On 26 March 2021, the Supreme Court (SC) gave its decision in the long running Asda equal pay case, resulting in Asda bosses losing the first stage of their appeal to the Supreme Court in an equal pay claim brought by shop workers. This decision could have far reaching consequences for the retail sector, with… Read more »
Agricultural workers’ rights and pay in the agricultural sector can often leave many employers confused and unaware of the complex provisions. Keeping up to date with employment legislation can be vital to ensure you are not caught out. Particularly when the government typically introduces new legislation each spring. What Are Agricultural Workers’ Rights? Firstly, the… Read more »
In a long-awaited judgement regarding the rules of paying workers for ‘sleep-in’ shifts, it has finally been determined that anyone working a sleep-in shift – where it is expected that they will sleep through the night unless disturbed to deal with an emergency – is not entitled to have those hours count towards their minimum… Read more »
Now that the dust has settled after the long-awaited judgment by the Supreme Court in the Uber case which was delivered on 19th February 2021, Jennifer Platt, Senior Associate in our Employment team, reflects on the implications of the decision for individuals and employers. Key Points of the Supreme Court’s Judgment The Supreme Court (“SC”)… Read more »
Following Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget announcement, we outline the key points with regards to the changes to employment law. These include the furlough leave extension, hiring apprentices, Statutory Sick Pay and the National Living Wage. Furlough Leave Extension The current furlough scheme will now continue for a further five months until 30th September 2021 (instead… Read more »
On 22nd February 2021, Boris Johnson provided a Spring announcement which included his four-point roadmap out of the UK’s third national lockdown. The Government has also released a 68-page document titled: ‘COVID-19 Response Spring 21’ (“Government Response”). What does this update mean for employers and what impact does it have on employment? Warren Moores discusses…. Read more »
Although they may be seen as humorous, practical jokes in the workplace can lead to unnecessary stress and upset for employees. Charlie Wood, Associate Solicitor, outlines the case of Carol Hurley v East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and explains how these types of actions can have drastic and costly consequences. Carol Hurley v East Sussex… Read more »
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Employment Tribunal system has significantly adapted in order to continue to hear claims. Most full hearings are now taking place remotely using a Cloud Video Platform. Jennifer Platt, Senior Associate in the Employment Team, reflects on her recent experiences of representing clients at full remote hearings using the… Read more »
Redundancy is defined as the closure of a business, the closure of a site or reduction in work of a particular kind, meaning less people are required. According to the latest data from the Office of National Statistics, there were 395,000 redundancies in the third quarter (July- September) of 2020, the highest rate since records… Read more »
In a perfect example of how not to handle high levels of sickness absence, a worker who was absent for 808 shifts over a 20-year career – costing the company an estimated £95,850 in sick pay – has won tribunal claims of unfair dismissal against his former employer. The key issue here is, not that… Read more »
