Ware & Kay - out and about in the local community

Gill Wilkinson and Rachel Ellis, members of Ware & Kay’s Employment team, recently presented a session on basic employment law to students enrolled on York College’s ‘English for Speakers of Other Languages’ course. The students comprise foreign born nationals who are already employed or seeking work in the UK.

The presentation was specifically geared towards the needs of working foreign nationals, with Gill and Rachel (pictured right) placing special emphasis on explaining the differences between contract and agency workers and their respective employment rights. This was due to that fact that many of the students attending are employed in the hospitality and catering industries, which traditionally use both types of workers.

The students learned about work contracts, ‘day one rights’ (which apply to all workers), minimum wage, equal pay, minimum notice, unfair dismissal and redundancy and a host of other employee issues. The feedback from students was very positive. “I feel more confident and am thankful to Gill and Rachel, as I could understand how similar the employment laws are in our countries” commented an Estonian student.

The students are enrolled on the York College course which meets weekly at York’s learning and advice centre, ‘Future Prospects’. The employment presentation was followed by a question and answer session. Helen Wilson, the York College tutor who liaised with Ware & Kay over the visit, said that many students gained a clearer understanding of their employment situations as a result of the session. She went on to say "It has been enlightening for the students, the staff of Future Prospects and myself. The credit crunch has left some of my students in a particularly vulnerable situation. It is good to see a firm of solicitors working in the community like this".

Ware & Kay represents both employers and employees. For further information please contact Gill Wilkinson or Rachel Ellis in our Employment Department.