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Employment – Unfair dismissal. The employee sought ill-health retirement on the basis of chronic degenerative condition of his spine. Shortly after doctors had reported that he was permanently unfit to work, the employee was observed displaying a range of movements. He was subsequently dismissed on the basis that he had allegedly exaggerated his condition. The employment tribunal held that, while the employee had genuinely believed in the employee's guilt and that the dismissal fell within the range of reasonable responses, the employer had not had reasonable grounds for its belief. The tribunal further allowed a claim for wrongful dismissal. The Employment Appeal Tribunal, allowing the employer's appeal, held that the tribunal had taken the wrong approach and had substituted its own view as to whether the employee had exaggerated. The tribunal had further erred in its conclusion on wrongful dismissal. The claim was remitted.
Employment – Unfair dismissal. The employee sought ill-health retirement on the basis of chronic degenerative condition of his spine. Shortly after doctors had reported that he was permanently unfit to work, the employee was observed displaying a range of movements. He was subsequently dismissed on the basis that he had allegedly exaggerated his condition. The employment tribunal held that, while the employee had genuinely believed in the employee's guilt and that the dismissal fell within the range of reasonable responses, the employer had not had reasonable grounds for its belief. The tribunal further allowed a claim for wrongful dismissal. The Employment Appeal Tribunal, allowing the employer's appeal, held that the tribunal had taken the wrong approach and had substituted its own view as to whether the employee had exaggerated. The tribunal had further erred in its conclusion on wrongful dismissal. The claim was remitted.
Chair of the Bar reports back
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, outlines the drug and alcohol testing options available for family law professionals, and how a new, free guide can help identify the most appropriate testing method for each specific case
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the latest ONS data on drug misuse and its implications for toxicology testing in family law cases
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Where to start and where to find help? Monisha Shah, Chair of the King’s Counsel Selection Panel, provides an overview of the silk selection process, debunking some myths along the way
Do chatbot providers owe a duty of care for negligent misstatements? Jasper Wong suggests that the principles applicable to humans should apply equally to machines
