header-logo header-logo

08 October 2020 / Ian Smith
Issue: 7905 / Categories: Features , Employment
printer mail-detail

Employment law brief: 9 October 2020

28863
Are you sitting comfortably? Ian Smith delves into three cases, including employment lawyers being advised not to indulge in fairy stories…

In brief

  • Dismissal on suspicion—a procedural caveat.
  • Efforts to find alternative employment—chance of a job insufficient.
  • ET Pleadings—warning to parties not to use a ‘narrative style’.

‘Are you sitting comfortably? Then, I’ll begin. Once upon a time there was a clever and brave employee with a wicked stepmother/employer, who once said to them ...’. At this point, Her Honour Judge Tucker descends ex cathedra with a mighty, ‘STOP ! I don’t want a fairy story, I want to know what this damned case is about’.

This is a rather rough précis of the third case considered here, in which the learned judge told employment lawyers in no uncertain terms that they should cease and desist from the hitherto growing tendency to draft ET1 and ET3 forms in ‘narrative form’ bearing more resemblance to a witness statement than a statement of case; instead they should concentrate on making clear the essence of their cases with the necessary facts as

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Gateley Legal—Jack Kelly

Gateley Legal—Jack Kelly

Gateley Legal expands Midlands residential development team

Gibson Dunn—Richard Surtees

Gibson Dunn—Richard Surtees

Gibson Dunn adds employee benefits and executive compensation practice in London with partner Richard Surtees

Laytons ETL—Alec Cameron

Laytons ETL—Alec Cameron

Laytons ETL appoints new partner and head of intellectual property disputes

NEWS
A series of recent decisions has clarified important principles across property law, from perpetuities to lease renewals and public rights over land
Employers cannot rely on wellbeing services alone to defend workplace stress claims after a High Court decision awarding almost £1m to an overworked employee
Andy Burnham's brand of 'Manchesterism' could offer fresh thinking on legal aid and access to justice if it reaches Westminster, according to Roger Smith, NLJ columnist and former director of JUSTICE
The constitutional fallout from a change of prime minister, rather than the politics, is under scrutiny as questions arise over the limits of executive authority in a leadership transition
The legal profession is undergoing a fundamental shift from selling services to creating technology-enabled products, according to Professor Luke Mason, Head of School of Law at Regent's University London
back-to-top-scroll