The programme has been developed as a direct response to the sharp increase in unfair dismissal cases brought in the recession. The 2009 Acas Annual Report cited a total of 52, 711 claims made in that period, a 29% increase on the previous year. This increase in claims is a direct result of organisational downsizing, but it has also increased because former employees are more willing to make claims about the lack of opportunities for alternative employment.
Mike Emmott, employee relations adviser, CIPD, says: "An increase in claims was inevitable given the scale of redundancies in the past year or so, but the extent of the increase is particularly worrying. It's a clear indication that far too many employers are not adopting good practice around employee performance and discipline. In cases where everything has been done properly and in accordance with legal requirements, employers are evidently failing to get the right message across.
"Our workshops have been designed to help employers ensure they have robust and fair procedures in place. They're for anyone considering reviewing how to ensure that their organisation can show evidence of fair and appropriate process, and have confidence in demonstrating that. In tough times, employees under financial pressure have less reason to shy away from making claims and employers can ill afford the cost in money and reputation of not getting it right."
The Law on Tour workshops will provide a comprehensive and essential case law and legislation update. They will take place at the following locations:
Oxford 13 April 2010
Stansted 14 April 2010
London 15 April 2010
Southampton 16 April 2010
Edinburgh 20 April 2010
Manchester 21 April 2010
Birmingham 22 April 2010
Bristol 23 April 2010
Leeds 27 April 2010
Nottingham 28 April 2010
Cambridge 29 April 2010
London 30 April 2010
