Employment Law Archives

The Taylor Review of the “Gig” Economy

The “gig economy” (where individuals are engaged by businesses on a flexible, ad hoc basis – e.g. Uber drivers) has recently presented problems for determining employment status. The Taylor Review…

Disciplining for quoting the Bible

Mr Trayhorn was employed by the Secretary of State as a gardener at a prison. The prison had a chapel, and employed full-time Chaplains. Mr Trayhorn was a Pentecostal Christian,…

How to handle cancer in the workplace?

I am a HR Manager, and have recently been informed that one of our employees unfortunately has cancer. What should I do to support our employee in the workplace? People…

Liquid lunches: can an employer stop staff drinking during working hours?

We recently saw Lloyd’s of London banning a lunchtime pint during the working day but how far can an employer police what workers do when they are outside the office…

Gender pay gap begins just one year after graduation

The Department of Education has published data that suggests women graduates are paid less than male graduates despite studying the same subject in the same year. Women graduating in Veterinary…

Directors backlash after informing staff to vote Tory

Two Managing Directors have been criticised in the lead up to the election after reportedly telling staff that their jobs were at risk if they failed to vote Conservative. …

ICO publishes updated subject access code of practice

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has updated its subject access code of practice to reflect developments in recent Court of Appeal judgments. Organisations should find this updated guidance…

Male employee succeeds in discrimination claim for shared parental pay

In this case, the tribunal appears to take the view that, beyond the compulsory maternity leave period, men and women are in the same position with respect to caring for…

Dismissal fair despite employer’s failure to provide witness evidence of appeal stage at tribunal

It is common practice for employers to call a member of a dismissal appeal panel to give evidence at an unfair dismissal tribunal hearing. This case illustrates that a failure…

ICO warns businesses to prepare with one year to go until the GDPR

The Information Commissioner (ICO) has warned businesses that there’s no time to delay in preparing for “the biggest change to data protection law for a generation” when the General Data…

Union membership falls to lowest level since records began

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has announced that the number of union members is at an all-time low of 6.2 million. According to the figures, union membership decreased by…

Redundancy following sickness absence was not discrimination arising from disability (EAT)

In a recent case the Employment Appeal Tribunal gave guidance on the test for discrimination arising from disability. Background Discrimination arising from disability occurs where both: A treats B unfavourably…

Employers begin to publish gender pay gap data on government website

Employers have begun to publish their gender pay gap information on the government’s gender pay gap data website. Click here to access the recent report: https://gender-pay-gap.service.gov.uk/Viewing/search-results

Government publishes response to report on high heels and workplace dress codes

The government has published its response to the House of Commons Petitions Committee and Women and Equalities Committee joint report on dress codes in the workplace. Background In December 2015,…

Auto-enrolment: employer pays £40,000 penalty for non-compliance

In May 2017, the Pensions Regulator issued a regulatory intervention report in relation to action taken against Johnson Shoes Company. The Pensions Regulator has published details of action taken against…

Headscarf ban was not direct discrimination

Ms Achbita worked for G4S who said that employees were not permitted to wear any religious, political or philosophical symbols while on duty. She was dismissed on account of her…

A poor attitude to organisational change could constitute gross misconduct

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that procedural failings and inclusion in an internal appeal panel of an individual (who was junior to the decision-maker) does not necessarily result…

The Chartered Institute for Building has published a toolkit for tackling modern slavery in the construction sector.

Produced in association with “Stronger Together” (an initiative that supports organisations tackling modern slavery), the toolkit assists construction businesses in complying with the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Among other things, it: Covers all types of construction business, addressing…

Government to issue new guidance to support working mothers with premature babies

The government is set to publish guidance aimed at supporting working mothers with premature babies. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will work in association with the Advisory,…

Fathers not taking up flexible working opportunities

The Chairman of the Women and Equalities inquiry into the treatment of fathers in the workplace has said that fathers are hesitant to ask their managers for flexible hours as…

Article Categories

Category: Employment Law

The Taylor Review of the “Gig” Economy

Disciplining for quoting the Bible

How to handle cancer in the workplace?

Liquid lunches: can an employer stop staff drinking during working hours?

Gender pay gap begins just one year after graduation

Directors backlash after informing staff to vote Tory

ICO publishes updated subject access code of practice

Male employee succeeds in discrimination claim for shared parental pay

Dismissal fair despite employer’s failure to provide witness evidence of appeal stage at tribunal

ICO warns businesses to prepare with one year to go until the GDPR

Union membership falls to lowest level since records began

Redundancy following sickness absence was not discrimination arising from disability (EAT)

Employers begin to publish gender pay gap data on government website

Government publishes response to report on high heels and workplace dress codes

Auto-enrolment: employer pays £40,000 penalty for non-compliance

Headscarf ban was not direct discrimination

A poor attitude to organisational change could constitute gross misconduct

The Chartered Institute for Building has published a toolkit for tackling modern slavery in the construction sector.

Government to issue new guidance to support working mothers with premature babies

Fathers not taking up flexible working opportunities