Allegations of workplace bullying are sadly all too common. Employers have a duty to take reasonable care of the health and safety of their staff and this includes those facing such allegations of bullying. These duties arise under common law, and health and safety legislation and are also an implied term of the employment contract. […]
David Harris speaks on BBC Radio about vaccination requirements in some workplaces
David Harris speaks to Andrew Peach on BBC Radio Berkshire about the increasing number of companies that are requiring their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and how this affects the rights of workers from an employment law perspective. You can listen to the interview here: Employment Law Advice · David Harris speaks on BBC […]
What you need to know about protected conversations
What is a protected conversation? The Employment Rights Act 1996 provides legal protection which allows an employer, in certain circumstances, to approach employees to have a conversation regarding how their exit from the business might be managed. An employer may choose to take this approach to avoid going through a formal disciplinary or performance management […]
David Harris discusses the Government’s ‘work from home’ announcement on BBC Radio Berkshire with Phil Kennedy
Managing Partner David Harris discusses the Government’s recent ‘work from home’ announcement on the BBC Berkshire Drive Time show yesterday evening. Listen to the interview here:
Dress codes and discrimination in the workplace
Many employers have dress codes in place. This can range from a certain style of clothing to a set uniform that must be worn. Historical case law has considered issues where dress codes could be viewed as discriminatory or in breach of the rights of individuals to manifest their religious beliefs such as wearing a […]
Dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace
The UK Government has issued a response to the consultation on sexual harassment in the workplace, stating that as soon as Parliamentary time allows, it intends to introduce: a specific duty requiring employers to prevent sexual harassment, in order to encourage employers to take positive proactive steps to make the workplace safer for everyone; explicit […]
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 […]
David Harris speaks on BBC Radio about employee rights during the petrol crisis
Managing Partner, David Harris, speaks to Andrew Peach on BBC Radio Berkshire about the rights of employees who are unable to perform their roles because of the current petrol crisis. David confirms that in most cases, it is the responsibility of employees to get to work by whatever means possible, but there are some exceptions. […]
David Harris discusses Flexible Working with Phil Kennedy on BBC Radio
For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form. You can arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge.
What does UK Employment Law say about employee holidays?
Holiday entitlement seems straightforward, but small business owners can find themselves in hot water when it comes to the rights of employees to take time off for holidays. The Working Time Regulations give all workers the right to paid holidays, irrespective of the hours they work. However, the definition of ‘worker’ in the UK is […]
Mental Health at Work – What Employers need to know
Attitudes towards mental health are changing and employers need to be aware of the importance of taking the mental health concerns of their employees seriously. Annual statistics from the Health and Safety Executive show that between 2019 and 2020, an estimated 17.9 million working days were lost because of absences due to work-related stress, anxiety, […]
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 […]
Employee benefits in a post-pandemic world
The sweeping impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted how, when and where millions of people work. Firms that previously did not allow remote working under any circumstances changed their tune and offered flexible working options. As part of this broader change, companies also altered the benefits they offered to newly hired and existing workers. […]
What UK employers need to know about the vaccination programme
Employers are facing a surprising number of difficult and untested employment law issues as the UK rolls out its Covid-19 vaccination programme. Many are asking if vaccination can be made compulsory for employees. There are also questions about alternatives to a mandatory requirement, time off for vaccine appointments, and how vaccine objectors should be dealt with […]
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 […]
How fair to employees is firing and rehiring?
It goes without saying that the unparalleled impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has placed enormous financial pressure on countless companies throughout the UK. Faced with these challenges, a large number of employers have changed the terms and conditions of their employees’ contracts, possibly in an effort to benefit from the furlough scheme or to keep […]
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 […]
COVID-19 rapid workplace testing
Alongside the rollout of the vaccination programme and the continued focus on ‘Hands, Face, Space’, regular testing is a vital tool to stop the transmission of COVID-19 as sections of society are reopened. Around 1 in 3 people with coronavirus don’t have symptoms, which means they could be spreading the virus in workplaces without knowing […]
Recent UK National Minimum Wage and statutory pay increases
It is likely that the Covid-19 pandemic will permanently alter the way we do business, with many companies opting to implement a work from home policy that will continue beyond the pandemic.
Mark Laffery speaks on BBC Radio about the rights of employees to continue working from home
Listen to the interview here: If you would like to find out more about this, call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete the Contact Form on our website to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. You can read Mark’s bio by clicking on Our Team
Religion and belief in the workplace
It is likely that the Covid-19 pandemic will permanently alter the way we do business, with many companies opting to implement a work from home policy that will continue beyond the pandemic.
Should interim relief be available in discrimination cases?
It is likely that the Covid-19 pandemic will permanently alter the way we do business, with many companies opting to implement a work from home policy that will continue beyond the pandemic.
David Harris speaks on the Breakfast Show about vaccine passports
You can listen to the interview here: For further information, you can call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge.
Implementing a work from home policy for employees
It is likely that the Covid-19 pandemic will permanently alter the way we do business, with many companies opting to implement a work from home policy that will continue beyond the pandemic.
“No Jab no Job” Listen to David P Harris speaking about this on BBC Radio Berkshire
Listen to the interview here: If you need more information about this, call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete the Contact Form on our website to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge.
David P Harris speaks on BBC Radio Berkshire about the increase during the lockdown of dismissals for underperformance so that employers can avoid redundancy payments
Listen to the interview here: If you need legal advice regarding a similar situation, call us on0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor. The first consultation is without charge.
