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10 June 2020 / Ian Smith
Issue: 7890 / Categories: Features , Employment
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Employment law brief: 10 June 2020

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Ian Smith takes a gander at short, precise, but nonetheless important aspects of both common & statutory law
  • Wrongful or unfair?
  • Status of the proverbial last straw.
  • Re-engagement not an ‘order’.
  • TUPE-related changes void, even if to the employee’s advantage.
  • When does a new employee start work?

Unlike some recent Briefs which have covered cases concerning broad issues of principle or policy (eg the recent Supreme Court cases reassessing vicarious liability), this month’s Brief looks at five cases concerning short, precise but important aspects of both common law and statutory law in the employment context, namely the difference between wrongful and unfair dismissal, ‘last straw’ constructive dismissal, the limitations of an ‘order’ for re-engagement, TUPE-related changes to employment contracts and the start date for new employment.

Wrongful or unfair?

East Coast Main Line Co Ltd v Cameron UKEAT/0212/19 is a good case example of the difference between wrongful dismissal and unfair dismissal and the importance of keeping them separate for most purposes. The claimant was summarily dismissed after causing a potentially serious breach of

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

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Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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