A to Z of Employment - Entries for B
Ballot – for industrial action
In order for Industrial Action to be lawful a Trade Union must conduct a secret ballot of the workforce prior to the taking of any industrial action.
DEL Code of Practice - Industrial Action Ballots and notice to Employers
Bank and Public Holidays
See Holidays
Bargaining Unit
Refers to a particular group or category of workers for whom a Trade Union seeks recognition to conduct collective bargaining on behalf of in relation to pay, hours and holidays. The bargaining unit will usually be clearly stated in a Recognition Agreement.
Basic award of compensation
See Compensation
Bereavement Leave
There is no set amount of bereavement leave laid down by law. Employers can set their own limits but this should be done with sensitivity based on the individual circumstances and the employee’s relationship to the deceased. As a general rule the closer the relation, the longer the bereavement leave but remember that an Aunt, Uncle or Cousin etc. could be the nearest or closest relative and individual circumstances should always be explored and taken into account. Under Time off for dependants the employee has a statutory right to reasonable time off without pay to deal with a death of a dependant .
Employees
Employers
Time off to deal with emergencies involving dependants
Breach of Contract
In an employment context a breach of contract occurs if either the employee or employer fails to discharge one or more of their contractual obligations. For example, an employer could breach the contract by imposing a reduction in pay without the agreement of the employee, or an employee could breach the contract by refusing to carry out an essential duty or disclosing confidential company information to a third party. A fundamental breach to the root of the contract by an employer may entitle an employee to resign claiming Constructive Dismissal. A breach on the part of the employee may justify disciplinary/dismissal action by the employer depending on the seriousness of the breach.
LRA - Advisory Guide - Advice on agreeing and changing contracts of employment
Employees
Contracts of employment: an introduction
Employers
Breastfeeding mothers
An employer has an obligation to provide employees who are breastfeeding with a place to rest and suitable rest periods, though an employee is not legally entitled to time off work for breastfeeding.
Employees
Statutory Maternity Leave: returning to work
Employers
Bullying and Harassment
Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect at work. Bullying and harassment of any kind should not be tolerated. If you feel you have been bullied or suffered harassment check - Harassment & Bullying in the Workplace a joint guide by The Labour Relations Agency & Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Harassment and Bullying in the Workplace
Bumping –Redundancy
Bumping is a term used to describe a situation in which, for example, a more junior employee is dismissed on grounds of redundancy in order to make way for a more senior employee whose post has become redundant. The lawfulness of such actions will be dependant on the individual circumstances.
See also Redundancy
Burden of proof
Refers to the requirement for parties to an Industrial Tribunal to prove their case, for example, in a case of Unfair Dismissal the Burden of Proof is on the employer to demonstrate that the dismissal was for a potentially fair reason and was the decision was reasonable. In a case of Sex Discrimination a Claimant must set out a prima facia case of sex discrimination and the burden of proof then shifts to the employer to demonstrate than any less favourable treatment was not on the grounds of gender.
