Sex discrimination: advice for employers
Sex discrimination, when someone is unfairly disadvantaged in the workplace because of their sex, is unlawful. The number of employment tribunal claims relating to unfair treatment on the basis of sex confirm that sex discrimination continues to be a problem in the workplace. But preventing sex discrimination should be seen as more than a legal […]
Dealing with Sex Discrimination at Work
Sex discrimination refers to when someone is unfairly disadvantaged in the workplace because of their gender. Most sex discrimination is directed towards women, but it is equally unlawful to discriminate against a man because of his gender. Sex discrimination remains a common workplace issue, as can be seen by the number and type of employment […]
Employment case law update August 2021
Read on for our monthly digest for employers on upcoming employment law changes and key employment cases that have recently been decided. COVID-19 Automatically unfair dismissal Montanaro v Lansafe The claimant, Mr Montanaro, was employed by Lansafe Ltd from 17 February 2020 to provide services to Lansafe’s client. Mr Montanaro had arranged to take a […]
Long COVID sickness absence guide
For a growing number of people, coronavirus continues to cause a range of symptoms that last for several weeks or even months post-infection, leading to a diagnosis of long COVID. The symptoms can be so debilitating that it impacts their ability to work, resulting in long term sickness absence. The following guide for employers provides […]
New Mandatory Care Worker Vaccine Law Passed
New legislation requiring care home staff in England to have received the double Covid-19 vaccination comes into force on 11 November 2021. While other industries grapple with the employment, discrimination and even criminal implications of introducing ‘no-jab, no job policies’, the UK government has made the decision for the UK care sector by introducing a […]
Do employees have the right to disconnect?
The right to disconnect has become a much-debated employment issue in recent years. With remote working a pervasive practice since the pandemic, boundaries have increasingly blurred between work and home life for more workers than ever, resulting in growing cases of stress and burnout. This has raised questions over whether workers should be given a […]
Termination of employment due to custodial sentence
What does it mean for an employer if one of their employees is convicted of a crime and sent to prison? In many cases, employers may be considering termination of employment, not least because the employee will no longer be available for work, but also due to associated issues such as bringing the company into […]
Employment case law update July 2021
Read on for our monthly digest for employers on upcoming employment law changes and key employment cases that have recently been decided. Right to form a trade union Independent Workers Union of Great Britain v Central Arbitration Committee The Court of Appeal has held unanimously that Deliveroo riders are not in an employment relationship and […]
Do you have to advertise a job?
Advertising a job vacancy is a fairly standard recruitment practice for employers looking for someone to fill a position in their business. This could be where a vacancy has arisen following the departure of an existing employee or because a new role has been created. However, the employer may already have a candidate in mind […]
Should you put employees on garden leave?
Garden leave is used by employers as a protective measure to ensure that key employees exiting a business have a minimal impact on its reputation and ongoing success. That said, the use of garden leave does not come without cost and certain risks for the employer. In the following article, we examine the pros and […]
Tackling sexual harassment in the workplace
Sexual harassment at work has been prohibited by UK law for decades, yet this kind of conduct and its damaging effects still continue. The startling revelations that have emerged in recent years, including the #MeToo movement, have made it abundantly clear that the problem persists, despite the existence of these legal protections. Everyone should be […]
Employment law rules for night shifts
Night shifts are a common feature in today’s economy. Understanding your workers’ rights and your responsibilities as an employer can help ensure your workforce stays safe and that you don’t fall foul of the employment laws on night working and working unsociable hours. The following guide for employers sets out the employment law on night […]
Legal working temperatures
Ensuring the health and safety of your staff forms an important part of your duties as an employer, including the provision of a workplace that is neither too hot nor too cold. In this guide, we examine the rules on minimum and maximum workplace temperatures, providing employers with practical advice on the provision of a […]
Different types of pay structures
There are various different types of pay structures that can be implemented within an organisation, although the most suitable structure will depend on a number of factors including the nature and size of your business, the composition of the workforce, and the ways in which you want to incentivise and reward that workforce to meet […]
Compassionate leave for miscarriage
For employees who have suffered a miscarriage, time off work and the support they receive from their employer can be an important part of their recovery. But under current rules, employees who miscarry before the end of 24 weeks of pregnancy have no statutory to take maternity leave or claim maternity pay. Following stillbirth or […]
Using an employee non disclosure agreement
Under an employee non disclosure agreement, both parties are bound by confidentiality provisions, such as preventing the employee from disclosing certain specified information relating to the conduct of the employer or the termination of the employment contract. Non disclosure agreements (NDAs) and confidentiality provisions in the employment context have generated plenty of publicity over the […]
Different employment contract types
An employment contract is an agreement outlining the conditions of an individual’s working relationship and arrangements, including rights, responsibilities, working hours, salary, any benefits, and holiday entitlement. It should preferably be in a written format and signed by both the employer and employee to act as a binding agreement and setting out the legal obligations […]
Can employees go on holiday while off sick?
Ordinarily, you would not expect an employee to be going on holiday while on sick leave. In many cases this would serve to undermine the extent of any reported illness or injury, providing grounds for disciplinary action or even dismissal where this is indicative of malingering. Still, there may be cases in which going on […]
Workplace perceptive discrimination risks
In the UK, it is unlawful to treat someone less favourably than someone else at work because of certain protected characteristics, such as their age, sex, disability, race or religion. This includes treating someone unfairly because of a perception that they possess a particular characteristic. The following guide for employers outlines the law relating to […]
What is positive discrimination?
Understanding what is meant by positive discrimination, and how this applies within the workplace, plays an important part in creating a fair and inclusive working environment without unlawfully discriminating against anyone. The following guide examines the concept of positive discrimination in the context of equality and diversity at work, including the difference between positive discrimination […]