The scope of the protection given to those who are dismissed by their employer having made protected disclosures under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (inserted into Section 47B of the Employment Rights Act 1996) (the “whistleblowing provisions”) extends to those who were not employed by that employer at the time they made the protected[…]
The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition has published its full ‘Programme for Government’. The plans in relation to employment and discrimination law include proposals to phase out the default retirement age and extend the right to request flexible working to all employees. The Coalition Government also states that it will: end the ‘gold-plating’ of EU rules introduce[…]
As employment relationships become ever more complex the scope of employment protection appears to be ever more difficult to predict. This is illustrated in three recent cases dealing with agency workers, or those in agency or atypical type employment relationships. In order to come under the protection of employment legislation workers need to “fit” into[…]
On 8 April 2010 the Equality Bill received Royal Assent and became the Equality Act 2010. The Act consolidates all existing discrimination legislation and brings them all under one single Act. The main provisions of the Act will come into force in October 2010 with the public sector equality duty and dual discrimination provisions being[…]
A raft of new employment laws come into force today. Among the changes are a new system of fit notes, which replace sick notes; additional paternity leave and pay; a power for employment tribunals to refer whistleblowing complaints to regulators; and new rules governing ‘no win, no fee’ agreements. The changes include: Additional Paternity Leave[…]
New Regulations which are coming into force on 6 April 2010 will enable fathers expecting their child to be born on or after 3 April 2011 to take up to 6 months additional paternity leave provided that the mother has returned to work, thus giving parents the choice of dividing the period of paid leave[…]
Today is International Women’s Day and so we extend our good wishes to women all over the world and recognize the invaluable contribution women make in the world. We believe that men and women are created equal. We are all human beings deserving to be treated with dignity and respect. Often we value women less[…]
The Employment Tribunal in Shah v West Yorkshire Ltd held that an employee who was sick throughout a pre-planned period of holiday was entitled to carry the untaken holiday over into the next holiday year. The Tribunal decided that under Reg 13 (9) of the Working Time Regulations workers must be given the opportunity to[…]
On Friday 12 February 2010 the Court of Appeal gave its decision in what has become known as the “BA Cross Case.” Ms Eweida an employee of BA, complained that BA’s policy of prohibiting visible jewelery indirectly discriminated against her on religious grounds as she was therefore unable to wear a small visible Christian cross.[…]
In April the relatively straight forward process of being off sick will become more complex with the introduction of “Fit Notes.” The new Fit Notes will give doctors the option of confirming that an employee is either “Unfit for Work” or “May be fit for some work, taking account of the following advice…” So the[…]