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Employment Briefing to Focus on Pregnancy and Maternity Discrimination

Experts from regional law firm Thrings will provide updates on employers and employees’ legal rights around pregnancy and maternity leave at a breakfast briefing in Swindon next week.

HR professionals from across Wiltshire will join members of Thrings’ Employment and Immigration team to discuss and debate a range of recent and imminent changes in employment legislation at the briefing which takes place at the firm’s Drakes Meadow offices on 27 September.

Associate solicitor Carey Cooper will review recent cases concerning the discriminatory treatment of pregnant women by employers during the recruitment process and probationary periods. She will also refer to tribunal cases that have considered the replacement of employees by their maternity cover.

Elsewhere, a discussion on the potential impact of the abolition of employment tribunal fees and an increase to injury to feelings awards for discrimination will be led by solicitor Duncan Snook, while trainee solicitor Jessica Davidson will speak about holiday pay and voluntary overtime.

A number of Wiltshire-based businesses from a range of industry sectors have already registered to take part in the briefing which will provide HR professionals with an opportunity to discuss and share experiences with their peers and put questions to legal experts in a relaxed and confidential environment.

Kerrie Hunt, partner and head of employment at Thrings, said: “Employment remains an ever-changing and fast-moving area of the law, with employers and employees alike having to constantly adapt to stay on top of modern work practices.

“Thrings launched its employment breakfast briefings in 2002 with the intention of offering support and guidance to busy HR professionals and business managers. We want our guests to feel comfortable about discussing key issues, exchanging experiences and asking questions so they are better equipped to deal with employment-related issues when they return to their companies.”

For more information about next week’s employment breakfast briefing in Swindon, which gets underway at 7.30am, please contact Carey Cooper on [email protected] or call 01793 412661.

Thrings’ team of employment experts will be on hand to offer South West businesses legal advice during the autumn, with further breakfast briefings taking place in Swindon, Bristol and Bath. For more details, please contact Katie O’Donnell on [email protected] or call 0117 374 9636.