Bad Weather Policy (Employer Tips)
Extreme weather conditions can be hugely disruptive to business operations, if employees are snowed in at home, while others arrive several hours late due to travel disruption. Living in the UK, with its unpredictable and varied climate, it makes sense for employers to have a bad weather policy. This will help to minimise operational impact […]
Dress Codes: Can You Force Female Staff to Wear Bras to Work?
Much was made in the media last week about this week’s ruling in Germany giving employers the right to enforce specific dress codes on staff. There has been public outrage after the State Labour Court in North Rhine-Westphalia ruled on the case concerning the clothing and general appearance of airport security personnel, appearing to give employers […]
How Will Employment Law be Affected by Brexit?
The vote to leave the EU in June of this year has left many people concerned about what the future holds for the country, especially when it comes to employment & immigration law. The reason is mainly because many of the employment laws in the UK come from EU law and this could lead to […]
Zero Hour Contracts – New Rules
Exclusivity terms unenforceable in zero hours comes into force under s 164(1). This section inserts the Employment Rights Act 1996, Pt 2A, which renders unenforceable any exclusivity term (see s 27A(3)) in a “zero hours contract” (see s 27A(1)) and provides power to the Secretary of State to make further provision in relation to “zero […]
How Far Can the Duty of Good Faith Go?
Could an employer be legally bound by a broad statement that they would make no further changes to their pension scheme, even though this was not written into a contract? Yes, where this leads to a reasonable expectation on the part of the employees. Background IBM wanted to change the terms of its ‘final salary’ […]
The Two Year Itch? Increased Qualifying Period for Unfair Dismissal
Like all relationships, the relationship between an employer and employee won’t always work out. But how much time do you need to know if there’s been a failed match? At the moment, as long as the employee in question has less than one year’s service, employers are able to terminate the employment relationship without risking […]
Doctor’s Dismissal and Right to a Fair Trial
The High Court has rejected a doctor’s claim that his dismissal was a determination of his civil rights thus entitling him to an independent and impartial tribunal under Article 6? Mattu v University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. By an agreement made in writing on 3 February 1998[1] Dr Raj Mattu, the Claimant, was […]
Employers erupt as ash cloud extends employees’ holidays. What can you do?
With thousands of people already stranded, the ash cloud is set to return to cause even more disruption to holidaymakers. Many questions are being raised as to where employers and employees stand in relation to absences from their workplace due to this ‘act of god’. So, just where do you stand? Our employment team has […]
Discrimination Laws in the Spotlight after Andy Gray ‘Sexism Scandal’
The sacking of Andy Gray is unlikely to mean the end of this increasingly heated debate, especially so for Mr Gray who has now appointed Lawyers over the termination of his contract. Unacceptable sexism or just ‘blokey banter’? Could Sky have really been seen to condone such behaviour by keeping him on the payroll? Peter […]