Jones Chase Employment Law Podcast

How to Create an Effective Performance Improvement Plan

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 15:00:00 +0100

Managing performance can be complex, time consuming and risky. For those on the receiving end of the process, if the process is not run correctly, it can be stressful and have a damaging psychological effect. When an employee’s performance falls short of expectations, creating an effective performance improvement plan (“PIP”) is therefore crucial for both protecting the organisation and supporting staff members with their development.

Getting it right can transform struggling employees into valuable and loyal contributors and help to develop a flourishing business. Getting the PIP process wrong can expose a business to significant legal risks, create disruption, inefficiency and disharmony; often lasting for many months; and at worst, considerable upset leading to legal action, particularly if the employee believes that the process is unfair or unjust.

If you enjoyed this podcast, don't forget to subscribe and share it with your colleagues. Jones Chase is a specialist employment law firm based in the centre of London with an excellent track record of looking after those that we assist.

If you have any questions or would like to know more drop us a line at info@joneschase.com - 0203 837 9914 or visit http://www.joneschase.com

Paternity Leave and Pay: A Guide for Fathers

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0100

Fatherhood is a transformative experience. However, for many fathers, understanding their rights to paternity leave, pay, and related entitlements can feel overwhelming.

After all, the topic of paternity leave is often overshadowed by discussions on maternity leave or overlooked in workplace conversations.

Your Employment Webinar – Key changes to employment law in 2025 and other essential topics

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 18:00:00 +0000

In this webinar recording Tanya Kaka outlines the key employment law changes to look out for in 2025 and what that could mean for you or your business.

In addition, Susanna Rynehart provides an essential update on the important topic of how Employment Tribunals are assessing injury to feelings awards in discrimination cases, with a focus on two important recent decisions in case law: Shakil v Samsons Limited [2024] EAT 192 and Stobbart Limited v Graham [2025] EAT 14.

This webinar also marks Shona Newmark’s farewell from Jones Chase. After many years as a valued member of our team and one of the firm’s partners, Shona will be retiring from the law and life as an employment lawyer on February 28th 2025.

This session features Shona speaking about the complex subject of TUPE with the title of “Should I stay or should I go?” – what choices does an employee have in a TUPE situation, if any? The review will cover an employee’s ability to object to transfer, to be redeployed, to resign, to rely on a deemed transfer and/or to be actually automatically transferred.

Jones Chase Special Webinar – Sexual Harassment in the Workplace – 21st November 2024

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

As many of you will already know, on 26 October 2024, the Government brought into force the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 which includes a new mandatory duty on employers to “take reasonable steps to prevent the sexual harassment of their employees in the course of employment”.

This is a preventative duty that applies to all employers, regardless of size, structure, ownership or otherwise.

Led by Harriet Bowtell, Senior Associate, our experts at Jones Chase will explore the current legal context behind sexual harassment, the new duty on employers and what practical steps can be taken to help compliance with the new duty.

Topics:

Awel Roberts, Trainee Solicitor: The New Duty – We’ll explain the recent changes, why compliance is essential and the potential consequences of non-compliance.

Harriet Bowtell, Senior Associate: The 8 Crucial Steps for Compliance – An overview of the key steps outlined in the EHRC Guidance.

Josephine van Lierop, Senior Consultant: Practical Implications of what is “in the Workplace” – when is something that is done outside the workplace, actually in the workplace.

Shona Newmark, Partner: Third-Party Harassment – Covering the inclusion of third-party harassment.

Jones Chase Special Webinar - Grief in the Workplace 3 October 2024

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 14:00:00 +0100

For this podcast recording, we had the privilege of presenting alongside Lizzie Pickering, an expert who supports individuals and companies in navigating grief from various life changes including death, divorce, diagnosis and workplace change.

You can learn more about Lizzie and the fantastic work that she does here:- https://lizziepickering.com/

Our experts at Jones Chase addressed the current legal mechanism for dealing with grief, offering valuable insight into the legal responsibilities and challenges employers may face.

We covered the following topics:

Lizzie shared her invaluable insights on how grief can affect someone, what steps can be taken to support people better which are often misunderstood or not known to employers, and how she began working with corporations on their grief provisions;

Susanna Rynehart, Partner, discussed Prolonged Grief Disorder, explaining how in some cases it may be classified as a disability and how it might impact both employers and employees;

Domonic Lyons, Associate Solicitor, explored the legal aspects of this underrepresented topic. Discussed current legislation, highlighting how the focus of grief policies is often limited to death and bereavement, while other profound life circumstances can equally fall under grief.

For the full recording of the webinar visit our YouTube page full of further employment law video resources.

We hope that you find this webinar useful and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions. We would love to hear from you.

Episode 6 - Miss Clare Jackson v The University Hospitals of North Midlands July 2023

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0100

Case notes – a monthly employment law podcast examining an element of a tribunal/court decision/investigation report (chosen by the podcasters) to establish any commercial implications of the decision and any impact on HR practice and procedures.

The case this month is…. Miss Clare Jackson v The University Hospitals of North Midlands July 2023.

