"YOU ARE FIRED!" A Handbook on Dismissal

by Deborah Thomas-Felix (Author) 

This legal textbook covers several areas of Labour Law, Employment Law and Industrial Relations. It discusses topics such as Dismissal (firing ,the termination of employment) the importance of work, workplace related issues,the right to be heard , among other things.

Work is the primary engine for the creation, distribution and utilisation of the economic resources within a state or a nation. Its multifaceted contributions to economic growth, income generation, resource allocation and social well-being, underscore its central importance in shaping the economic and social fabric of society. The effect of a dismissal can also be the cause of strained relationships between employees and employers, particularly if the dismissal is perceived to be unjust or unfair. 

In addition, poorly managed dismissals can damage trust, morale and the organisational culture, which can lead to negative consequences for productivity and employee engagement. Moreover, dismissals raise issues related to employment rights, including the legality and fairness of the dismissal process. In many jurisdictions, workers have legal protection against dismissals which may be termed “unfair dismissals”, “wrongful dismissals” or “harsh and oppressive”. 

These protections include legal requirements for due process, fairness, just cause, compensation, reinstatement and/ or re-appointment. Dismissals do not only impact individuals, but can impact Labour market dynamics by influencing factors such as the unemployment rate, labour supply and demand and job turnover. In fact, mass retrenchment or layoffs due to corporate downsizing for example, can have ripple effects on industries and economies.

548 pages

Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle

Available on Amazon

Criminal Bench Book For Barbados, Belize and Guyana

Criminal justice is essential for peace, stability, and sustainable economic and societal development. Criminal justice systems that function fairly, efficiently, effectively, and expeditiously are integral to public trust and confidence in the administration of justice, and to institutional legitimacy. 

The constitutional values and standards of the protection of the law, due process, and a fair hearing, taken in the context of rule of law obligations that apply to the Judiciary, demand that all of these performance standards are consistently met for the benefit of all court users. There are also ethical standards that apply to the discharge of the judicial function, such as equality, competence, diligence, and promptitude, and which impose institutional and individual duties and responsibilities for which judicial officers and Judiciaries are accountable.
This criminal bench book has been completed in fourteen months, from conception to publication. Substantively, it can contribute to judicial officers meeting both the qualitative and quantitative standards that they are constitutionally and ethically compelled to uphold. Institutionally, it is an invaluable resource for the three states that it is designed for, as well as for all Caribbean jurisdictions with similar laws and practices. Indeed, this bench book improves access to justice for a wide range of persons, because it can also be easily used by attorneys and citizens as a baseline guide for legal principles and procedural best practices.
The process adopted, and as described below, has sought to make sure that each jurisdiction, through its appointed judicial officers and court librarians, has had the full responsibility for their jurisdictional content and accuracy of materials. This inclusive, collaborative, and iterative process intends to ensure that nuances that are unique to each state are covered, and as well to reap the benefits in a single publication of comparative content.

Published by The Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers (CAJO)
ISBN Hardcover: 978-976-97063-0-9
ISBN E-Book: 978-976-97063-1-6
588 pages

This publication is available electronically at the CAJO’s Reports and Publications webpage

Legendary Caribbean Legal Practitioners

Edited by Winston Anderson and Denys Barrow

In this, the third volume of the CCJ Academy for Law’s Eminent Caribbean Jurists Series, we celebrate 48 well-known Caribbean Legal Practitioners, who by their life, work, and example amply deserve the adjective “Legendary”.
Chosen and written about by their peers, the essays could not be more lively and varied, and are sure to both fascinate and entertain the reader. The common thread quickly becomes apparent: these 48 stand as a pars pro toto for the legal community of the Caribbean in a formative period.
And if Legendary Caribbean Legal Practitioners will leave the reader with the realisation that the awardees in no small measure contributed to what is good and useful in Caribbean societies today, then the Academy can say with satisfaction: “Mission accomplished.”

 

“Whatever semblance of society we have achieved is due in no small measure to legal practitioners who have steadfastly advanced the interests of their clients against other private litigants and against the State. The greatest of these practitioners are legends whom we are proud to celebrate.”

Hon Mr Justice Winston Anderson
Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice

Published by The CCJ Academy For Law
ISBN (hardcover) 978-976-96378-3-2
272 pages
Black and White, Fully Illustrated

 Available from the CCJ Academy For Law

Pioneering Caribbean Women Jurists

Edited by Winston Anderson and Maureen Rajnauth-Lee

In this publication, the Academy shares the stories of thirty-four phenomenal women. As we delve into their stories, we not only get a glimpse of their many triumphs in the face of daunting obstacles, but we recognise common threads. These women, having undertaken training in the law, distinguished themselves in various fields, including practice at the Bar and, in some cases, the Bench. They lent their voices to the struggles of the vulnerable and the marginalised. They promoted equality, good governance under the rule of law, and a just society. They understood the importance of advocacy and representation, and they excelled in their respective fields, setting standards for all to emulate.

“The CCJ Academy for Law is clearly creating a foundation for recognising the work of individuals who make strong contributions to the development of Caribbean society and people. The Academy is making Caribbean legal history accessible, relevant and interesting, and it is upholding its objective of providing a platform for discussing the rules and roles of law. ”

Her Excellency Dr. Carla N. Barnett
Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community

Available at the CCJ in Port of Spain.

This is part 3 of The CCJ Academy for Law’s Eminent Caribbean Jurists Series™, following "Eminent Caribbean International Law Jurists - The Rule of International Law in the Caribbean" (2019) and "The 2020 Webinar Series for the 6th Biennial Conference: Legal Dimensions Arising from the Covid-19 Pandemic" (2021).

Labour Law Publications by Justice Deborah Thomas-Felix

Labour Law And Good Industrial Relations: Progressive Discipline And Maternity Protection In The Workplace

By Deborah Thomas Felix

This book covers the very important topics of Progressive Discipline and Maternity Protection in the Workplace. The Chapters on Progressive Discipline in the Workplace include discussions on Warnings (verbal and written), Suspension from Work, Summary Dismissal, the Right to be heard, the Unilateral Alteration of Terms and Conditions of Employment. There is also a Chapter on Maternity Protection at Work and the rights of working women in regions across the globe namely, Africa, the Americas, the Arab World, Asia and Europe.
There are rules and policies to guide and direct workers , these rules and policies are important and necessary in the workplace, since they assist in the overall management of the business and lends to its smooth and effective operation, however these policies when implemented should be done in a fair and just manner.

Click here to order on Amazon

 

 

Labour Law In The Commonwealth Caribbean : The Practice Of Good Industrial Relations In The 21st Century

By Deborah Thomas Felix

This is a one of a kind Labour and Employment Law textbook which addresses subjects which are inherently germaine to the workplace and industrial relations such as Management Prerogatives, Fixed Term Contracts, Employment Contracts, Layoff, Retrenchment, Dismissal, Labour Only Contracts and Reinstatement. With the use and analysis of 176 cases and legislation from England and countries of the Commonwealth Caribbean such as Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda to explain the intricacies of Labour Law, workplace issues and good industrial relations practices, this book brings under one "umbrella" subjects that are critical for addressing some of the policies affecting the world of work, national development as well as long-term recovery and transformation following crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. An easy to read yet comprehensive guide on the practice of Industrial Relations in the Caribbean. 

Click here to order on Amazon