On 5 December 2022, new regulations came into force rendering exclusivity terms in employment and worker contracts unenforceable in situations where the earnings of workers do not exceed the lower earnings limit. The lower earnings limit is the amount specified for the purpose of section 5(1)(a) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act […]
Disability discrimination and disproportionate dismissal
In the recent case of The Department for Work and Pensions v Boyers, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) upheld the Employment Tribunal’s finding that the claimant’s dismissal constituted discrimination arising from disability under Section 15 of the Equality Act 2010 because her dismissal was not a proportionate means of achieving the respondent’s legitimate aims. Mrs […]
New UK employment law proposals in the pipeline
The UK Government has proposed several major legal changes that will have a significant impact on employers should they come into action:- Sexual harassment The Government has proposed taking action to ensure that employers take all possible steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. The Government’s key proposals include the following:- Introducing a mandatory […]
Employment rights of people working through digital labour platforms
In the wake of the pandemic, digital labour platforms have become an increasingly important element of the newly emerging social and economic landscape. They have continued expanding in size and it is estimated that in the EU, revenues from these platforms have grown by around 500% in the last five years. How many people in […]
The impact of menopause in the workplace
According to data from recent research, in 2018 five UK Employment Tribunals cited the claimant’s menopause. This figure rose to six in 2019 and sixteen in 2020. Following this, in the first six months of 2021 alone, the claimant’s menopause was cited by ten Employment Tribunals. Experts say the exponential rise in cases shows that […]
Right-to-work checks in the UK return to pre-pandemic rules
The temporary adjustments to right-to-work checks due to COVID-19 are ending. When will the original right-to-work checks be reinstated in the UK? From 1 September 2021, employers must either check the original documents of applicants or check online if applicants have been given the ‘share code’ that gives them the right to work. Why were […]
What are the implications of remote working from overseas?
COVID-19 has made remote working the ‘new normal for many employees across the UK and some are even working remotely from other countries. At first, glance, working from abroad seems harmless. However, there are complicated issues that both employers and employees should seriously consider when it comes to working remotely from other nations. These include […]
Could long COVID be classified as a disability?
It is now well over a year since the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in the UK on 29 January 2020. Among the many issues thrown up by the COVID-19 pandemic are questions relating to how employers should treat those employees affected by it. Not least the looming long-term consequences around what is being […]