Summer 2005 Newsletter Content More of the same? Around the world Hot tips Inside out? Sweet sacrifice Simple trust Done and dusted? Open immediately File under E An Inspector calls CO still OK Open for business High PHI Arctic chills Duty calls Pensions Fuelling around WIP round Win some, lose some Take it and go? Party talk Work less, earn less Making adjustments

Party talk People often regret what they say and do at the office party - but an unusual version of this turned up recently in an employment tribunal. At the Christmas do, a worker asked his boss about his pay, and was told he would be put on the same pay scale as another employee within two years. When this didn't happen, he resigned and claimed for constructive dismissal because of a breach of contract. This could have turned into an argument about who said what - "did", "didn't", "did too" - but the employment tribunal ruled that it didn't matter. Even if the manager had said what was alleged, it couldn't be taken as a binding commitment. You can't have a contract without an intention to create legal relations on both sides, and the context of this discussion suggested that it was just a friendly conversation. So that's one thing you don't have to remember the morning after!