It’s been another busy period for ELA and, as Marc and I highlighted last month, I am keen to ensure members are able to keep up to date with its activities.

Recent activities

  • Training Committee webinars: ‘Domestic and economic abuse’, 11 February; ‘Complex gender identities and the Equality Act’, 26 February; ‘A conversation with Regional Employment Judges Wade, Taylor and Freer’, 26 March; ‘TUPE law and practice modular course’, 29 March; and ‘IR35 update’, 30 March.
  • The Legislative and Policy (L&P) Committee has submitted responses to consultations on: Equity in the STEM Workforce; the evaluation of the Senior Managers and Certification Regime; measures to extend the ban on exclusivity clauses; measures to reform post-termination and non-compete clauses in contracts of employment; and on the independent Human Acts Review. It has been working with Acas on issues arising out of ‘fire and rehire’, and has met with BEIS and SRA.
  • International Committee: Chair Kathleen Healy and I took part in the American Bar Association webinar on 23 February on the impact of Covid-19 on employment litigation. I set out ELA’s role and aims, and Diya Sen Gupta QC spoke about her observations and experiences of litigation during the pandemic.
  • The Junior Committee has been refreshed and is now building links across the country. A speed mentoring event was held on 4 February.
  • The regions: the Lower South East region held an event on remote hearings on 18 February with Employment Judge James Dawson and Stephen Wyeth of 3PB Chambers. Midlands had an event on 22 March with Employment Judges Findlay and Swann.
  • Pastoral Committee events included ‘Resilience under pressure’ sessions on 16 and 17 March. Please get in touch if there are further ways in which you consider ELA could support members.
  • Diversity: the ‘21-day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge’ was well received in February. A member survey was sent out following its conclusion. We are continuing to analyse the data returned by firms on the conclusion of last year’s equitable briefing of counsel project.
  • External survey: ‘How are workplaces changing through Covid-19’. Members are invited to take part in this survey: https://wh1.snapsurveys.com/s.asp?k=160086642469
  • ‘New employment judges are far from inexperienced’. My Times piece on 11 February set the record straight on the newspaper’s investigation.

Looking ahead

  • The Training Committee is busy planning this year’s virtual annual conference, with the main theme of ‘The future world of work’.
  • Junior, In-House and International committees: plans are in hand to run an event to provide junior ELA members with an insight into in-house work.
  • L&P Committee: Please look out for a survey on tribunal use and experience over the last year, which will include questions on resources and delays. The committee is in the process of submitting evidence to the Scottish National User Group on the use of witness statements in Scotland and has ensured that ELA will be represented at each of the Regional Tribunal User Groups, as well as at the regular National Tribunal User Group meetings.
  • International Committee: future events include a Brexit training session and a further session on the impact of Brexit on litigation. A joint session with Northern Irish and Irish Employment law associations on the practical impact of Brexit from a UK/NI/Irish perspective is planned for June. Planning also continues on the 2021 Virtual ABA/ELA Transatlantic Conference.

I hope you find this helpful. If you have any comments on any of our programmes, please do get in touch.

Marian Bloodworth, Deloitte Legal and ELA Chair