Employment Law Seminars - All Events
Events
All About Absence from Work
Cost: | See Below |
Location: | Radisson Blu Hotel, Dublin Airport |
Start Date: | 14 June 2012 |
End Date: | 14 June 2012 |
Event Email Reminder
Full Day
We have brought together two occupational health medical experts, one a consultant psychiatrist with forensic interests in personal injury, workplace and disability assessments, the other an OH practitioner renowned for focusing on what employers CAN do in order to get employees back to work as quickly as possible. We also have some of the top employment law firms in Ireland and other specialists to bring you a comprehensive event on dealing with mental health issues and other absences at work.
Description
Why attend this event?
According to CIPD research, 26% of all employees report they have experienced mental health problems while in employment, yet just 41% of all workers would feel confident telling their employer if they had a problem. (People Management, March 2012)
Stress in the workplace is to rise, say 8 out of 10 in a major pan-European opinion poll. Job-related stress is a concern for the large majority of the European workforce. (EU-OSHA’s 2nd European Opinion Poll on Occupational Safety and Health, March 2012)
If you are lucky enough to have employment in this uncertain economy you are probably working harder than you can remember. Unacceptable stress levels could be around the corner for you and your colleagues. Employers must face up to the challenges of stress and mental health issues at work, as well as rising absence levels, if they are to avoid burgeoning costs.
What will I get out of it – what are the learning outcomes?
You will:
- Receive practical advice on risk management, and interact with medical experts who handle mental ill health and stress issues in the workplace
- Discover how to integrate return to work interviews into management of absence policies and ask the right questions of returning employees
- Choose between a variety of practical and legal afternoon sessions
- Find out the latest innovations in controlling workplace absence
- Focus on what rights employers have to vary terms of employment for absent and returning employees
- Protect against an unfair dismissal decision by following correct termination procedures
- Understand working time and absence-related developments
- Inspire your employees to create more and engage with your organisation
- Take away detailed notes and practical handouts and template documents for later reference
- Question our experts on absence and health issues that matter to you
Course overview/outline programme
Our 10 speakers cover the following areas:
- Risk Management Practices
- Stress & Mental Health Issues - A Psychiatrist’s Opinion
- Interacting with Medical Experts 1 – A Lawyer’s Advice
- Interacting with Medical Experts 2 – An OH Opinion on Handling Stress and Conflict
- Role Play: How to Conduct an Effective Return to Work Interview: from Planning to Recording
- Fear of Failure – How to Inspire Employees to Engage
- Latest Innovations in Controlling Absence
- The Return of Long-Term Absentees - Varying Terms
- Justifying Dismissal for Short-Term & Frequent Absences
- Update on the Working Time Developments and Absence-Related Issues
| 9.30am | Risk Management Practices: All work is, to a greater or lesser extent, dangerous - whether the biggest risk is to physical or mental well-being. Aisling Gannon, Partner & Head of Healthcare at Eversheds, considers how all employers can learn valuable lessons from some of our largest employers in the field of risk management to minimise potential industrial injury and negligence claims. |
| 10.10am | Stress & Mental Health Issues - A Psychiatrist’s Opinion: What would a psychiatrist want to receive from an employer in a mental health case? What do terms such as ‘debility’, ‘anxiety’ and ‘stress’ really mean? What is the psychiatrist’s role in mental ill health or psychiatric illness claims and how might they help employers and representatives reach correct decisions and defend their case? Dr Declan Murray, Consultant Psychiatrist, explains. |
| 10.50am | Q&A |
| 11.00am | Break & Networking |
