What is whistleblowing?
‘Whistleblowing’ or ‘blowing the whistle’ is commonly understood as informing on someone who is doing something they shouldn’t. Under UK law, workers have special protections against detrimental treatment and dismissal when they make a qualifying disclosure of information. Whistle-blowing is… Read on
Can I sue my employer for harassment?
Harassment, as defined in the Equality Act 2010 is unlawful. If you can show that you have suffered harassment in the workplace carried out by a colleague, you will be able to bring a claim against your employer. What is… Read on
What are protected characteristics?
The term “protected characteristics” comes from the Equality Act 2010. Understanding what the protected characteristics are is important because any discriminatory or harassing behaviour is only unlawful if it is related to a relevant protected characteristic. The definition of protected… Read on
Top tips for reference writers
There are numerous legal issues for employers to bear in mind when responding to reference requests. Getting it wrong could result in legal liability for discrimination, negligence or data protection breaches. For more information on the legal issues to consider… Read on
Trade union blacklists: what are your rights?
How do I find out if my name is on the blacklist? If you suspect that you may have been blacklisted, it may be worth calling the Information Commissioner. They will take your details and check them against the list.… Read on
Top tips for references
Our clients are often asking us what their obligations are when it comes to providing references for ex-employees, and here are our top tips. When providing references, employers owe various legal duties both to the new employer and to the… Read on
Was employer’s instruction not to contact Information Commissioner’s Office lawful?
In this case, the Employment Appeal Tribunal was asked to decide whether or not it was fair to dismiss an employee for failing to comply with an instruction not to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office. Background This is the case… Read on
Latest enormous city compensation award!
Mr Wardle, 44, was employed by a French bank. He brought a claim of race discrimination, saying that he had been passed over for promotion because he was not French. After the bank received his claim, Mr Wardle was sacked… Read on
What is victimisation?
Victimisation is a particular form of unlawful discrimination where a worker suffers a detriment because they have either made a complaint of discrimination themselves, or have supported someone else in making such a complaint. Both employees and ex-employees are protected… Read on