David P Harris discusses the rights of UK employees to work from home on BBC Radio Berkshire with Phil Kennedy
Listen to the interview here: If you are an employee needing legal advice about your right to work from home during the lockdown, call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge.
UK Government considers reforms that could affect non-compete clauses in employment contracts
At the end of 2020, the UK Government launched a consultation aimed at reforming non-compete clauses that place restrictions on ex-employees after the termination of their employment contracts. The consultation (which is due to close in February 2021) is driven by the need to “unleash innovation, create the conditions for new jobs and increase competition,” […]
David P Harris speaks to Phil Kennedy on BBC Berkshire about the rights of working parents facing redundancy
David Harris speaks to Phil Kennedy on BBC Radio Berkshire about redundancy rights during the pandemic and the impact, in particular, on working parents.
Can employers dismiss employees who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine?
The COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available to the entire UK population but not everyone wants to be vaccinated. Employers should consider very carefully how they will approach a vaccination policy for their employees. The COVID-19 vaccination programme in the UK is now well underway. With the vaccine being offered first to the most vulnerable […]
David P Harris speaks to Phil Kennedy on BBC Berkshire about the potential impact of the recently announced national lockdown
Could employers dismiss employees fairly based on reputational risk?
Earlier this month, in K v L, the Employment Appeal Tribunal found that a school was not entitled to dismiss K, a teacher of 20 years, on grounds of reputation risk after K was charged but not prosecuted for possessing indecent images of children. The Employment Appeal Tribunal’s view that it would not have been […]
COVID-19: UK Government guidance on business operations and working from home
With the end of the national lockdown and the introduction of the tier system that started on 2 December 2020, the UK Government has reiterated that employees in England who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter. [In Scotland employees should only go to work if it is essential for them […]
New Tribunal Procedure Rules
A new statutory instrument was brought before parliament on 17 September 2020 to amend the tribunal procedural rules. The rules were changed to make the following allowances: More flexibility to be permitted over virtual hearings due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As Covid-19 has created a significant backlog of problems in the Employment Tribunal, if certain […]
Disability Discrimination Update
The EAT in Sullivan v Bury Street Capital Ltd UKEAT/0317/19/BA recently held that an employee who suffered from paranoid delusions was not disabled because although these had a substantial adverse effect, they were not long-term or likely to recur. The Employment Tribunal rejected the Claimant’s evidence and found that his condition did not have a […]
David P Harris discusses the latest updates from Rishi Sunak with Andrew Peach on BBC Radio Berkshire
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge.
David P Harris discusses the latest update from Rishi Sunak on BBC Radio Berkshire with Phil Kennedy
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge.
Calculation of CJRS grants: disclosure of mistakes to HMRC
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme comes to an end at the end of October. Whilst the scheme has been widely welcomed by employers, it is not without its complexities, not least as guidance on the application of the scheme and the calculation of grants has been updated on a frequent basis. Given the changes in […]
David P Harris discusses the latest expansion to the Job Support Scheme on BBC Radio Berkshire with Phil Kennedy
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge.
David P Harris discusses the latest Government updates on BBC Radio Berkshire with Bill Buckley
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge.
Test and trace scheme: considerations for employers
The NHS Test and Trace service are intended to form a central part of the government’s coronavirus recovery strategy, with those who have tested positive for COVID-19 asked to register via the NHS Test and Trace website and identify any individuals that they have recently been in close contact with. The intention is that contact […]
Coronavirus: managing return to work for shielding UK employees
Now that shielding has come to an end in the UK, employees who were previously in this position are reporting feelings of anxiety. At the same time, as the seasons change and schools return across the UK, there is a sense that businesses will also be starting to return to ‘normal’ with more employers taking […]
David P Harris discusses the announcement of the ‘Jobs Support Scheme’ on BBC Radio Berkshire
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge.
David P Harris discusses the changes to the furlough scheme from the 1 September on BBC Radio Berkshire
For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge.
Changes to Employment Tribunal Fees
Over the last decade, we have seen the employment tribunal fee regime completely overhauled. Most recently all fees were scrapped and no fee is currently required to submit a claim. However, recent information has shown that this may still change. In July 2013 the government made the decision to introduce fees for bringing a claim […]
The right to refuse work?
Some of the most common queries received in recent weeks have related to whether employers are able to force employees to return to work and, conversely, whether employees can refuse to return to work. Prior to the current pandemic queries of this nature were virtually unheard of; in the majority of cases, an employer is […]
David P Harris discusses the changes to the Furlough scheme from 1 August on BBC Radio Berkshire
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge.
David P Harris discusses employees rights on quarantine on BBC Radio Berkshire
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge.
Coronavirus: managing the return to work in the UK
As the UK government begin to lift lockdown restrictions, employers in the UK should begin planning for staff to be able to return to their places of work. Many UK businesses have had to take steps to either limit or entirely reduce the number of employees on their premises during the lockdown period through a […]
David P Harris discusses Redundancy rights for employees on BBC Radio Berkshire
David Harris, the Managing Partner at DPH Legal, was interviewed on Thursday 2 July on BBC Radio Berkshire. As the furlough scheme is gradually coming to an end a lot of businesses are faced with difficult decisions if they can’t afford to keep their current workforce. Some employees will find they are at risk of […]