Landmark Ruling on Gender – What Should Employers do Now?
In a major ruling, the UK’s Supreme Court has held that ‘sex’ under the UK Equality Act means biological (birth) sex. This is regardless of whether an individual has...more
5/1/2025
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Employee Rights ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Employment Litigation ,
Equality Act ,
Gender Identity ,
New Guidance ,
Sex Discrimination ,
UK ,
UK Supreme Court
This month’s update includes plans to significantly expand pay gap reporting, increases in pay rates case law warnings for employers on disciplinary action and holiday pay exposure – and the Competition Regulator’s power to...more
4/1/2025
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Disability Discrimination ,
Diversity ,
Employee Rights ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Equal Pay ,
Pay Equity Laws ,
Pay Transparency ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Wage and Hour
The 2024 UK election set change in motion for the employment law landscape. The most significant of these changes are delayed until 2026, giving employers a chance to prepare - see our October Alert. Our 2025 preview reports...more
Happy New Year! In our first monthly alert for 2025, we report on whether comments on an employee’s accent are unlawful harassment, on ‘gig economy’ worker rights – plus guidance on employers’ duties to prevent sexual...more
1/23/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Compliance ,
Data Protection ,
Employee Rights ,
Employee Training ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Employment Litigation ,
Employment Tribunals ,
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) ,
Gig Economy ,
Harassment ,
New Legislation ,
Race Discrimination ,
Sexual Harassment ,
UK
November saw several significant developments in employment law through the courts and following the Labour Government’s Autumn Budget, announced on 30 October 2024....more
12/3/2024
/ Appeals ,
Criminal Convictions ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Employment Rights Act ,
Equality Act ,
Harassment ,
Minimum Wage ,
Religious Discrimination ,
Termination ,
UK ,
UK Employment Appeal Tribunal ,
Unions ,
Whistleblower Protection Policies
The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2020) Act 2023 comes into force on 26 October 2024, introducing a new legal obligation on UK employers to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment at work. In this...more
10/28/2024
/ #MeToo ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Equality Act ,
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) ,
Liability ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sexual Harassment ,
UK ,
Worker Protection Standard
The UK’s new Labour government has unveiled a package of new workers’ rights today (Thursday 10 October 2024), with wide-ranging ramifications for employers. Whilst the majority of measures will not be implemented until 2026...more
10/11/2024
/ Contract Terms ,
Employee Rights ,
Equal Pay ,
Gender-Based Pay Discrimination ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Trade Unions ,
UK ,
Unfair Dismissal ,
Wage and Hour ,
Zero Hours Contracts
Next month’s update will cover the eagerly awaited new government’s employment law reforms, to be announced mid-October 2024. Some details are emerging, including that ‘day one’ termination rights will be subject to a...more
Following the Labour Party’s landslide victory in this month’s general election, employers are braced for the biggest employment law shake-up in a generation, with multiple significant reforms proposed...more
In anticipation of next week’s General Election, this month’s alert examines key employment law pledges made by the political parties in their election manifestos, an extension to parental leave rights and recent legal...more
A general election is to be held in the UK on 4 July 2024. Although official election manifestos have not been released yet, last week the Labour Party published a policy paper, “A New Deal for Working People”, setting out...more
6/3/2024
/ Bereavement Leave ,
Equality Act ,
Flexible Work Arrangements ,
General Elections ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Sick Pay ,
Trade Unions ,
TUPE ,
UK ,
Unfair Dismissal ,
Zero Hours Contracts
Although many employment changes in the UK are largely on ice until after the election later this year, April has seen a number of employment law developments – largely from the courts. We highlight some recent decisions, on...more
This month has seen the publication of two UK government-backed reports relating to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The Treasury Committee has published its report in relation to barriers faced by women in financial...more
Although major employment changes in the UK are largely on hold until the general election later in 2024, there are a number of specific changes impacting daily planning and policies, which need to be on Legal and HR’s action...more
HR Managers and in-house lawyers frequently face the task of navigating and protecting legal privilege. Issues around privilege often arise during internal investigations, data subject access requests and discussions of...more
Settlement agreements are a pragmatic and effective tool in resolving workplace disputes. The employee benefits from financial support and a dignified exit, and the employer achieves a clean break. However, when used...more
9/30/2022
/ Appeals ,
Business Disputes ,
Confidentiality Policies ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) ,
Harassment ,
HMRC ,
Non-Disclosure Agreement ,
PILONs ,
Post Employment Notice Pay (PENPs) ,
Settlement Agreements ,
UK ,
Unfair Dismissal ,
Whistleblowers
Last week, the UK Supreme Court issued a significant holiday pay decision, Harpur Trust v Brazel, ruling that part-year workers (who only work certain weeks of the year) should not have their paid holiday entitlement...more
Most employers are now seeing staff return to the office for at least a portion of the working week. Most have chosen to do so gently and to rely on encouragement, reminders of the importance of in-person collegiality and...more
Many of you will have read the Sue Gray report published last week into the investigation into alleged gatherings of Number 10 staff on UK Government premises during Covid restrictions. It makes a sobering read...more
Following the removal of all domestic COVID restrictions and regulations, on 1 April 2022 the government issued new workplace public health guidance as part of its “Living with COVID” strategy. The guidance sets out new...more
Redundancy and consultation processes have made headlines this month after P&O Ferries made around 800 of its staff redundant with immediate effect via a pre-recorded video message....more
Key Takeaways for Employers -
The UK’s Court of Appeal has issued a significant holiday pay decision, Smith v Pimlico Plumbers [2022] EWCA Civ 70, ruling that workers who were misclassified as independent contractors can...more
2/24/2022
/ Appeals ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Digital Platforms ,
Employment Rights Act ,
EU ,
European Court of Justice (ECJ) ,
Gig Economy ,
Holiday Pay ,
Independent Contractors ,
Paid Leave ,
UK ,
UK Employment Appeal Tribunal
Employers with 250 or more employees are required to report on the gender pay gap in their organisation by no later than 4 April each year. This is with the exception of the last two years, when the April 2020 reporting...more
Everybody loves a list at this time of year. With the end of year fast approaching, everyone is working through their gift lists, to-do lists and grocery lists for their holiday celebrations. For the 12 Days of Christmas,...more
12/16/2021
/ #MeToo ,
Anti-Harassment Policies ,
Appeals ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Disability Discrimination ,
Diversity ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Equality Act ,
HMRC ,
Long-Term Care ,
UK Employment Appeal Tribunal ,
Unpaid Leave
The festive season is almost upon us, bringing with it the (in)famous office holiday party. This event is a great opportunity for employers to reward hard work, strengthen team culture and blow off steam. Additionally, this...more