Bipolar disorder falls within the remit of the Disability Discrimination Act. Occupational Health explains what this means for employers.

New research calls on occupational health professionals to pay more attention to the mental health and wellbeing of remote and mobile workers. Occupational Health magazine reports.  

The latest official statistics paint an ominous picture for the UK's defined benefit (DB) pension schemes. Many are closing to future accrual as well as to new members and their funding position has nose dived over the past couple of years, and further hurdles lie in wait. 

The contracts and termination of employment chapters of the XpertHR employment law manual have been updated to reflect recent case law related to agency workers, contract variation and constructive dismissal. 

A new Council for Work and Health has been set up to explore joint working, education and the evidence base for practice. Its chair, Diana Kloss, answers some key questions. 

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has held that, even where “special circumstances” existed in a collective redundancy situation, the employer was not totally relieved from its obligations to consult with the affected employees. However, the EAT allowed part of the appeal by remitting the matter of the protective award back to the tribunal.

The High Court has held that provisions regarding minimum crew complements, contained in collective agreements, were not legally incorporated into employees’ contracts of employment, and those employees could not rely on them. It also held that, in any event, an injunction sought by the employees to restrain British Airways from crewing planes other than in accordance with that collective agreement could not possibly be justified.

In this week's topic of the week article, Judith Harris of Addleshaw Goddard continues a series of articles on the new fit notes system with a look at how employers should deal with sickness absence in the light of fit notes. In addition, we pull together some of the wealth of information on XpertHR on sickness absence, fit notes and related topics.

Regional pay can help employers to meet differing recruitment and retention needs in local labour markets. There are, however, significant issues that employers need to resolve when implementing successful regional pay arrangements: how much, where and why? Taking part in this IRS survey will give you the very latest information on other employers' regional pay arrangements. 

New benchmarking data on employers' use of training evaluation methods has been added to the XpertHR benchmarking service.

With the retail sector badly hit by the recession, Personnel Today looks at what HR has done to maintain its status, despite cuts to its budgets and staff.

On this week's XpertHR Weekly: the findings of the IRS stress management survey and key ways in which employers manage stress and mitigate its impact on employees; the statutory right to be accompanied and guidance on when it is triggered, what it permits a companion to do and whether or not the right has been extended by recent caselaw; and an employer's obligations under the Information and Consultation of Employee Regulations 2004 (SI 2004/3426) and the penalties that may be imposed in the event of a breach.

XpertHR's head of content Jo Stubbs and group editor David Shepherd ask whether or not workers have the right to carry over statutory minimum annual leave where they have been unable to take leave due to sickness.

XpertHR provides summaries of recent employment tribunal rulings, as well as the full transcripts of the decisions. New cases added this week involve: an employer who fairly dismissed a depressed and disabled employee; an employee who was fairly dismissed for disclosing details of a job applicant to her mother; and a long-term sick employee who, having been unable to take holiday, was on termination entitled to be paid for more than a year's accrued leave.

Lisa Mayhew, partner, and Natalie Smith, associate, Jones Day, answer questions on discrimination laws for workers outside the UK. 

This article from the XpertHR "how to" section looks at the statutory right for workers to be accompanied at disciplinary and grievance meetings. It explains when the right applies and gives practical advice for employers on allowing workers to exercise the right, while ensuring that disciplinary and grievance proceedings are dealt with promptly and effectively. It also looks at the circumstances in which employees may have the right to legal representation at a disciplinary hearing.

Additions to the FAQs section cover disability discrimination and the duty to make reasonable adjustments, and the right to be accompanied at disciplinary and grievance hearings.

NHS Employers launched a national campaign on 3 March 2010 to end stigma against NHS workers suffering from mental ill health. The campaign, "Open your Mind", will also work to improve employment rates for those with mental health conditions and help NHS trusts create better working environments for all staff.

Jane Hobson, partner, Weightmans, discusses bullying in the workplace. 

A model policy and accompanying letters on the right to request time off for study or training have been added to the XpertHR policies and documents section, in advance of the legislation coming into effect on 6 April 2010. The accompanying letters include a letter that can be circulated to employees explaining the new right.

The High Court has awarded damages for injury and distress under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

In this week's topic of the week article, Anna Bridges of Addleshaw Goddard begins a series of articles on the new fit notes system with an overview that looks at the options that will be available to doctors who are certificating sickness absence. In addition, we pull together some of the wealth of information on XpertHR on sickness absence, fit notes and related topics.

The recession has had a severe impact on UK managers' pay packets, with executive pay showing its lowest rate of growth in at least a decade, according to the latest pay benchmarking research from XpertHR salary surveys.