An Employment Appeal Tribunal decision on the termination of Miss Jackson’s employment.

The case considers the types of termination (dismissal and constructive dismissal) and the date of termination and the concepts behind a unilateral change of employment terms by an employer.

Your presenters:

Susanna Rynehart - Susanna is a fixer and loves working as an employment lawyer because she gets to help people solve problems, find solutions and make a real difference.

Shona Newmark - Listening to and understanding the issues each client faces and working together to resolve them and achieve the best outcome possible is what keeps Shona interested every day in employment law.

Link to the public record - Miss_Clare_Jackson_v_The_University_Hospitals_of_North_Midlands_NHS_Trust__2023__EAT_102.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Episode 5 – Mrs K Higgs v Farmors School

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 16:00:00 +0100

Case notes – a monthly employment law podcast examining an element of a tribunal/court decision/investigation report (chosen by the podcasters) to establish any commercial implications of the decision and any impact on HR practice and procedures.

The case this month is…. Mrs K Higgs v Farmors School, 16 June 2023.

An Employment Appeal Tribunal decision on a potentially discriminatory reason for dismissal, the protected characteristic being belief, and the manifestation of a belief as opposed to the belief itself, and a full review on the right to freedom of speech and how that is relevant to employment law and HR practice.

Your presenters:

Susanna Rynehart - Susanna is a fixer and loves working as an employment lawyer because she gets to help people solve problems, find solutions and make a real difference.

Shona Newmark - Listening to and understanding the issues each client faces and working together to resolve them and achieve the best outcome possible is what keeps Shona interested every day in employment law.

Link to the public record - https://www.gov.uk/employment-appeal-tribunal-decisions/mrs-kristie-higgs-v-1-farmors-school-2-archbishops-council-of-the-church-of-england-2023-eat-89-eat-89

Episode 4 – Mr M Daniels v United National Bank and Mr Firth

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0100

Case notes – a monthly employment law podcast examining an element of a tribunal/court decision/investigation report (chosen by the podcasters) to establish any commercial implications of the decision and any impact on HR practice and procedures.

Mr M Daniels v United National Bank and Mr Firth. An Employment Tribunal decision on why Mr Daniels was dismissed from his role as Chief Risk Officer and if he had suffered any detriment (including dismissal) for having made protected disclosures within the Bank followed by the remedies awarded to Mr Daniels.

Your presenters:

Susanna Rynehart - Susanna is a fixer and loves working as an employment lawyer because she gets to help people solve problems, find solutions and make a real difference.

Shona Newmark - Listening to and understanding the issues each client faces and working together to resolve them and achieve the best outcome possible is what keeps Shona interested every day in employment law.

Link to the judgment - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63cab869d3bf7f24a8db5762/Mr_M_Daniels_v_United_National_Bank_2204139.21_.pdf

Link to the Remedy - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64392c86773a8a000cab2c72/Mr_M_Daniels_vs__United_National_Bank_Limited.pdf

Episode 3 - Investigation report – formal complaints about the conduct of the Right Honourable Dominic Rabb

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 09:00:00 +0100

Case notes – a monthly employment law podcast examining an element of a tribunal/court decision/investigation report (chosen by the podcasters) to establish any commercial implications of the decision and any impact on HR practice and procedures.

It is taking the complexity of employment law and applying work-a-day facts to provide ways to improve.

Your presenters:

Susanna Rynehart - Susanna is a fixer and loves working as an employment lawyer because she gets to help people solve problems, find solutions and make a real difference.

Shona Newmark - Listening to and understanding the issues each client faces and working together to resolve them and achieve the best outcome possible is what keeps Shona interested every day in employment law.

Public record link - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1152026/2023.04.20_Investigation_Report_to_the_Prime_Minister.pdf

Episode 2 - Cox v NHS Commissioning Board 2023 ET, a race discrimination case focussing on the Tribunal decision process, in particular inference and credibility.

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Case notes – a monthly employment law podcast examining an element of a tribunal/court decision (chosen by the podcasters) to establish any commercial implications of the decision and any impact on HR practice and procedures.

It is taking the complexity of employment law and applying work-a-day facts to provide ways to improve.

Public record link - https://www.gov.uk/employment-tribunal-decisions/ms-a-cox-v-nhs-commissioning-board-operating-as-nhs-england-slash-nhs-improvement-2415350-slash-2020-and-2401365-slash-2021

Episode 1 - McAllister v Revenue and Customs Commissioners [2022] EAT 87, a disability discrimination case focussing on proportionality and achieving legitimate aims.

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 09:00:00 +0000

Case notes – a monthly employment law podcast where a tribunal/court decision (chosen by the podcasters) is considered and the commercial implications of that decision for employers and HR are discussed.

We are taking the complexity of employment law and applying work-a-day facts to provide ways to improve.

A link to this case note can be found here - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63c6c3a78fa8f572a9a36f7b/Mr_J_McAllister_-v-_Commisioners_of_Her_Majesty_s_Revenue_and_Customs__2022__EAT_87.pdf