1. Workplace issues: learning from the frontline
Changing terms and conditions
Victoria Phillips
20 March 2013

2. Law on Contract Changes
Overview:
Statement of particulars
Types of contractual terms
Varying the contract – how and in what ways?
Tactics

3. Law on Contract Changes
S1 Employment Rights Act 1996 (‘ERA’)
Must be provided within 2 months of start of employment
Must include specific details
Not a contract, but evidence of agreed terms
S4 ERA 1996 – Notification of changes
Section 11 claim – Southern Cross Healthcare Co Ltd v Perkins and ors [2010] EWCA civ 1442

4. Law on Contract Changes
The 4 Types of Terms in an Employment
Contract
Express Terms
Implied Terms
Incorporated Terms
Statutory Terms

5. Law on Contract Changes
There are 4 ways to vary a contract:
By agreement
Contractual right to vary
Collective agreements
Unilateral variation

6. Law on Contract Changes
Variation by Agreement
Express – what about duress?
Implied - Aparau v Iceland Frozen Foods [2000] ICR 341 and GAP Personnel Franchises Ltd v Robinson UKEAT 0342/07
Non – contractual provisions
Discretionary bonus schemes – Attrill v Dresdner Bank [2012] EWHC 1189

7. Law on Contract Changes
Contractual Right to Vary
Flexibility clauses
Mobility clauses – United Bank v Akhtar [1989] IRLR507
Bateman and ors v Asda Stores ltd [2010] IRLR 370
Approach by the courts:
Clear right to vary
Not used to produce an unreasonable result
but see Home Office v Evans & anor [2008] ICR 302

8. Law on Contract Changes
Collective Agreements
Incorporated into the contract
Express incorporation – City of Edinburgh Council v Brown [1999] IRLR 208
Implied incorporation – Henry v London General Transport Services [2002] IRLR 472
Apt for Incorporation – Kaur v MG Rover Group Ltd [2005] IRLR 40, Malone and ors v British Airways [2010] IRLR32
In a Tupe situation – Parkwood Leisure v Alemo – Herron [2010] UKSC 0035

9. Law on Contract Changes
Unilateral Variation
Accept the Breach
Stand and Sue/Declaration
UDW Declaration
Dismissal
- Burdett-Coutts and ors v Herfordshire CC [1984] IRLR 91 notice of variation
- Garside and Laycock Ltd v Booth UKEAT/2011/0003
Refusal to Work under new terms – Robinson v Tescom Corpn – [2008] IRLR408

10. Law on Contract Changes
Tactics
The Contract is sacrosanct
UDW/Breach of Contract
Declaration/Unfair Dismissal
Constructive Dismissal
Challenging SOSR – Garside and Laycock Ltd v Booth UKEAT/2011/0003

11. Law on Contract Changes
Tactics continued – Additional arguments
Protective Award
Protection from Inducements

12. Law on Contract Changes
Conclusion