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Joint Newsletter between the Labour Relations Agency and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland January 2013
Welcome to the Third edition of the joint Equality Commission and Labour Relations Agency Newsletter. In this edition we will cover some of the key issues that are likely to affect or be of interest to you, our readers, in relation to what is happening in the field of employment and equality law from a local Northern Ireland perspective.
Joint Newsletter between the Labour Relations Agency and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland January 2015
Welcome to the Fifth edition of the joint Equality Commission and Labour Relations Agency Newsletter. In this edition we will cover some of the key issues that are likely to affect or be of interest to you, our readers, in relation to what is happening in the field of employment and equality law from a local Northern Ireland perspective.
Informal actions
Whether it’s the employer who needs to raise an issue with an employee, or an employee who would like to make a complaint to their employer, it is useful to consider in the first instance whether an informal approach could be taken to resolve the matter.
Exercise - Current Position in My Workplace
This questionnaire helps establish the current policies and provision to support mental health in the workplace and identify where additional steps or resources might be needed.
604 Employment Protection (Continuity of Employment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
These Regulations, as of 2nd February 1997, revoke and replace the Industrial Relations (Continuity of Employment) Regulations of 1994 and relate to maintenance of continuity of employment where a dismissed employee is reinstated or re-engaged in certain circumstances.
The Industrial Tribunals and Fair Employment Tribunal (Early Conciliation: Exemptions and Rules of Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
The Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 amended the Industrial Tribunals (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 and the Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 to introduce a requirement for prospective claimants to contact the Labour Relations Agency before they are able to present a claim to an industrial tribunal or the Fair Employment Tribunal. This requirement applies to claims which are relevant proceedings under Article 20(1) of the Industrial Tribunals Order or Article 38 of the Fair Employment and Treatment Order.
Regulation 3 sets out the circumstances in which a claimant may present a claim dealing with relevant proceedings without complying with the requirement for early conciliation.
The exemption in regulation 3(1)(a) relates to claimants who are presenting a claim on the same claim form as other claimants or joining a claim which has already been presented to an industrial tribunal or the Fair Employment Tribunal by another claimant (so called ‘multiples’); in such circumstances, a claimant may rely upon the fact that another claimant has complied with the requirement for early conciliation and has a certificate from the Agency.
The exemption in regulation 3(1)(b) means that if a claim for relevant proceedings appears on the same claim form as proceedings which are not relevant proceedings, there is no need for a claimant to satisfy the early conciliation requirement in relation to those relevant proceedings.
Preventing relationship problems
The best way to prevent relationship problems is to have policies and procedures that are fair, constructive and clear and there should be constructive communication to address issues as quickly as possible. We can help you to check if your policies and procedures are in line with best practice.
However, where relationships have been damaged by events in the workplace, the Labour Relations Agency can provide impartial and confidential mediation, conciliation or arbitration support to help resolve the situation.
Webinar - Hybrid Working
This webinar provides an overview to employers considering introducing hybrid working in their organisation. It complements the Labour Relations Agency ‘Practical Guide to Hybrid Working’, available to view or download free from our website.
549 Disability Discrimination (Guidance on Code of Practice) (Appointed day) Order (Northern Ireland) 1996
This Order stipulates 2nd December 1996 as the date on which this guidance comes into force and addresses the elimination of discrimination in the field of employment against disabled persons or persons who have had a disability.