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
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
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
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
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
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
It is an understatement to say that much has changed in the employment space over the past 18 months. We have seen significant changes in employment legislation in response to the pandemic (most notably the furlough scheme,...more
As the “return to the office” push gathers steam, case law relating to the COVID-19 pandemic is now filtering through the UK’s Employment Tribunal system. The decisions made by employers in respect of staff who refused to...more
The UK Government has recently published its long-awaited response to its 2019 consultation on measures to combat sexual harassment in the workplace and strengthen existing legal protections.
Most significantly, the...more
What are the legal issues for employers to consider?
During the pandemic, many employers have been dealing with requests from employees to work abroad. With the move to remote working, employees have asked to work from...more
6/30/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Data Protection ,
Employment Contract ,
Foreign Workers ,
Income Taxes ,
Lawful Permanent Residents ,
Remote Working ,
Social Security ,
UK ,
UK Brexit ,
Visas ,
Workplace Safety
Many of our clients are increasingly faced with internal investigations, some with complex compliance or whistleblowing features. Our April client alert looks at some of the key considerations before embarking upon any...more
2020 was a year of exceptional change for employers and their staff. As the pandemic unfolded, businesses navigated their way through adjusting to a remote workforce to furloughing to creating COVID-secure workplaces and...more
1/29/2021
/ #MeToo ,
Audits ,
BEIS ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Cybersecurity ,
Employment Tax ,
Equal Pay ,
EU ,
HMRC ,
Independent Contractors ,
Non-Disclosure Agreement ,
Relief Measures ,
Trade Agreements ,
UK ,
UK Brexit
A new Job Support Scheme has been announced in which the U.K. Government will top up the wages of employees working reduced hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is it?
The U.K. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled...more
HMRC has issued further guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), including key changes to eligibility requirements. The Treasury has also issued a direction, which formally sets out the legal framework for the...more
Under the new CJRS, UK employers will be able to claim back up to 80% of the wages paid to “furloughed” employees, or up to a total of £2,500 per employee per month (whichever is lower). Employers will also be able to claim...more