Article Category: Insight & Opinion

The number of people making claims for disability discrimination in the Employment Tribunal has soared by 37% compared to last year. With Employment Tribunal claims in general rising only 4% that means the number of disability discrimination claims has risen more than eight times faster than the growth of all tribunal claims. Why? What’s caused… Read more »

What is Japanese knotweed? Japanese knotweed is an invasive plant which is known for its fast and vigorous growth pattern, in and above ground. Its roots can cause structural damage to nearby buildings, foundations and block drains if left untreated. Removal of the plant can also take several years to eradicate. Why is it a… Read more »

In 2014 the Alzheimer’s Society published a study on the increasing prevalence of dementia in the UK. It found that 1 in 14 of the population aged over 65 are suffering with dementia and 40,000 people living in the UK have early-onset dementia. These statistics raise many questions about the care available for patients but… Read more »

In a recent Court of Appeal case, an employee who worked as a cashier in a wine wholesale business for over 10 years was dismissed on the day the business was due to transfer to new ownership. The reason for dismissal, as stated in the dismissal letter, was that company was ceasing to trade due… Read more »

In the recent case of Hein v Holzkamm GmbH and Co KG, the European Court of Justice (“ECJ”) indicated that voluntary overtime should not be factored into holiday pay. The ECJ stated ‘given its exceptional and unforeseeable nature, remuneration received for overtime does not, in principle, form part of remuneration’. This decision now casts doubt… Read more »

Sickness absence can be extremely expensive, potentially disruptive and can have a significant impact on the productivity and welfare of colleagues due to increased workloads. A good Occupational Health (“OH”) specialist can be the key for the effective absence management to the benefit of the employer and, often the employee. What should you expect from… Read more »

In our previous blog, Important changes to entrepreneurs’ relief announced in autumn 2018 budget, we explained how the proposed changes set out in the Autumn Budget 2018 appear to have added additional conditions that must be met in order for an individual shareholder to qualify for entrepreneur’s relief to reduce their Capital Gains Tax liability to… Read more »

The recent Employment Tribunal case, Mrs N Town v The Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, has raised questions amongst employers on the effects of changing a person’s role when they are pregnant, ill or injured and how this might result in discrimination claims when decisions are not considered carefully or justified. The background… Read more »

In November 2016, the government launched a review of employment practices. The main purpose was to consider the implications of new models of working, including those used in the GIG economy, on the rights and responsibilities of workers, as well as on employer freedoms and obligations. For this, an independent review was undertaken and published… Read more »

Jess Varnish, winner of a gold medal at the 2011 European Championships, has lodged an appeal against her employment status loss at Manchester Employment Tribunal against British Cycling and UK Sport. What’s Varnish’s employment status? In December 2018, after several weeks of deliberation the Manchester Employment Tribunal ruled the former British cyclist was neither an… Read more »