16 September 2004

KEEBLE HAWSON

www.keeblehawson.co.uk

E-MAIL UPDATE

Dispute Resolution - Are you ready for 1 October 2004 ?

From the above date, the Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2004 will come into force. These will lay down disciplinary, dismissal and grievance procedures and provide a statutory framework for discussing and resolving problems in the workplace.
The regulations will set a minimum standard and are not intended to replace existing best practice. The new procedures should compliment your existing disciplinary and grievance procedures which must be set out in writing and communicated to employees. In summary, all employers and employees (if they wish to raise a grievance) must follow a minimum three step process. If not they could face a financial penalty should a dispute reach an Employment Tribunal.
We are aware that the Department of Trade and Industry has written a standard letter to employers setting out details of the new laws, their effect on employers and their staff. Further information is also available from a number of government sources for example www.dti.gov.uk/resolvingdisputes <http://www.dti.gov.uk/resolvingdisputes and from ACAS at www.acas.org.uk which also has a helpline number 0845 7 47 47 47.
We did send a previous EMU in relation to this matter at the end of July and this further EMU is simply a timely reminder.

If you do require further advice in relation to this or any other employment matter please do not hesitate to contact the following :-

* Paul Grindley
paulgrindley@keeblehawson.co.uk <mailto:paulgrindley@keeblehawson.co.uk>
Tel: 0113 399 3488

* Nina Sharpe
ninasharpe@keeblehawson.co.uk <mailto:ninasharpe@keeblehawson.co.uk>
Tel: 0114 290 6329

* Helena Tattersall
helenatattersall@keeblehawson.co.uk <mailto:helenatattersall@keeblehawson.co.uk>
Tel: 0113 399 3482

www.keeblehawson.co.uk

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