Holiday accrual during periods of industrial action
Written by Brabners LLP What has happened? On 29 November 2022, in advance of further strikes proposed by Royal Mail staff, the Chief People Officer at Royal Mail was reported to have issued a communication to employees to say that annual leave would not accrue during periods of unpaid absence such as career breaks,…
Can a settlement agreement settle unknown future claims?
Written by Brabners LLP In the case of Bathgate v Technip UK Ltd (2022), the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has held that unknown future claims cannot be compromised by a settlement agreement. Background Mr Bathgate accepted voluntary redundancy in January 2017. He entered into a settlement agreement with his employer, which provided…
Fertility in the Workplace: A Statutory Right?
Blog post written by JMW Solicitors LLP Fertility in the workplace has attracted headlines in recent months, highlighting issues faced by individuals and couples undergoing fertility treatment, which are compounded by a lack of awareness and understanding within the workplace. The Fertility Network has reported that more than 3.5 million people in the UK are…
The future of dress codes: Virgin Atlantic flies the flag with gender neutral policy.
Written by Brabners LLP Virgin Atlantic has introduced a gender-neutral dress policy for its cabin crew, pilots, and ground staff in a new branding campaign to reflect the diverse nature of its workforce and customers. Staff working for the airline will now be permitted to wear the uniform they feel most comfortable in “no…
How will the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill 2022 affect employment laws in the UK?
Post written by JMW Solictors LLP Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, it has been anticipated that lawmakers will attempt to move away from retained EU legislation and make their own mark. Many UK Regulations are derived from EU directives, and since Brexit those Regulations are still applicable. Whilst it was…
Employment Tribunal rules that supporting a football club is not a protected philosophical belief
Blog post written by Brabners LLP There have been an increasing number of cases in the Employment Tribunal about what amounts to a protected “philosophical belief” within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010. Employers are prohibited, under the Equality Act 2010, from discriminating against an employee, worker or job applicant on the grounds of…
Do employers own their employee’s social media accounts – what to consider when LinkedIn connections are made in the course of employment
Blog post written by JMW Solicitors LLP In a judgment that was handed down on 5 May 2022, the High Court found that a legal recruitment consultant (Mr Wilson) was wrong to resist deleting his 3,500 LinkedIn connections before leaving his employer (Clayton Recruitment Limited) to start up his own business. JMW acted for…
New guidance brings clarity on employment status for workers and businesses
New government guidance will act as a one-stop-shop for individuals and businesses to understand which employment rights apply to them
Identifying Modern Slavery in the Supply Chain
Written by Brabners LLP Umbrella companies must remain vigilant to the risk that they may be engaging contractors who are victims of modern slavery, as demonstrated by two recently reported cases. Firstly, on 29 April 2022 the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner published a new report: Operation Cardinas and beyond: Addressing exploitation risk in the construction…
Exclusivity clause ban to be extended to low paid workers
Written by Simon Bloch, JMW Solicitors LLP On 9th May 2022, the government proposed to introduce legislation in relation to exclusivity clauses within employment contracts for low paid workers. Recap on exclusivity clauses Exclusivity clauses in employment contracts are a type of restrictive covenant which prohibit the worker from taking on…