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Clifford v IBM United Kingdom Ltd [2024] EAT 90 The Claimant had been absent from work due to his disability from 2008 onwards. In 2013, he entered into a settlement agreement following his grievance against the Respondent, which included their failure...
As the summer sun begins to shine (on occasion), it's time to start planning those much-anticipated getaways with friends and family. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore new places, create unforgettable memories, and have the adventure of a...
Managers should not shy away from difficult conversations. By tackling issues (whether it be performance, disciplinary, or otherwise), in an open and timely manner, it stops them from escalating into grievances or tribunal claims. Various management styles...
L is for… Leave related to IVF and fertility treatment Under the current legislation, there is no statutory right to time off for IVF appointments, as these do not currently fall under the remit of antenatal appointments. Case law has helped to...
Each month we will be asking a question on a hot topic to one of our employment specialists. This month, Tessa Robinson, Senior Associate considers what happens when an employee asks for their evidence to remain anonymous in an internal grievance,...
With labour winning a majority in the General Election, it is highly likely they will be able to proceed with their proposed changes to employment law, as set out in their election manifesto. Following our summary last week, we take a deeper look at the...
Feeling the heat at work? As climate change cranks up the temperatures, understanding how to manage heat stress during the summer months is more crucial than ever. We will explore the impacts of rising temperatures in your workplace and provide practical...
Summer is the season of sun, relaxation, and the battlefield for annual leave management. Time off is on the rise with changes to areas like parental leave. Balancing these with the familiar holiday requests isn't easy. In this blog, we aim to provide...
Ah, summer - the season of sunshine, relaxation, and endless possibilities for fun. But enjoying all that summer has to offer doesn't have to come with a hefty price tag. With a little creativity and planning, you can have a fantastic Spring and Summer...
With one week to go until the General Election, we have summarised each of the main political parties election pledges in relation to employment law, and provide our view as to the impact these may have! To avoid any politic persuasion – we have listed...
Many organisations hoped that the TUPE regulations would be abolished following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Although this did not transpire, the government have launched a consultation on making further changes to the Transfer of Undertakings...
In a year where the Immigration rules have seen their biggest overhaul in many years, employers have been given some good news as the Migration Advisory Committee (“MAC”) have recommended that the Graduate visa route is retained in its current...
Each month we will be asking a question on a hot topic to one of our employment specialists. This month, Suzanne Brookes, Senior Associate considers the new rules that will be introduced later this year in relation to the Allocation of Tips, predominately...
If a Claimant’s conduct arising from disability is a minor contributing factor to a decision taken by an Employer, that decision can amount to discrimination arising from disability under the Equality Act 2010 – Bodis v Lindfield Christian...
A tribunal should look at the original claim documents in order to conclude which claims have been brought by a Claimant, and not just rely on the agreed list of issues Z v Y The Claimant worked for the Respondent in fire and rescue. After a long...
J is for… Judicial Mediation An important element of the Employment Tribunal process is that of judicial mediation. This involves both willing parties, accompanied by their legal representatives if they have them, usually appearing before a judge...
Over the past few years, employers have made great strides in recognising and supporting neurodivergent individuals. However, the City & Guilds Foundation, an organisation specialising in skills development, has published its second Neurodiversity Index...
Tribunals should not substitute their own decision for that of the employer, a decision may be harsh, but if an Employer can evidence their actions were within the band of reasonable responses, the dismissal should be ruled as fair – Vaultex UK Ltd...
Moving to a digital immigration world – transition to eVisas for Biometric Residence Permit holders The Home Office plans to develop an immigration system that is “digital by default”. One of the steps they are taking in relation to...
Using a trial period to determine whether a role is a suitable alternative in an ill health capability process is a reasonable adjustment that Employer’s should implement before taking a decision to dismiss - Rentokil Initial UK Ltd v Miller...
We see it often – a business venture starts off amicably and well-intentioned, then turns sour. And if this is a family-affair or a venture with friends, then matters can quickly escalate into a toxic mess. But how can you get shares in your company...
The concept of rewarding your employees has been around for donkeys’ years in various guises, whether it be pay rises, benefits packages, bonuses or a cracking Christmas party. Setting up an employee share scheme gives employees the opportunity to buy...
We’ve all been there. Our phone chimes from the other side of the room, and our heart skips a beat as we wonder who is messaging us - friends? Beloved family members? Perhaps even the neighbour apologising for blocking your driveway last night? Alas,...
H is for… Holiday Pay Notably, there have been some fundamental changes to holiday pay in 2024, the first of which were implemented after 1 January 2024. These include for example, express provisions regarding the carry-over of annual leave, a new...
May is just around the corner and as it’s National Walking Month, we have a look at how it can positively impact working life, especially if you’re a flexible worker. A brisk 30-minute walk can burn around 200 calories. As we step into...
