As the coronavirus outbreak in the UK continues to escalate, we are now receiving an ever increasing number of enquiries from clients, particularly around employer obligations and contracts. This is a fluid and fast-moving situation and the Government is providing daily briefings to the nation dealing with a number …

In last week's 2020 Budget, the government confirmed that the extension of IR35 reforms to the private sector would go ahead as planned next month. However, it has this week been confirmed that there will be a one-year delay to controversial changes to the off payroll working rules …

First discussed in 2017 and then becoming law in September 2018, the right to paid leave for bereaved parents will finally come into effect from 6 April this year, along with other employment law developments. The Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act 2018 provides for bereaved parents to take two …

You may have heard or read about Steve Easterbrook, the chief executive of McDonald's food chain, who has recently been dismissed for appearing to fall foul of the company's policy on workplace relationships. Mr Easterbrook is reported to have been involved in a consensual relationship with a colleague …

Increasingly, clients who employ EU workers are seeking advice on the situation around Brexit and its potential impacts on their business and employees. In response to these enquires, our dedicated Brexit team has developed a new document, which outlines some of the key issues we can help you with. You …

Important changes to employment law are coming in effect on 6th April 2020 as part of the Government’s Good Work Plan. To help you ensure your business is prepared, we have set out the changes for you below. The Government's Good Work Plan was published in late 2018 …

On 15 July 2019, the Government launched a consultation called "Health Is Everyone's Business: proposals to reduce ill-health related job loss”, which could result in major changes to employment law, which may affect your business. As part of this consultation, the Government outlined ways in which they, and …

The recent Supreme Court judgment in the case of Tillman v Egon Zehnder Ltd was the first time in nearly 100 years that the highest court in the UK has considered post-employment restrictions in a contract of employment. Could this ruling around restrictive covenants affect you and your business? &…

Context Women on maternity leave have the right to be offered suitable alternative vacancies, where available, in order to avoid redundancy and they don’t need to take part in a selection process. ‘Suitable alternative employment’ in this context is work that is suitable and appropriate for the employee to …

Recent analysis by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) suggests that female workers are less likely to take their full annual leave entitlement than men are. The TUC's analysis also provides a number of startling statistics such as: 1 in 14 workers are not getting their legal entitlement to paid …

A recent Employment Tribunal case involving a well-known High Street store has highlighted a problem that many employers may not have addressed regarding overtime pay. In Mr J Fitz v Holland and Barrett Retail Limited (HB), Mr Fitz successfully claimed that time he spent opening and closing the Holland &…

It is often said that the area of law which changes the most is employment law. Well, at the moment that certainly seems to be the case. Typically the month of April brings with it a raft of updates to current regulations and revisions to rates of statutory payments. If …

The Low Pay Commission (LPC) has recently published its report entitled 'Non-compliance and the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage' (NMW) in which it considers the most recent figures relating to non-compliance with NMW regulations whilst making conclusions and recommendations for the Government to improve compliance by employers. …

Recent statistics published by Fox & Partners show that there were more than 6,500 disability discrimination claims made in the Employment Tribunals in 2018. This represents a significant 37% increase in the number of disability discrimination claims from 2017. Indeed, the percentage increase in numbers is around eight times …

The so-called 'gig economy' is a term used to describe a labour market where workers are paid for each 'gig' or piece of work they do. They are engaged to work on self-employed, flexible terms, apparently with little commitment, which allow them to work when they want. Trade …

You may recall the Northern Irish case of Lee v Ashers Bakery Co Ltd last year where the Supreme Court found that the bakery did not discriminate against Mr Lee by refusing to bake him a cake with a slogan, which supported gay marriage. In Lee, it was found that …

We often advise employers in relation to employees who are on long-term sickness absence. The most common issue that arises is whether the employee’s illness amounts to a disability. But there are sometimes other issues hidden deep within the case that determine the advice that we give. For …

In addition to making arrangements for legislation arising out of the Good Work Plan, employers should be thinking about a number of upcoming employment law changes in 2019. Employment Tribunals Most employers may not be aware that the Employment Tribunal has the power to impose a penalty upon employers (in …

Many employers now apply drug and alcohol policies to their workforces. Misuse of drugs or alcohol at work can lead a number of serious issues including health and safety, absenteeism and poor performance. However, even where there is an established policy in place, it must still be applied in a …

The Government has recently published its Good Work Plan which, it says, presents the 'Government's vision for the future of the UK labour market'. The Good Work Plan primarily sets out the Government's response to the Taylor Review, a 2017 report on UK working practices. That report was …

In a hugely significant decision which will see many employers breathing a huge sigh of relief, the Court of Appeal has held that employees sleeping in at their employers’ premises while ‘on call’ are not entitled to be paid the National Minimum Wage for their entire shift. Based on the …

It is unlikely that the UK's decision to leave the EU will dramatically transform UK employment law, although we can expect some changes. What form those changes may take is unknown, as it will depend upon which party is in power following the EU exit. Jonathan Dale, head of …

To help businesses - large and small - prepare for a number of imminent changes to employment law, our head of employment law, Jonathan Dale, has highlighted five key areas that ought to be on an employer's radar. 1. Living and Minimum Wage From April this year, the Living Wage, which …

A growing number of companies are using self-employed workers to help fill gaps in the workforce and to cover different shift patterns. Whilst these workers offer a great degree of flexibility to suit the needs of the company, it is important not to blur the lines on self-employment. …