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Northern Ireland

Essentials of Employment Law in Northern Ireland
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
09:15 - 13:30 (4 hrs)
Online
2 Half Days - 29th & 30th April
Gain a solid understanding of NI-specific employment law in this interactive 2 x half-day online course. Led by expert trainers, the course covers key topics like contracts, disciplinary procedures, dismissals, and grievances, with practical exercises and e-learning resources to reinforce learning.
Essentials of Employment Law
Event details
About the event?
-
8 hours total Duration
29th April 2 Half Days - 29th & 30th April
Online Zoom
£345.00 + VAT Early bird ends 18th March 2025 at 5:00pm. Standard rate: £395.00 + VAT Charity and Small Business rate also available
Overview

Navigate Northern Ireland's Employment Laws with Confidence  

The Essentials of Employment Law in Northern Ireland online course is specifically designed to give attendees a thorough grounding in the main components of NI employment law.

This is an interactive 2 x half-day course, delivered by highly experienced employment law experts.  The sessions will be supported by a comprehensive pack of notes on NI employment law as well as a number of practical exercises throughout the sessions to help enforce learning.  The online sessions will also be complemented with access to a number of additional e-learning programmes aimed to help supplement attendees’ understanding of Employment Laws in NI.

What are the learning outcomes? 

By the end of this course, attendees will:

  • Have a clear understanding of the key points and principles of employment law in NI.
  • Understand the concept of natural justice in disciplinary and grievance procedures.
  • Understand the importance of following organisational policies and procedures.

  • Be able to understand and handle common workplace scenarios, having learnt through worked examples.

What will be covered? 

  • Basics of employment contracts (including the implications of implied terms)
  • Working Time and Leave
  • Disciplinary procedures and performance management
  • Fair and unfair dismissals (including Employment Tribunal basics)
  • Grievances
  • Protected disclosures (whistleblowing)
  • Equality & Dignity at work
Programme

A detailed look at Essentials of Employment Law in Northern Ireland...

Here's what to expect over the 2 half days.

Time
Session
09:30 am

Day 1

Welcome & Introductions

Get to know the format and the speakers with Sarah Carlin, Events Manager, Legal Island.

Sarah carlin
Sarah Carlin Events Manager
09:35 am
Contracts of Employment

Sources of contract terms:

  • Legal requirements.
  • Written contract.
  • Other documents - letters of offer, statement of particulars and policies.
  • Collective agreements.
  • Express and implied terms (including mutual trust & confidence).
  • Custom and practice.
Photo Christine Swail AREL 2024
Christine Swail Director, People Management Solutions
10:05 am
Q&A
10:15 am
Working Time

Working Time Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

  • Working time
  • Working time limits
  • Overtime
  • Rest breaks
  • Holidays
  • Working at night
  • Sunday working
  • Working time and young workers
  • Tricky scenarios – breaks between shifts, working through breaks, working outside normal hours, sick while on holiday, untaken leave, public holidays.
Photo Christine Swail AREL 2024
Christine Swail Director, People Management Solutions
10:40 am
Q&A
10:45 am
Comfort Break
11:00 am
Disciplinary & Performance Management

Disciplinary theory and practice

  • The Labour Relations Agency (LRA) Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures.
  • Is discipline the right approach? Should you remain in the informal process or move to the formal procedures?
  • Managing minor misconduct issues and putting informal corrective action measures into place.
  • Disciplinary v performance management – which is the correct approach?
  • Managing absence and sickness.
Photo Christine Swail AREL 2024
Christine Swail Director, People Management Solutions
11:30 am
Case Study: Understanding how the LRA Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures apply in practice.

This case study looks at all aspects of the disciplinary process to include.

  • Carrying out an investigation;
  • Drafting a disciplinary invitation letter;
  • Conducting the disciplinary meeting;
  • Deciding on the outcome; and
  • Dealing with the appeal process.
Photo Christine Swail AREL 2024
Christine Swail Director, People Management Solutions
12:00 pm
Screen Break
12:20 pm
Workplace Grievances

Grievance theory and practice

  • LRA Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures.
  • What is a grievance?
  • Grievance procedure
  • Dealing with a grievance – informally and formally.
  • Notice of a grievance.
  • Grievance meeting.
  • Grievance appeal.
  • Grievance during a disciplinary process – how do I handle it?
  • Record keeping.
Photo Christine Swail AREL 2024
Christine Swail Director, People Management Solutions
12:50 pm
Q&A
09:30 am

Day 2

Welcome Back & Introduction

A welcome to day 2 with Sarah Carlin, Events Manager, Legal Island.

