Reading 3. A. A law firm’s practices areas

Read the following presentation of a law firm Happrew and Co, pay attention to the marked words and expressions.

Our Employment Law Department is a specialist team. We advise on relevant law, employment policy and procedure, and the formation of employment contracts. We assist in the negotiation and settlement of disputes, and take or defend proceedings before an Employment Tribunal or in a civil court.

Employment law usually involves a mixture of contractual provisions and legislation regulating the relationship between employer and employee, and governing labour relations between employers and trade unions, for example with regard to collective agreements and collective bargaining about conditions of work. Developments in case law and changes to legislation, for example from the implementation of European Community directives, affect employers and employees alike. The practice of living and working in different jurisdictions means that lawyers also have to refer to international conventions to establish legal requirements.

The main statutory rights of employees include entitlement to:

· a national minimum wage;

· equal pay for like work, that is, broadly similar work;

· a written statement of employment particulars;

· an itemised pay statement;

· time off and holidays;

· statutory sick pay;

· a healthy and safe working environment;

· family and parental leave;

· protected rights on transfer of business to another employer;

· notice on termination of employment;

· not to have unlawful deductions from wages;

· not to be discriminated against on grounds of sex, race, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, part-time or fixed term employment, or trade union membership.

Ex. 1. Make word combinations using words from the box. Then use appropriate word combinations to complete the definitions below.

employment bargaining

collective relations

employment particulars

labour pay

sick trade

term fixed

tribunal union

off time

1. ………………………. – salary paid when an employee cannot work because of illness.

2. ………………………. – restricted period of employment set out in contract.

3. ………………………. – organization which represents the workers, who are its members, in discussion of pay and working conditions with their employer.

4. ………………………. – specialist court dealing in disputes betweenemployers and employees.

5. ……………………… - written details of a position in a company.

6. ……………………… - negotiations between an employer and a trade union on terms and conditions of employment and work.

Listening 4. Listen to the discussion on the duties of an employee and make a list of such duties.

Listening 5. Listen to the lecture on the duties of an employer towards an employee and make a list of such duties.

Ex. 2. Read the following text. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the box.

legal obligation occasions

remuneration terms agreement

valid salaried legally

blue-collar side bound

labour applicable refer

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