On 14 February 2024, the High Court dismissed an appeal by the University of Bristol against a ruling that it had discriminated against one of its students on the grounds of her disability by failing to make reasonable adjustments to its assessment process,...
A look back through the history books at the influential women in law and the laws passed that changed history for women in the workplace.
At least 1 in 7 people are neurodiverse, so its highly likely there are employees in your organisation who are neurodiverse. Neurodiversity has been in the spotlight frequently over the last few years as we all begin to understand and appreciate that not...
Each month we will be asking a question on a hot topic to one of our employment specialists. This month, Daniel Smith, Senior Associate considers the topic of AI in the workplace! “If we suspect our team are using AI (such as ChatGPT) to create...
The Equality and Human Rights Commission have, last week, published guidance for employers on menopause and the Equality Act. The aim is to clarify the legal obligations of employers and to foster positive conversations about the menopause with their...
Last year we reported on the change in how holiday pay should be calculated for part year, permanent workers. In the Harpur Trust v Brazel case, the Supreme Court ruled that holiday entitlement for workers who only work part of the year (such as...
The recent death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has brought to the fore the variety of opinions on the place of the monarchy in modern Britain. Indeed, this week we saw the arrest of one protestor waiving an anti-monarchy placard as a matter of breach of...
Correct commercial property advice is an essential ingredient to ensure your transaction proceeds smoothly and your risk is minimised. To prevent issues from occurring our commercial property team will provide excellent property advice on all areas of...
One of the emerging challenges of the working from home culture that emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic for HR teams is conflict resolution in the workplace. Any assumption that just because workers are physically remote and, therefore, conflict between...
The Supreme Court has (finally) ruled that workers that only work part of the year (such as term-time and casual workers) are entitled to the holiday pay calculated on a similar basis as colleagues working all year.
The pandemic has undoubtedly changed the way life was before anyone had ever heard the words ‘coronavirus’, ‘covid’ and ‘furlough’. One of the biggest shifts we’ve seen is in the world of work – employees want...
Back for its eighth season following a 2015 revival, Love Island has a summer-long grip on the nation, eager to keep up with the recouplings and updates from the Mallorcan villa. Typically comprising of contestants in their twenties, looking to couple up...
In a study conducted by flexible working consultancy business, Timewise, 48% of workers said they would not trust a part-time colleague with an important or ‘business-critical’ task, whilst 49% believed that it was not possible to have a...
Spotlight on…PILON Replacing our ‘Believe it or not’ feature, this new Spotlight piece will focus on a small employment law topic each week and provide a bite size breakdown of it, starting with PILONs. Pay in lieu of notice –...
Changes to right to work checks The Home Office has confirmed that the temporary covid-19 adjusted right to work checks – allowing employers to conduct video checks, have been extended to 30 September 2022 inclusive. However, in light of further...
Positively working with Ayda Working remotely or remotely working? Many organisations have opted to engage in hybrid systems which consist of working from the office, flexible working and working from home. Working from home or more flexibly, has...
Mandatory vaccines revoked On 31 January 2022, the government announced that it intended to revoke the regulations that would require all those working in health and social care settings to be vaccinated against covid-19 from 1 April 2022. A consultation...
Employer support for Ukrainians Since the invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February, we’ve had several employers contact us asking what support they can offer to Ukrainian nationals. The UK government has been slower to respond than some of mainland...
The Interviews It’s the penultimate week and the ladies face what’s likely to be the toughest interview process of their lives. Harpreet assures Kathryn she’s not scared of anyone – but perhaps she should be. It’s as though...
This week the teams have to design a healthy baby food, come up with a brand and packaging, then sell it to retailers. The PMs As the only one with kids (how does he have a 15 year old!?) the girls are keen to put Aaron in place as PM of Diverse. They...
This week the teams are tasked with selecting products to sell live on a TV shopping channel – the team that generates the most money wins.
This week the teams were asked to design driverless vehicle pods, create a brand and try to sell their product to corporate customers.
This week the teams are in Wales hosting tours. With 16 tickets each to sell, they have to avoid upsetting their customers (and each other) and make the most profit to win.
On 19 January 2022 the government reintroduced the SSP rebate scheme. Employers with 250 employees and less can reclaim up to 2 weeks’ SSP paid to an employee from 21 December 2021 onwards. If a period of sickness started pre 21 December, the employer...
Ayda is carrying out her training contract with Outset, currently working in the employment team. With a real passion for penning her tips and experience in her professional and personal journey, she’s going to share these with us as a regular feature....
One of the most difficult situations for employers is dealing with an employee who is dirty, smelly or a combination of both. If you’ve received complaints about an employee’s lack of personal hygiene, it’s always best to have an initial...
We supported SHL to run a compliant collective consultation process, following the need to...
