14 November 2007

Case law update - Is it fair to dismiss employees if you genuinely, but mistakenly, believe they can't work for you?

The Court of Appeal has recently considered whether an employer’s mistaken but genuine belief that its employee could no longer lawfully work in the UK was a fair reason for dismissal. We look at the case and its implications for employers.

Are your employees eligible to work in the UK?

In this feature we summarise the procedure that you should follow to establish whether your employees are eligible to work in the UK.

Case law update EAT judgment deals with malingering, tip-offs, the importance of medical evidence and covert surveillance

What should an employer do when it is ‘tipped off’ by one employee that a fellow employee may be malingering? What happens where an employer is faced with conflicting medical advice from an employee’s GP and its own occupational health doctor? And can an employer undertake covert surveillance of an employee? All of these issues interplayed in a recent EAT judgment.

Case law update - TUPE cannot create for employees rights that did they did not have prior to the transfer

The Court of Appeal has recently confirmed that TUPE cannot be relied on to create an entitlement to a contractual benefit which was not previously enjoyed by an employee before the transfer of their employment.

Inflation Figures

Latest data has been released. Next published data available 18 December 2007.

Click below...
Retail Prices, Tax & Prices, Consumer Prices.

Companies across the region urged to hire Technology Centre Apprentices

Seventy two first year apprentices aged between 16 and 19 have begun their apprenticeships at EEF West Midlands Technology Centre this autumn. Forty one of the apprentices are employed with major companies from the region, the other thirty one are hunting down employment opportunities within the engineering and manufacturing industries while they train at the centre. Are you looking for apprentices?

Please ring 0121 707 1414 and ask for our recruitment team or email malcolm.hindle@eef-techcentre.org.uk

Brown's proposals for apprenticeships welcomed by EEF West Midlands

Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech on education this morning, Bill Nicholls, Director of Education & Training Development at EEF West Midlands, said: “We welcome at long last the government’s commitment to apprenticeships. We have been calling for sometime for apprenticeships to be treated on an equal basis to academic qualifications, and it seems the message has finally got through.

EEF West Midlands boosts specialist health and safety team

SES, is EEF West Midlands’ specialist health and safety division, has strengthened its team of experienced advisers with the appointment of Michael Palfrey, a Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner.

EEF Energy Survey 2007

This report presents the results of EEF's energy survey for 2007.

Hold in rates right for now but cut should be on Bank's radar

The Bank of England is right to leave interest rates on hold for the time being, though the prospects for a cut in the near future are increasing according to EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation.

Manufacturers back Select Committee report on procurement

EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, gave its backing today to the findings of the Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) Select Committee report into the current system of procurement.

Queens speech given broad welcome by manufacturers

EEF West Midlands gave a broad welcome to the main aspects of the Queen’s speech and urged government to deliver on the key areas of climate change, energy policy and pensions reform.

Can NetRegs save you Money?

NetRegs has launched a new self-assessment questionnaire, which gives you an individual report with guidance on your specific environmental obligations by law.

New guidance on corporate manslaughter

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act comes into force on 6 April 2008. The Ministry of Justice has produced a leaflet and a guide to help explain the implications. We look at what it offers and revisit the new Act.

Guidance on the use of trichloroethylene

EEF has released new guidance on the use of trichloroethylene.

Electromagnetic fields directive likely to be delayed

We are continuing to lead the campaign for the review of the Electromagnetic Fields Directive and represented the views of manufacturers at a meeting this week held by the European Commission.

House of Lords upholds pleural plaques judgement

The House of Lords have upheld a 2006 Court of Appeal judgement that pleural plaques - benign cysts which can form on the lung lining following exposure to asbestos - are not a compensatable condition.

Better Backs Campaign

The Health and Safety Executive has just launched a new pack for their Better Backs Campaign. It contains eight useful leaflets and a CD with MS PowerPoint presentations and other useful material - all free. This is obtainable from the Health and Safety Executive website.

Economic Briefing - November 2007

This month's briefing gives the latest intelligence on the main economic indicators, including interest rate rises and manufacturing output.

Europassplus

Europass+ is primary aimed at enabling young users to comprehensively, quickly and independently record informally acquired competencies in writing and in a form which can be understood throughout Europe.