Restrictive covenants are essential tools for protecting business interests. They are agreements that place certain restrictions on employees even after they leave your company. These covenants play a pivotal role in safeguarding sensitive information, maintaining client relationships, and ensuring that businesses do not lose their competitive edge. But what happens if these covenants are not in place or neglected? The impact can be significant, leading to potential loss of clients, leakage of confidential information, and even the undermining of your business’s market position.

In this episode, we'll explore:

· The basics of restrictive covenants

· How to effectively draft these covenants

· Solutions for situations where covenants are not initially in place.

· What realistic covenants look like in terms of timeframe and geographic scope.

· The enforceability of these covenants and whether it's worth the effort.

· Scenarios where covenants might be invalid, such as breaches of contract by the employer or redundancy situations.

· And the steps to take when an employee breaches these covenants.

By the end of this episode, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of how restrictive covenants can benefit your business and the potential risks if they are neglected.

In this episode we will be exploring the law and practices around employees with a disability which can be complex to manage and very costly if not done correctly. To discuss this in depth is Eileen Schofield who is an Employment Law solicitor.

What is considered a disability?
What if there is no medical evidence – is there a duty for formal diagnosis evidence or not
What if employee does not disclose – what are employer and employee obligations
What if the employee discloses after i.e., due to performance/conduct issues
What is considered reasonable adjustments?
How to dismiss effectively someone with a disability

Eileen was admitted to the roll of Solicitors in England and Wales in 2000, she now runs her own award winning Law Firm, a niche commercial and employment law firm which she set up in 2009. Alongside the national employment law practice Eileen has set up a HR Division, Schofield HR providing outsourced HR advise to SME’s

Eileen was the first solicitor in the UK to set up a transatlantic video link for a client to give evidence from the US.

Eileen was appointed to the role of President of Birmingham Law Society in 2014/2015 and was elected as the first female Chair of the Board in its 200 year history.

Eileen sits on the International Committee and Employment Law Committee of the Birmingham law Society. Eileen was a founding member of the Legal Tech committee
Eileen is currently President of the Solihull Chamber of Commerce which is the largest regional division of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Eileen is a founding member and Chair of The West Midlands Irish Business Group in association with the Irish Government.

Eileen is a Board Director for The Law Society of England and Wales and sits on the People & Remuneration Committee for the Law Society.

In this episode we look at the nuances that HR have in the charity sector in comparison to others.

How to overcome recruitment and staff motivation challenges when budgets and benefits are constrained

The use of volunteers and stretching on good will v free labour

And what the future of the charity sector and HR holds

Idris Arshad has 15 years HR experience in different charity sectors ranging from being faith based, international development, housing, homelessness and hospices.

He is Chartered MCIPD and has been HR business partnering for 7 years.