Course Details

The use and abuse of zero hours and casual workers has long had wide press coverage, not least in light of scandals surrounding companies such as Sports Direct.  


The increase in the number of casual workers in the workforce together with the ongoing strengthening of the legal rights of these workers presents a challenge to many employers. 


Kate presents an insightful and practical discussion on zero hours and casual workers and their contracts.  


Although tax legislation does not recognise the mid category between employee and consultant of worker, the hiring of casuals comes with a need to be aware of both the importance of the distinction in employment law between a worker and an employee and the impact of this status on the legal rights of these workers.  This course looks at the impact of status on a range of issues and include a practical look at the holiday, family leave and sickness absence rights of and options for casuals, areas which are so important when administering payroll.  


Kate also summarises proposals for reform in this area under the Employment Rights Bill currently making its way through parliament.

 

Kate Lawson covers the following topics during this session:

  • The key terms: Casual, Zero hours, Worker and Employee – what they mean and how they differ.
  • Why legal employment status is significant and the importance of continuity issues.
  • Holiday, Sick Absence and Family Leave: pitfalls and tips.
  • Contracts and termination: key points.

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CPD Course Speaker

Element Law

Kate Lawson

Kate is an experienced employment solicitor, having qualified in 2001. She has been assisting employers and employees with a wide range of employment law and HR issues since qualification. Kate completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in South Africa, at the University of Natal, before obtaining her post-graduate legal qualifications in England at Guildhall University (Post Graduate Diploma in Law with Commendation) and BPP Law School (Diploma in Legal Practice with Distinction). She was admitted as a solicitor in October 2001 following a training contract at Clarkson Wright & Jakes. Kate worked at Cripps in Tunbridge Wells where she served as an Associate Solicitor. She lectured and tutored on the Legal Practice Diploma at BPP Law School on Business Law and Practice and Employment Law, before moving to ThomasMansfield boutique employment firm as Head of their London office, where she was promoted to Partner. Kate has been a Director of Element Law since 2012. Kate focuses solely on employment and HR law and related issues, acting for both businesses and employees, and contentious and non-contentious work. This gives her a useful and balanced insight into the key priorities and objectives from each perspective. The focus of her work is as trusted adviser to SMEs, including a number of professional partnerships and not for profit organisations. Her clients include patent attorneys and national charities. She supports her clients on a day-to-day providing practical, commercial advice on a range of areas from grievance and disciplinary matters to family friendly leave arrangements to business mergers and acquisitions and redundancy consultations to employment tribunal claims. Kate also provides regular practical HR and management training for her clients on a range of topics from 2 to 3 hours introductory level to full day analysis of more complex processes. Kate speaks at events and on podcasts for organisations including at the House of Commons on Menopause and the workplace, and for the Society of Occupational Medicine on Reasonable adjustments and Neurodiversity.