Annual Employment Law Masterclass March 2021

By Rebecca Westaway

Over 1,500 people booked to attend our five online sessions, which took place between 9-17 March 2021. Our Masterclass offered insightful sessions on recent and forthcoming legislative changes, the latest case law developments as well as deep-dive sessions on resilience, managing mental health issues and managing a fair disciplinary process.

We welcomed experts from Mills & Reeve LLP, the Oakridge Centre and Acas North West to share their timely and topical guidance and insights.

View the session recordings and access the slides below

• Covid-19 workplace testing
• Resilience in times of rapid change
• Managing a fair disciplinary process
• Managing mental health issues
• Employment law update

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Covid-19 Workplace Testing & Vaccinations
Mills & Reeve LLP

Held 9 March from 12:30 -13:30

Health and safety experts Duncan Astill & Samuel Lindsay looked at how such a testing programme could enhance and support a wider approach to controlling the risk of virus transmission in the workplace, and discussed the question of vaccinations under the recently coined phrase << No Jab No Job >>.

Duncan Astill, Partner
Duncan leads the regulatory team supporting clients through a wide variety of regulatory investigations and enforcement action.

Samuel Lindsay, Senior Associate
Sam is a senior associate. His practice focuses on risk appraisal, litigation and operational-advisory work.

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Resilience in Times of Rapid Change
Oakridge Centre

Held 10 March from 13:00 – 14:00

Claire-Marie provided us with an opportunity to reflect on what has and hasn’t been working for us, particularly relevant in today’s VUCA environment. Claire-Marie also explored how leaders might build their resilience and help others around them adapt in the face of adverse circumstances.

When things aren’t adding up in your life – start subtracting
~ Anon

Claire-Marie Boggiano
Claire is a Chartered Engineer and a guest lecturer in Leadership & Change at Manchester Metropolitan University.  She is a STRIDE coach at the Oakridge Centre and ambassador for Women on Boards UK. She was shortlisted for the ‘Mentor of the Year’ at the Northern Power Women Awards 2020/21. 

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Managing a Fair Disciplinary Process
Acas North West

Held 15 March from 10:00-11:00

Before starting a disciplinary procedure, an employer should first see whether the problem can be resolved in an informal way, which often proves to be the quickest and easiest solution. If it’s necessary to start a disciplinary procedure, it’s vital to follow a full and fair procedure throughout. Terry Duffy talked in-depth about the process and the steps to take when faced with reluctant witnesses, remote hearings and accompaniment.

Terry Duffy, Area Director
Terry is responsible for the delivery of dispute resolution services, training and advice on good practice in the workplace and helpline services

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Managing Mental Health Issues
Mills & Reeve LLP

Held 16 March from 09:15-10:30

One in four people will experience mental ill-health during their working lives. The pandemic is taking a particular toll on everyone’s mental wellbeing. This session focused on how organisations can properly support and manage employees who are struggling with their mental health and more specifically looked at:

• The challenges of home working and how to overcome them
• How to recognise the signs of poor mental health
• How the law on equality and discrimination is relevant
• How to manage sickness absence related to mental ill-health

Sara Barrett, Partner
Sara provides commercial and pragmatic employment law advice and solutions to commercial businesses, public sector clients, not for profits and senior executives (appointment & exit)

Pili Fernandez, Senior Associate
Pili advises on the full range of HR and employment law issues including employment status and IR35/off-payroll working, contracts, policies, procedures and management guidance.

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Employment Law Update (Spring 2021)
Mills & Reeve LLP

Held 17 March from 12:30-13:30

We looked at a number of key discrimination developments, helping attendees understand how to tackle workplace inequality and the consequences of unjust practice. We also covered important new case law developments and legislative changes, including the rights workers have if they refuse to attend work on health and safety grounds, the question of grief and whether or not it can be cited as a disability.

Sara Barrett, Partner 
Sara provides commercial and pragmatic employment law advice and solutions to commercial businesses, public sector clients, not for profits and senior executives (appointment & exit)

Sal Chowdhury, Senior Associate
Sam is a senior associate.
His practice focuses on risk appraisal, litigation and operational-advisory work.

CIPD Manchester Branch Annual Employment Law Masterclass 2021
was brought to you in collaboration with