David Harris, Managing Partner at DPH Legal was interviewed by Phil Kennedy on BBC Radio Berkshire. Discussing what is Furlough leave, whether can you work during furlough leave and many more important questions. You can listen to the interview here: David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of […]
David Harris discusses Furlough leave from the employers perspective on BBC Radio Berkshire
David Harris, Managing Partner at DPH Legal was interviewed by Sarah Walker on BBC Radio Berkshire about Furlough leave and what it means for employers. You can listen to the interview here: You can listen to part two of the interview, where he discusses stat sick pay and your rights if starting a new job […]
David Harris discusses the latest announcement on BBC Hereford Radio with Toni McDonald
David Harris, Managing Partner at DPH Legal was interviewed by Toni McDonald on BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester about the government’s latest announcement for self-employed workers. You can listen to the interview here: David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers […]
David Harris answers listeners questions on BBC Radio Berkshire with Sarah Walker.
David Harris, Managing Partner at DPH Legal was interviewed by Sarah Walker at BBC Radio Berkshire, During the interview, he answered a range of listeners’ questions. You can listen to part one of the interview, where David Harris answers questions on furlough leave, here: You can listen to part two of the interview, […]
David Harris discusses changes to pay for the employed and self employed on BBC West Midlands Radio
David Harris, Managing Partner at DPH Legal was interviewed by Richard Wilford of West Midlands BBC Radio about the latest updates to Employed and self-employed workers’ rights. You can listen to the interview here: David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and […]
David Harris discusses employment rights on BBC Berkshire Radio
David Harris, Managing Partner at DPH Legal was interviewed by Andrew Peach of BBC Radio Berkshire about the latest updates to workers’ rights after the recent government announcements. You can listen to the interview here: David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising […]
Covid 19 – Coronavirus and home working
Given the ever-increasing number of cases in the UK and recent announcements by the Government, Employers should now be thinking about whether they need to take any steps to facilitate home working, and encouraging employees to ensure that they have the correct set-up at home to be able to work there if required to do […]
The impact of Coronavirus on wages
Businesses are having to consider how to reduce their wage costs as the coronavirus pandemic starts to have an impact on business and the wider economy. This article sets out what Employers can do when faced with a downturn in business. Employers may be able to take advantage of contractual lay-off and short-time working provisions, […]
David Harris talks to BBC Radio Berkshire about Coronavirus and Sick Pay
David Harris, Managing Partner at DPH Legal was interviewed by Sarah Walker of BBC Radio Berkshire about workers’ rights in relation to sick pay if you need to self-isolate due to Coronavirus. You can listen to the interview here: For further information regarding sick pay and employer or employee rights, you can visit the ACAS […]
David Harris discusses sick pay and self-employed workers on BBC Radio Berkshire
David Harris, Managing Partner at DPH Legal was interviewed by Andrew Peach of BBC Radio Berkshire about workers’ rights in relation to sick pay, particularly those who are self-employed, in relation to coronavirus. You can listen to the interview here: Also go here to read our advice for employers about coronavirus: https://www.dphlegal.com/coronavirus-advice-for-employers/ Should you have any questions […]
David Harris discusses sick pay and self-employed workers on BBC Radio Berkshire
David Harris, Managing Partner at DPH Legal was interviewed by Andrew Peach of BBC Radio Berkshire about workers’ rights in relation to sick pay, particularly those who are self-employed, in relation to coronavirus. Also go here to read our advice for employers about coronavirus: https://www.dphlegal.com/coronavirus-advice-for-employers/ Should you have any questions about coronavirus and your obligations as an […]
David Harris talks about workers rights and Coronavirus on BBC Radio Berkshire
David Harris, Managing Partner at DPH Legal was interviewed by Sarah Walker of BBC Radio Berkshire about workers’ rights in relation to coronavirus. You can listen to the interview here: https://www.dphlegal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/David-BBC-Interview-CV-2.mp3 Also go to the following page to read our advice for employers about coronavirus: https://www.dphlegal.com/coronavirus-advice-for-employers/ Should you have any questions about coronavirus and your obligations […]
Coronavirus – advice for employers
As the likelihood of more cases of Coronavirus in the UK increases, ACAS has published advice for employers on dealing with the situation. The guidance covers how to deal with employees who have the virus and those who do not want to come to work because they are worried about catching it. In summary, ACAS […]
Employment Law Developments for 2020
