employees are those who would otherwise have been made redundant or laid off.   2. What is the advantage of employees b ..read more