Sarah carlin
Sarah Carlin Events Manager
09:35 am
Protected Disclosures (whistleblowing)

When a grievance is not ‘just’ a grievance.

  • Reasons for whistleblowing protection
  • Who is protected?
  • When is a worker protected under the legislation?
  • Disclosure of information
  • Qualifying disclosure
  • Reasonable belief
  • Method of disclosure
  • Public interest requirement
  • No good faith requirement
  • What are workers protected from?
  • Claims for whistleblowing
  • Dealing with whistleblowing in practice
Jason elliott new
Jason Elliott Lecturer in Law and Barrister
10:05 am
Scenarios: grievance or whistleblowing?
Jason elliott new
Jason Elliott Lecturer in Law and Barrister
10:30 am
Comfort Break
10:45 am
Equality Law & Dignity at Work

Dignity, Fairness, Respect and Equality

  • The ‘protected characteristics’
    • Age
    • Disability
    • Gender
    • Race
    • Religion or belief
    • Sexual orientation.
  • Types of discrimination
    • Direct
    • Indirect
    • Victimisation
    • Harassment (including sectarian)
  • Liability – individual and employer.
  • Disability Discrimination and duty to make reasonable adjustments.
  • Bullying in the Workplace.
Jason elliott new
Jason Elliott Lecturer in Law and Barrister
11:15 am
Case Study: sexual harassment in the workplace – ‘banter’ or harassment?
Jason elliott new
Jason Elliott BL BL
11:45 am
Feedback Time
12:00 pm
Fair and Unfair Dismissals

Fair v unfair

  • Contractual issues & breach of contract claims.
  • Dismissal – potentially fair reasons, unfair, constructive and automatically unfair.
  • Unfair v wrongful dismissal – what’s the difference?
  • Issuing a claim – length of service, tribunal time limits, early conciliation, and burden of proof.
Jason elliott new
Jason Elliott BL BL
12:45 pm
Case study: Is this dismissal fair or unfair? Why? What are the potential costs?
Jason elliott new
Jason Elliott BL BL
13:00 pm
Feedback Time
Jason elliott new
Jason Elliott BL BL
13:15 pm
Event close
Testimonials

Feedback that speaks volumes...

Find out what our previous attendees had to say about their experience at Essentials of Employment Law in Northern Ireland.

"I really liked the detailed notes accessible in advance were very comprehensive and also meant I didn't need to make copious notes during the presentations, just highlight important points. Also liked the inclusion of scenarios by both speakers."
Lorraine Griffin School Business Manager, Lumen Christi College
"Really competent speakers who know their topics really well. Great accompanying slides and notes and able to maintain my interest via zoom. I would highly recommend to other HR Professionals."
Nicola Shaw Senior HR Consultant, Evolve Engagement & Management Solutions
"Really informative and explained very well. I believe the speakers are well versed in their topics, explaining in a manner that could easily be understood."
Louise Fitzmaurice HR Administrator, CPM Ireland
"Content explained very well and any questions answered."
Paula Quinn HR Administrator, The Beeches P & T Services Ltd
Presenters
Explore the presenters on the day
Jason Elliott BL BL
Jason Elliott BL BL

Jason Elliott was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2013 and is the Associate Head of School of Law at Ulster University.  As a practising barrister, he has developed a largely civil practice representing individuals, companies and public bodies in litigation.  This covers a wide range of areas including personal injuries, wills and employment law. In terms of employment law, he has represented both applicants and respondents in the Industrial Tribunal. At Ulster University, Jason lectures extensively on the civil areas of practise such as Equity and Trusts and delivers employment law lectures for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Christine Swail Director & Co-Founder
Christine Swail Director & Co-Founder

Christine is Director and Co-Founder of People Management Solutions, an award-winning HR Consultancy with offices in Belfast and Dungannon. Christine works with small to medium sized organisations putting best practice HR in place as well as working with larger multi-nationals on specific HR projects and complex workplace disputes.  Christine has worked in HR throughout Ireland for over 25 years with some of the leading and most innovative companies. Key areas of expertise include workplace investigations, mediation, employee relations and HR related training. Christine was recently awarded the CIPD NI HR Consultant of the Year award.

Pricing

Simple, transparent pricing...

Virtual
Early bird offer
£345.00 + VAT Standard Rate: £395.00 + VAT Early bird ends 18th March 2025 at 5:00pm
Early bird offer ends in:
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More Charity & Small Business pricing
Online Standard Rate: £345.00 + VATEarly Bird: £295.00 + VAT (Ends 18th March 2025 at 5:00pm)

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