Age discrimination fact sheet
We kick off our series of factsheets with age discrimination. We intend to cover topics which individuals may find of particular interest or, which are universally relevant but tricky to navigate. Our aim is to give basic facts about the… Read on
Dismissal for misconduct: Supreme Court rules on fairness
The Supreme Court recently considered whether it was fair to dismiss a head teacher who failed to disclose her relationship with a convicted sex offender. In doing so the highest court in the UK appeared to question familiar case law… Read on
Sexual harassment at work: is it really black and white?
Female stars at this year’s Golden Globes and BAFTA awards wore black and celebrities at the Grammys donned white roses to show support for the movement against sexual harassment in the entertainment industry. But what practical steps can individuals in… Read on
Changes to pension schemes discriminated against younger members
Two recent Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) decisions highlight how pension scheme changes can put younger employees at a disadvantage and be discriminatory on the grounds of age. Background When an employer makes changes to employees’ pension benefits it is… Read on
Are trigger points for sickness absence dismissals lawful?
The latest ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) suggests that intermittent sickness absence thresholds, which allow employers to dismiss staff once a trigger point has been breached, are potentially discriminatory against disabled employees. Background Many employers operate sickness… Read on
Bullying at work: what can I do about it?
Often staff will not feel confident raising a bullying complaint, particularly if the alleged bully is a manager. But every employer needs to take grievances seriously; individuals should not suffer in silence and need to speak out where they think… Read on
Handling a bullying grievance: dos and dont’s for employers
Dealing with allegations of workplace bullying is always tricky for an employer because bullying can be hard to recognise and hard to define. Read our article in employment solicitor magazine on the dos and dont’s of handling a bullying grievance.… Read on
Employee travel disruption – how to deal with it
As snow and ice continue to cause disruption across the UK, many organisations will be forced to close but what are employers’ rights and obligations in such circumstances? Do we have to pay employees who can’t get into work? An… Read on
New Year, new job? Three tips to help you prepare for your new position
If you’ve been offered a new job, congratulations! Exciting though it is, with Christmas around the corner and a big change on the horizon, you may be feeling a little overwhelmed. But you needn’t worry. These three tips will help… Read on
Vaping in the workplace: what’s the score?
Smoking in workplaces has been prohibited in England since July 2007- but vaping with e-cigarettes is not covered by the law. Employers can therefore decide whether or not to allow vaping in their workplace. Ideally employers should have a clear… Read on