State of HR survey workshops

In association with King's College London, we are hosting a series of workshops based on the State of HR survey report. The next workshop is on Wednesday 31 March, which will address the drivers of employee engagement.  This session will be joined by guest speaker Nita Clarke, Director of the IPA who worked closely with David MacLeod on his Government-commissioned report into employee engagement.  For further details and if you would like to attend, please contact Richard Giles or on 020 7427 6668.

The following two sessions are:

Empowering and supporting line management - 27 April

Bullying and harassment – identification and resolution - 12 May

For further details about these two sessions, please click here.

This month's top employment cases

• Clarity on age-related notice periods and the relationship between EU and national law
• Legal representation at conduct hearings
• Maximum working age
• Maximum recruiting age
• Competition law breaches and the rule that claimants cannot benefit from their own wrongdoing
• Transferred employees and collective agreements determining pay
• Untaken holiday
• Obligation to provide work
• Unlawful industrial action
• Harassment

Click here to read brief summaries about these recent cases

Lawyers at internal dismissal hearings?

As reported in our top cases (see above), the Court of Appeal in Governors of X School V R (on the application G) and others has revisited the question of legal representation at internal dismissal hearings.  Please click here for further information.

Immigration update

Changes to Tier 1 applications
The UK Border Agency has announced changes to the criteria for Tier 1 (General) applications.  The new criteria will be introduced from 6 April 2010.  Highly skilled workers will still require a total of 95 points (75 for attributes, 10 for English language and 10 for maintenance).  However, the points awarded for various attributes are to change.  Please click here for further information.

Increased fees
The UK Border Agency has announced fee increases for visa applications from 6 April 2010.  Please click here for a brief summary of the proposed increases for the main applications under the Points-Based System.

Highly Trusted Sponsors
From 6 April 2010 the UK Border Agency will introduce a 'Highly Trusted Sponsor' status for sponsors of students under Tier 4.  Sponsors are able to apply for this status from 22 March 2010.  Please click here for further information.

Changes to Tier 2 of the Points-Based System
The UK Border Agency has confirmed they will introduce changes to Tier 2 which were recommended by the Migration Advisory Committee.  These will take effect from 6 April 2010.  Please click here for further information.

New sub-categories under Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) of the Points-Based System
The UK Border Agency has confirmed they will introduce two new sub-categories of Intra-Company Transfers.  In addition, as of 6 April 2010, any period of leave granted of Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) will not count towards an application for indefinite leave to remain.  Please click here for further information.

State of HR survey article on Changeboard