As far as employment law changes are concerned April tends to be the busiest time of year and 2020 looks to be no different. April will be upon us before we know it and it is important for companies to prepare in advance for those changes which impact the way they run their businesses and […]
Employment Tribunal Fees
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court abolished Employment Tribunal (ET) fees and Employment Appeal Tribunal fees and ruled that the fee regime is unlawful. This means that no one should have been asked to pay a fee and those that did are entitled to be refunded from the government. If the government repays fees to […]
How to carry out a without prejudice (protected) conversation within the workplace
Employers have always experienced difficulties when attempting to hold genuine without prejudice discussions with employees in relation to matters where it was difficult to prove an existing dispute. The difficulties experienced by employers in this regard prompted the government to introduce legislation to allow pre-termination discussions to take place more easily within the workplace. Without […]
Brexit’s potential influence on UK Employment Law
Since the decision to exit the European Union has been taken by the British public those connected with UK Employment Law have paid close attention to developments which may affect employment rights within the United Kingdom. Many believe that the decision may be linked with a perceived interference of EU-derived human rights legislation which received […]
Don’t risk being named and shamed!
From December 2018 onwards employers who fail to pay an employment tribunal judgment made against them face not only being sent a penalty notice but also being publicly named. This is intended to act as an added incentive to employers to pay up and is part of a series of responses to the “Taylor Review […]
Tackling Sexual Harassment at Work
On 18 December 2018, the government launched a package of 12 announcements to tackle sexual harassment at work, including consultations on legal protections and on additional protections for volunteers and interns. The government plans to bring in a package of measures in this area, including: a new statutory code of practice on sexual harassment, which […]
Ethical veganism is a protected characteristic
An Employment Tribunal has made a preliminary finding that ethical veganism is a philosophical belief capable of attracting protection from discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. In this case, the Claimant, Jordi Casamitjana, argued that his ethical veganism amounted to a protected characteristic (specifically that of religion or belief) under the Equality Act 2010. According […]
Gender discrimination
As well in the recent and well-publicised case of Samira Ahmed at the BBC, a City banker won a gender discrimination case after alleging she was paid hundreds of thousands of pounds less than a male colleague and was the victim of a drunken prank that included leaving a witch’s hat on her desk. This […]
Dismissal and long-term disability
This is due to an EAT ruling that “once the employee has become entitled to payment of disability income due under the long-term disability plan, the employer will not dismiss him on the grounds of his continuing incapacity to work.” However, this may depend upon the wording of the employee’s contract of employment. Find out […]
Post-Brexit immigration rules
Whether or not a deal is reached with the EU the fact remains that the UK will cease to be a member with effect from 29 March 2019, Article 50 triggered a formal legal process to this effect. This means that the rules regarding the employment of EU nationals look set to change as freedom […]
David Harris interviewed by Phil Kennedy of BBC Radio Berkshire about the rights of employees with autism
David Harris was interviewed by Phil Kennedy of BBC Radio Berkshire about the rights of employees with autism. You can listen to the interview here: The Equality Act 2010 protects both job applicants and employees against discrimination because of a protected characteristic. Disability is one of the protected characteristics. A person with autism would usually […]
Don’t slip up with payslips!
Significant changes to how UK employers administer payslips are set to come into force later this year. The Government has enacted legislation which means that the statutory right to receive payslips applies to all workers and that new information must be included in payslips for all employees where pay is dependent on time worked. Currently, […]
Get Up To Speed on Age Discrimination
ACAS recently issued a new guide on age discrimination alongside two helpful factsheets which include guidance on workplace circumstances in which age discrimination commonly arises. It also includes 10 myths relating to older employees, and occasions when different treatment because of age may be allowed. As many will be aware, the Equality Act 2010 provides […]
Do employees have to disclose an offence?
In a recent case, all the claimants were convicted or received cautions, for relatively minor offences and they were all ‘spent’. One of the offences was stealing a book worth 99 pence in 1999. However, their criminal records were disclosed when they applied for employment involving contact with children or vulnerable adults and the claimants […]
Christmas Parties – are employers liable for the behaviour of others?
