Dan spent 12 years as head of legal (employment) at Tata Steel. He understands, better than most, the types of HR challenges faced by manufacturing and engineering businesses. He also recognises the need for workable solutions and that pragmatism is often a key component when it comes to business decisions. He always takes account of the ‘bigger picture’ to ensure that the best commercial interest of the client’s business is achieved.
Whilst most employment lawyers will say ‘I can handle that’, very few will have first-hand experience of advising and guiding employers on the following issues that commonly arise within the manufacturing and engineering sectors:
- Changing shift patters and managing annualised hour schemes
- Working
time disputes related to:
- the inclusion of overtime in the calculation of pay
- the amount of accrued holiday entitlement during periods of sickness
- Rest periods between shifts and compensatory rest
- On call time
- The 48 hour opt out
- Short time working
- Site closures
- Outsourcing and changing contractors
- Agency worker challenges to day 1- and 12-week rights
- Apprenticeship dismissals
- Working
with trade unions
- Drafting of works council agreements
- Pay negotiations
- Drafting collective agreements and disputes regarding interpretation of terms
- Trade disputes and strike action
- Health
and safety related ER issues
- Adherence to safe working procedures
- Drug and alcohol testing
- Sleeping at work`
- Workplace restrictions due to employee health issues
