The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled that an employee was fairly dismissed due to a breakdown of trust and confidence in the working relationship, even though he received no written warning and wasn’t offered a right of appeal. Why was this?

The new Acas Code of Practice on requests for flexible working recognises that it’s possible to have a trial period to assess the feasibility of an employee’s proposed flexible working arrangement. How will a trial period work?

Q. An employee has requested to take four weeks’ annual leave to attend the Euros in the summer. Although he’ll have sufficient leave remaining, our policy provides that we don’t allow more than two weeks’ annual leave at any one time. Can we decline his request? ...

New legislation. The government has announced that it’s to introduce new legislation to clarify that non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) can’t legally be enforced if they prevent victims from reporting a crime or from accessing support or legal advice. NDAs include settlement agreements and confidentiality clauses. The legislation will ensure information related to criminal conduct can be discussed with the following groups without fear of legal action: (1) police and other bodies that investigate or prosecute crime; (2) qualified and regulated lawyers; and (3) other support services that operate under clear confidentiality principles, such as counsellors, advocacy services or medical professionals. The other parts of settlement agreements, etc. will retain their legal effects. ...

A restaurant chain has removed its service charge and replaced it with a “brand charge”, seemingly to circumvent the new tipping legislation. Is this an option?

You must now offer a suitable available vacancy on redundancy not only to those on maternity, adoption or shared parental leave but also to those who are pregnant or recently returned from such leave. What must you do to comply with your duties?