Category: Blog

  • Dismissal Without Warning or Right to Appeal: An  Exception to Prove the Rule

    Dismissal Without Warning or Right to Appeal: An Exception to Prove the Rule

    Can a dismissal without prior warning or a right of appeal ever be fair? In the recent case of Matthews v CGI IT UK Ltd [2024] EAT 38, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) grappled with this question. The answer, a nuanced yes, is critical for employers to understand, not least because it reinforces the importance…

  • Unlocking the Power of Self-Managing Teams: A Blueprint for Success

    Unlocking the Power of Self-Managing Teams: A Blueprint for Success

    Introduction: I recently came across this paper by Roos ten Vregelaar, exploring the critical factors contributing to the success of Self-Managing Teams (SMTs) within organisations. This inquiry is driven by the recognition of the growing adoption of SMTs since the mid-20th century and the associated benefits such as increased flexibility, job satisfaction, and organisational commitment.…

  • Don’t Be Your Own Worst Enemy: The Importance of Keeping Record

    Don’t Be Your Own Worst Enemy: The Importance of Keeping Record

    Winning an employment tribunal claim is hard enough at the best of times. The last thing any claimant needs is to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory due to their own conduct. But as the stark example of Kaur v Sun Mark Ltd shows, that is exactly what can happen if a tribunal concludes…

  • Treated less favourably? Compared to whom?

    Treated less favourably? Compared to whom?

    Ms L McLean v Siemans Mobility Ltd. The Claimant, a contract worker for Siemens Mobility Limited, brought a slew of claims against the company. The allegations? That she had suffered detriment and discrimination after making protected disclosures about billing practices, project status, and alleged profiteering, as well as victimisation and direct sex discrimination regarding timesheet…

  • The Impact of Personality on Teamwork: Optimising for Team Performance

    The Impact of Personality on Teamwork: Optimising for Team Performance

    As organisations increasingly rely on collaborative team efforts to drive productivity and innovation, understanding the dynamics that shape effective teamwork becomes paramount. A recent academic study from a Hungarian Nuclear Power Plant (Influence of personality on Teamwork behaviour and communication) sheds light on the profound influence that individual personality traits can have on team communication,…

  • Shifts in the Night: Understanding the Rights of Agency Workers

    Shifts in the Night: Understanding the Rights of Agency Workers

    Donkor-Baah v University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and Others (2024) EAT 23 Introduction: In the often complex world of employment law, the distinction between different types of workers can sometimes seem like navigating through a dark, unfamiliar corridor. The case of Donkor-Baah v University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and Others shines some clarifying…

  • A Cautionary Tale of Policy, Procedure, and Personal Phone Use

    A Cautionary Tale of Policy, Procedure, and Personal Phone Use

    Mr J Frankis v Mears Ltd: 3200409/2019 – Reserved Judgment. An employment dispute centred around the excessive personal use of a company mobile phone brings to light several critical lessons for employers and HR professionals. The case, while specific in its details, reminds us that there’s more to policy adherence and procedural fairness than simply…