At this time of year when office Christmas drinks are happening here’s a quick reminder of the potential for employers to accrue liability. In Shelbourne v Cancer Research UK, the Claimant was physically lifted up, and dropped by a visiting scientist, when on the dance floor at the Christmas party at her workplace. She sustained […]
Whistleblowing reform on its way
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has recommended an extensive overhaul of whistleblowing legislation, including the creation of a legal definition for the term ‘whistleblower’. The APPG set out 10 recommendations for change, which experts said would impose significant obligations on organisations of all types. Whistleblowing claims can be complicated to defend and if your organisation […]
Covert Recordings
When advising on employment matters, we often encounter situations where an employee has secretly recorded a meeting or event at the workplace that they wish to use as evidence. A recent case has been considered by the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) which has looked into the effect that the covert recordings could have on an […]
Take a break!
The Court of Appeal has brought some clarity in relation to whether compensatory rest breaks need to be an uninterrupted 20-minute period or can be made up of shorter breaks totalling 20 minutes or more. The judgment in Network Rail Infrastructure v Crawford [2019] EWCA Civ 269 confirms for employers within the exempt sectors, that […]
Mark Lafferty interviewed by BBC about enforcement of the Equality Act
Mark Lafferty talked to BBC Radio Berkshire about the enforcement of the Equality Act 2010. You can listen to the interview here: The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) has released a report on its year-long investigation of the enforcement of the 2010 Equality Act. The WEC said the current enforcement approach, which relies on individual […]
David Harris interviewed by BBC Radio about changes to Sick Pay
David Harris, Managing Partner at DPH Legal was interviewed by BBC Radio Berkshire to discuss the proposed changes to sick pay entitlement. You can listen to the interview here: Currently, employees must earn at least the equivalent of 14 hours on the minimum wage (at least £118 per week) to qualify for Statutory Sick Pay. […]
Taxing times
From April 2020, changes to the ‘IR35’ regulation will impact employers who engage contractors through Personal Service Companies (PSCs). These changes will expose businesses engaging contractors to significant tax risks. At the moment, where a person provides services to a business through a PSC, income tax and national insurance contributions (NIC) are paid if that […]
Time is of the essence
The usual time limit for a Claimant to issue a tribunal claim for unfair dismissal or constructive dismissal is three months less than one day from the termination of employment. This was tested recently at the Employment Appeal Tribunal. The decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal in Pora v Cape Industrial Services Ltd [2019] UKEAT […]
Redundancy Protection for Women on Maternity Leave – BBC Interview
David Harris discusses redundancy protection for women on maternity leave on BBC Radio Berkshire. David Harris was interviewed by Andrew Peach of BBC Radio Berkshire this morning about a proposal being discussed in the House of Commons to extend redundancy protection for women who are pregnant or returning to work, as well as those on […]
Unpicking Unfair Dismissals Under TUPE
TUPE regulations are complex and not to be taken lightly. The Court of Appeal has ruled that an employee who was dismissed on the very day of a TUPE transfer under the guise of a problematic working relationship was in fact automatically unfairly dismissed because of the transfer. Within the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of […]
DPH Legal feature in Buckinghamshire Living Magazine
What is acceptable behaviour at work and when has someone crossed the line? This topic is frequently in the news, especially since the creation of the #metoo and #timesup campaigns, as well as a documentary by the BBC called “Is This Sexual Harassment?”. DPH Legal features in Buckinghamshire Living magazine to give advice about sexual […]
David Harris discusses Age Discrimination on BBC Radio Berkshire
David Harris was interviewed by Phil Kennedy of BBC Radio Berkshire about a recent case where Eileen Jolly, an 88-year-old employee, won her claim of age discrimination against The Royal Berkshire Hospital. You can listen to the interview here: Age discrimination happens when someone is unfairly treated or disadvantaged for reasons relating to their […]
Legal rights of employees with less than two years service
Generally, employees need to have worked for an employer for two years before they can bring a complaint of unfair dismissal. But there are certain exceptions where employees do not need any minimum period of service to bring a claim. If it can be established that the dismissal of an employee is for one of […]