Scrase Law Employment Solicitors

THE DUTY TO MAKE REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS – EMPLOYMENT LAW UPDATE ON 18 JUNE 2019

WITH WORKSHOP INCLUDING INTERACTIVE CASE STUDIES

THE BARN AT BERKELEY – M5 (Junctions 13/14)

Employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to working practices where an employee with a disability is placed at a substantial disadvantage.  Employers that fail to make adjustments face the risk of losing valuable employees as well as the risk of breaching their legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010.  However, there can often be uncertainty about whether the duty has arisen, and if so, what steps the employer has to take to comply with that duty. 

Employers can often be surprised by the extent of their duty.  An employer will be expected to make all reasonable adjustments that will assist the employee.  Even if the employer has made great efforts to assist a disabled employee, if an Employment Tribunal decides that they have failed to make one adjustment which would have been reasonable, the employer may lose a disability discrimination claim.  Tribunal claims can be disruptive and upsetting for all concerned, and as compensation for discrimination claims is unlimited, mistakes can be costly.  

We will be guiding employers and HR professionals through the uncertainty, and looking at practical tips on how to determine whether the duty to make reasonable adjustments has arisen; and if so, practical steps that the employer can take to ensure that it complies with that duty.

Delegates will then have a full opportunity to build on their knowledge by discussing the practical aspects of the duty to make reasonable adjustments in the workplace during our interactive workshop.  This will include case studies, based on issues that can arise on a day-to-day basis, guided by our team of specialist employment solicitors.

As usual we will also be examining the latest developments in employment law with an extensive round-up of recent case law.

Programme

10.30    Introduction.

10.45    Rupert Scrase – The duty to make reasonable adjustments.

  • Making reasonable adjustments – when does the duty arise?
  • The extent of the duty – what is reasonable?
  • Getting it wrong – what are the consequences?
  • Guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Statutory Code of Practice
  • The Access to Work Scheme

11.45    Coffee

12.00    Sally Rogers – Practical Workshop.

  • A great opportunity for interactive discussion with other HR professionals and our team of experienced employment solicitors.
  • Using case studies, we will be exploring scenarios that can arise on a day-to-day basis involving the duty to make reasonable adjustments, including in the context of sickness absence, redundancy and disciplinary proceedings.
  • Delegates build on their knowledge and share experience of best practice with other employers and HR professionals.

13.00    Lunch

14.00    Alexandra Robinson – Round-up of latest developments in employment law, including:

  • Proposed extension to enhanced redundancy protection for new parents.
  • Increase in compensation for injury to feelings in discrimination claims.
  • Increased financial penalties for employers.
  • Changes to the right to a written statement of employment particulars.

14.30    Alexandra Robinson – Case law round-up, including cases on:

  • The extent of an employer’s liability for the actions of wrongdoers.
  • To suspend or not to suspend – will suspension be a breach of trust and confidence?
  • Compensation for failure to provide a statement of employment particulars.
  • The issue of knowledge in disability discrimination claims.
  • Rest breaks and compensation for failure to provide rest breaks.
  • Whistleblowing – is an allegation of defamation in the public interest?

15.00    Close

Booking information:

£150 plus VAT per delegate (includes lunch)

FREE for retainer clients of Scrase Employment Solicitors

Please contact us on 0117 985 1026 or info@scraselaw.com to book a place