What is a Section 278 Agreement?

A Section 278 Agreement is a legal agreement between a developer and a highway authority to carry out highway works.

‘End Of The Line’ For Wimbledon’s Line Judges

In a stark example of the rise in automation in the workplace, Wimbledon has confirmed that it will replace its line judges with the electronic ‘hawk-eye’ system for next year’s tennis championship. Wimbledon said it was conscious of balancing tradition with innovation but, following extensive testing, the electronic ‘hawk-eye’ was simply more accurate than the old-fashioned ‘human eye’.

Employers considering increased automation of processes should bear the following in mind:

It is a good idea to take time to evaluate any automated processes before making any changes to the workforce as a result.
Where, after appropriate evaluation, automated systems reduce the requirement for employees to carry out work themselves, then a potential redundancy situation will arise. Employers need to handle such processes sensitively and fairly to avoid the risk of unfair dismissal claims. Alternative employment should be considered.
It is also important to make sure that, when adopting automation, a business does not end up with no direction to turn if the tech lets it down. Automated systems still require a degree of oversight. Businesses should make sure that they retain access to sufficient human expertise in case of future system misstep or failure.