Family Finance Workshop

26 November 2015Work and Employment Law Aspects

Legal issues involving the family

• Conveyancing• Education – student litigation• Issues involving children or dependents• Adoption• Commercial • Family breakdown• Probate• Personal injury

Work and employment law issues

• Unemployment fell to 1.86 million (ONS) • Latest figures suggest that the employment

rate is 73.7% (July to September 2015 – ONS)• The figures also suggest that more families

with children are now working and show the largest fall in the percentage of workless households since records began

Work and Family Issues

• Single parent households with dependent children were more likely to be workless

Why?

Your basic rights

Be aware of your rights!• Contract of employment • National minimum wage (£6.70)– economic• Annual leave (holiday entitlement) – time with

family • Working Time Regulations – recent case law• Equal pay• Sick pay

Employee benefits

Your employer may offer various benefits (some of which may extend to spouse, partner and children)- Private medical insurance- Pension- Income protection- Dental insurance- Life insurance- Childcare vouchers

Family friendly rights at work

• Time off for dependents• Right to request flexible working • Maternity leave and pay• Adoption leave and pay• Paternity leave• Shared parental leave• Right not to be subjected to to a detriment

Redundancy

• A fair process must be followed• Full and meaningful consultation • Transparent and fair selection criteria• Suitable alternative employment• Redundancy pay• Time off to find alternative employment

Other dismissals

• A fair reason • A fair procedure• ACAS Code of Practice on Discipline and

Grievance• Performance management

Unfair dismissal

• Challenge an employer’s treatment of you• Compensation and termination payments• Taxation of termination payments

Discrimination at work

• The Equality Act 2010• The “Protected Characteristics” are:

– Age– Disability– Gender reassignment– Marriage and civil partnership– Pregnancy and maternity– Race– Religion and belief– Sex – Sexual orientation

• Part-time and fixed-term workers

Summary

• A complicated and highly litigated area!• If in doubt, seek advice

• Contact details – Neeta Laing- 07738 549034- Neetalaing@lainglegal.com