Employment Law Resources
by Shantha David
With new pieces of legislation being introduced on 1 April and 1 October of each year, employment lawyers
have had a job on their hands keeping up-to-date with all the new laws. For example, new legislation was introduced on 1
October on Grievance and Disciplinary procedures (Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2004)
and new rules in relation to the Employment Tribunal (Employment Tribunal (Constitution and Rules of
Procedures) Regulations 2004). These new laws in particular have had most legal commentators reaching for
very cold flannels to place on their foreheads!
Free Services
There are a number of very useful free websites that are invaluable employment law sources.The DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) website at www.dti.gov.uk/er/index.htm provides a wide variety of information, from individual employment rights to commentary on employment law legislation. There is a section called ‘hot topics’, which includes a survey on Employment Tribunal applications and an explanation of the new Information and Consultation Directive.
Another very useful resource is the ACAS website at www.acas.org.uk/employment_info.html. For example, there is a section marked A-Z of work, which provides a ‘comprehensive list of employment issues that may affect your daily working’. The sections marked Employment Forms, Rights At Work and Employment Questions provide helpful and practical guidance.
Trade Union websites offer guidance and links to a wide range of employment law sources, such as UNISON’s website at www.unison.org.uk. The resources section provides useful advice on employment rights and law and also provides links to other websites. Other useful websites include the Trades Union Congress website at www.tuc.org.uk and the Transport and General Worker’s Union website at www.tgwu.org.uk.
Daniel Barnett, a barrister working out 1 Temple Gardens, runs an excellent free subscription email service that provides details of new cases and legislation at www.danielbarnett.co.uk.
The law firm Russell Jones and Walker at www.rjw.co.uk runs a free subscription email services called unionlawexpress which provides updates on cases and legislation and the Thompsons solicitors website provides practical guidance - www.thompsons.law.co.uk.
The new website from the Employment Tribunal at www.employmenttribunals.gov.uk provides details on how to make claims to the Employment Tribunal and also has a very substantial section on the on-going part-time worker pension claims.
Three sites in particular provide judgments of employment law cases:
Her Majesty’s Stationary Office lists all legislation that has come into force in Great Britain and Northern Ireland since 1988 at www.hmso.gov.uk. However, it is often easier to type in the name of a piece of legislation in a google search www.google.co.uk rather than having to navigate the hmso website.
Subscription Services
The bible for all employment lawyers is Harvey on Industrial Relations and Employment Law. This six-volume series may be found on-line by subscribing to the employment law services with www.lexisnexis.co.uk.Also available here is the up-to-date case law and legislation employment service. Tolley’s Employment Handbook is another Lexis Nexis publication which is an invaluable source of information on employment law; this is due to go on-line soon.
Members of the Employment Lawyers Association (see www.elaweb.org.uk) have access to useful emails with information ranging from the latest uprating of compensation limits to the latest judgments.
Emplaw, another subscription based service at www.emplaw.co.uk provides advice and case law for both employers and employees. It also incorporates some free services, such as ‘free employment law information’ service and their 'finding employment lawyers' service.
The online or paper 'IDS brief' (Incomes Data Services Ltd - www.idsbrief.co.uk) provides excellent analyses on new employment law cases and features on useful employment law matters. The website contains a case and legislation database and also provides a free email service with employment law updates.
Sweet and Maxwell's Lawtel employment law service (see www.lawtel.com) includes case law since 1980 and key employment legislation. The subscription includes an email updater on all employment matters.
Shantha David is a lawyer in the Employment Rights Unit of Unison, www.unison.org.uk.
Email s.david@unison.co.uk.
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