| 11.30am | Interacting with Medical Experts 1 – A Lawyer’s Advice: The High Court in Delaney v Central Bank of Ireland ([2011] IEHC 212) held that the process under which an employee was referred to a psychiatrist was not conducted in accordance with fair procedures. Objective, independent assessments are vital in ill-health dismissal cases. What is an effective 'evidence based' approach? Are there any other key absent management procedures employers should be adopting as a 'best practice' approach? Deirdre Crowley, Senior Associate at Crowley Solicitors, Cork, provides practical advice to assist employers when dealing with medical experts. |
| 12.10pm | Interacting with Medical Experts 2 – An OH Opinion Handling Stress and Conflict: Stress, bullying, harassment, conflict – all of these lead to problems with absent employees. How can OH help employers before issues become severe mental health problems? What information will OH need from employers, employees and other professionals? How might OH help with reasonable accommodation issues? How might OH help employers query medical certificates, demand more information or greater clarity? Dr Philip McCrea, MD, OH Consultants, answers your questions. |
| 12.50pm | Q&A |
| 1.00pm | Lunch and Networking |
| Stream 1 – Practical Measures | Stream 2 – Legal Issues | |
|---|---|---|
| 2.00pm | How to Conduct an Effective Return to Work Interview: from Planning to Recording: Studies have shown that few practices lower absenteeism rates as much as return to work interviews. However, managers need to be trained in their use and the questions asked must be the right ones if employers are to spot trends or dangers, such as stress or bullying, lurking behind short term absences. Using a template form and role play, expert trainer Michelle Halloran takes you through best practice, from planning to recording and agreeing action. |
The Return of Long-Term Absentees: In Stephens v Archaeological Development Services Limited (UD 963/2009), the EAT found constructive dismissal and awarded €90k in a case where conditions had been placed on an employee returning to work after a period sickness. So, can employers impose any conditions and successfully manage the return of long-term absentees? Is the position different for secondees or those returning from sabbaticals or maternity leave? How might an employer handle these situations? Deirdre Lynch from MOP provides best practice advice. |
| 2.40pm |
Fear of Failure – Engage, Gear Up and Go! Analyse all options available in your life right now. Look out for any opportunities that might crop up in the future. Grasp those opportunities when they come your way. |
Justifying Dismissal for Short-Term & Frequent Absences: Try as you might to correct behaviour, sometimes dismissal is the only option left. Ciara McLoughlin of A&L Goodbody sets out essential practice and best advice based on case law if you want to avoid losing an unfair dismissal claim. |
| 3.20pm |
Latest Innovations in Controlling Absence: Current Absenteeism Reduction Policies Will "Never" Work!
|
Absences From Work - Where Does the Organisation of Working Time Act Leave You? Linda Hynes, Employment Specialist at Leman Solicitors provides practical advice for all your questions. Linda will also be providing a template absence policy at this session. |
| 4.00pm | Close | |
Who should attend?
This event is ideal for HR professionals, employment lawyers, trade union officials, health and safety reps and others concerned with absence and ill health matters in the workplace, particularly those concerned with mental illness health issues at work.o should attend?
Duration ~ Date ~ Location
Full Day event: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Thursday 14th June 2012
Radisson Blu Hotel, Dublin Airport
Cost
Standard Rate: €550
How to Book
Book & Pay Online: Each event page has a link to the booking form at the top. Just fill in the form and click 'Continue'. You can pay by credit card and your details will be sent to us. Confirmation of your booking will be sent to you by email.
Reserve Online & Pay by Invoice: Alternatively, if you require an invoice before paying you can reserve a place online.
For all multiple credit card bookings please telephone Legal-Island on 01 401 3874
Trainers & Speakers:
Deirdre Crowley - Senior Partner, Crowley Solicitors, Cork
Linda O’Shea Farren - International Corporate Lawyer
Andrew Ferguson - CEO, Softworks
Aisling Gannon - Partner and Head of Healthcare, Eversheds
Michelle Halloran - Director, Human Resource Management Services
Linda Hynes - Employment Specialist, Leman Solicitors
Deirdre Lynch - Associate, Matheson Ormsby Prentice
Dr Philip McCrea - MD, OH Consultants
Ciara McLoughlin - Associate, A&L Goodbody
Dr Declan Murray - Consultant Psychiatrist
