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Boss who offered to help employee get pregnant guilty of sex discrimination
A recent investigation that uncovered instances of modern slavery involving workers at McDonald’s outlets and at a supplier to major supermarkets has flagged the urgent need for employers to remain vigilant against such practices.
Recruitment decision made based on who would ‘fit in’ with the team found to be discriminatory
Employers need to be able to demonstrate that decisions on recruitment have been made fairly, based on criteria which have been applied to all applicants. Allowing subjectivity to creep in risks any decision taken being challenged as discriminatory. This happened in...
Tribunal erred by failing to consider if it was a reasonable adjustment to hold off dismissing disabled employee until merger was completed
Where an employer knows (or reasonably ought to know) that an employee is disabled, the duty to make reasonable adjustments is engaged. Employers must take reasonable steps to remove any disadvantage at which an employee is placed by reason of their disability. A...
Policy paper setting out what to expect from Low Pay Commission on national minimum/living wage from next year
The Low Pay Commission (LPC) has published a Policy Paper setting out how it will respond to its updated remit from the government. The LPC is an independent body that advises the government on the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) each year. ...
Anti-Islamic aspects of Claimant’s belief in English nationalism not a protected belief under Equality Act 2010
Under Equality Act 2010 employees have protection against discrimination on grounds of ‘religion or belief’. Whether or not a person’s views should be regarded as a ‘protected belief’ is often a contentious initial issue. Tribunals are guided by principles set out by...
Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023 shelved
It has been confirmed that the Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023 will not be brought into force this autumn, as originally expected. The Act gave workers with uncertain hours the right to request predictability about their working days and times, the...
5 things you should know about part-time workers
According to the UK Parliament’s UK labour market statistics, over 8 million people are currently employed on a part-time basis. Part-time workers in the UK have protection from discrimination in the form of the Part-Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable...
Sickness and holidays
If an employee falls ill during a period of booked holiday, then, provided they notify the employer, they are entitled to convert the holiday to sick leave. This saves them holiday days which can then be used at another time. What does this mean for employers? Here...
Employer Duty to Prevent Sexual Harassment
Many employers will know that there is a new duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment which comes into force on 26th October.
The ‘right to switch off’
The Labour Manifesto included a pledge to introduce a ‘right to switch off’ in the UK. Government sources recently told the BBC that ministers are looking into how such a right will be framed. One proposal under consideration is the creation of a code of practice on...
HMRC held liable for harassment for sending one of its employees a birthday card
The Times Online have reported that HMRC has been held liable for harassment for sending one of its employees a birthday card! You would hope that something as seemingly innocent as sending a card to an employee, wishing them a ‘happy birthday’, could not fall foul of...
Time spent travelling from home to third-party site by minibus did not have to be paid at National Minimum Wage
The National Minimum Wage is payable to workers whenever they are carrying out ‘time work’. The question of whether travel time is ‘time work’ for the purposes of National Minimum Wage was considered recently by the Employment Appeal Tribunal in Taylor’s Services...
Equality and Human Rights Commission publish draft changes to guidance on sexual harassment
Big changes are afoot for the law on sexual harassment. On 26 October 2024, the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act) Act 2023 comes into force. It introduces a new positive duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the...