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Ensuring children come first throughout a divorce

Divorce is a difficult time for the couple involved but it can be equally as harmful for the children.

Good divorce week: Healthy social media use during a Divorce

Social media use is an everyday part of modern lives and the use of it during a divorce may be no exception. However, it should be used with great caution.

Exclusivity clauses banned in contracts for low earners

In response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-income workers, the Government has revisited whether the ban on the use of exclusivity clauses in zero hours contracts should be extended to the contracts of other low-income workers.

Minimum and National Living Wage Rates to Increase

In the Autumn Statement the Government announced that it will be increasing the National Living Wage (“NLW”), the National Minimum Wage (“NMW”) and the apprentice rate from 1st April 2023.

Patterson v WM Morrisons Supermarkets Limited - mother awarded £60,000 having been subject to discrimination by Morrisons for exercising her right to maternity leave

The employment tribunal found that Morrisons had treated Ms Patterson unfavourably in the manner of consulting her about a restructure which affected her job because she was exercising her right to maternity leave.

Jhuti v Royal Mail Group Limited – employee awarded over £100,000 in damages following successful whistleblowing complaint

In this case we find out how Ms Jhuti made a number of protected disclosures during her time at Royal Mail Group Limited. After being forced to retract her disclosures, she began to suffer a lot of stress in the workplace. She informed HR that she was being harassed and bullied because of the disclosures […]

X v VolkerRail Limited and Y – female executive awarded £420,000 for successful sexual harassment and victimisation claims

Ms X joined VolkerRail in 2019 on a salary of £55,000 in the expectation of this increasing. During her employment she formed a friendship with Mr Y who was later to become her manager.

The cost of living crisis and employee anxiety

Financial stress and economic uncertainty can have an impact on mental and physical health. As the cost of living crisis deepens at the start of the winter months, it is a topic at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Anxiety around finances is inextricably linked with performance and morale at work, and if not already on […]

14th November 2022 - World Diabetes Day – How a little knowledge can impact someone’s life as well as your business

Reports indicate that there has been a continued global increase in diabetes diagnoses. It is therefore likely that within most workplaces there will be employees living with the condition.

Hybrid working and the rise of employee requests to work overseas: What employers should consider

The worldwide lockdown experienced by most of us has in many cases led to a new era of flexible and remote working with many employers changing their working policies and procedures to accommodate what is arguably the new normal of working.

A Momentous Decision for Company Law – Directors be Aware!

In the case of BTI 2014 LLC -v- Sequana SA and Others [2022] the Supreme Court held that when directors know, or should know, that the company is insolvent or about to become insolvent, they must consider the interests of creditors.

Mogane v Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – the Employment Appeal Tribunal considers the risk of having only one employee at risk of redundancy

The employee in this case was an NHS nurse working under a number of fixed term contracts. In 2019 the employee was told that the Trust she was working for was facing financial difficulties and so she would be made redundant as her contract was the one that was due to be renewed the soonest.

HMRC’s updated response to furlough claim errors

HMRC have published ‘Common errors in the calculation of CJRS grants questions and answers’. The purpose of this is to give an indication of HMRC’s approach to businesses who calculated their furlough grants differently to the method set out in HMRC guidance. Helpfully it sets out when businesses do and do not need to correct […]

Ms C v Thistle Communications Ltd (in liquidation) - Woman asked by boss ‘how do lesbians have sex’ wins ET award of £30,000

In this case, the Employment Tribunal considered whether an LGBT employee was subject to discrimination and harassment on the grounds of her sex and sexual orientation following being subject to sexually explicit questions.

Pubbi v Your-Move.co.uk – Can an employee be fairly dismissed when they have failed to disclose their own misconduct?

In this case, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (“the EAT”) considered whether a financial consultant, who had not disclosed to his employer that he was bankrupt, had been fairly dismissed for gross misconduct.

Menopause in the workplace – update following Women & Equalities Committee Report

In July 2022, the Parliamentary Women & Equalities Committee (‘the Committee’) issued their first report in respect of Menopause in the workplace.

TikTok face a potential £27 million fine from the ICO for failing to protect children’s privacy

Allegations are not always “worth a shot”

McKenzie v University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust – NHS Nurse unfairly dismissed and discriminated against by NHS Trust wins employment tribunal case.

Onibere v Rodman Pearce Solicitors Ltd - Solicitor unfairly dismissed and discriminated against during cancer recovery awarded £17k

Tackling employee engagement during the World Cup

Is your business ready for World Cup 2022?

With the FIFA World Cup 2022 taking place from 20th November to 18th December 2022, our Licensing team suggest some key things to consider if your’re planning to screen the event in your licensed premises.

No smoking in your external hospitality area?

Pavement licences provide a quick way to maximise external space for hospitality businesses but more changes could be on the way as recent recommendations suggest outdoor spaces for eating should be completely smoke-free.

Do employees have a right to a paid bank holiday?

The Queen’s funeral will be held on 19th September and has been declared a bank holiday. Employers need to consider how this impacts their employees and whether they must give them an additional day of paid holiday.

Mellor v The MFG Academies Trust - lack of breastfeeding facilities amounted to harrassment

In this case, a teacher returning from maternity leave claimed direct and indirect discrimination and harassment on grounds of sex due to the school not providing suitable facilities for her to express milk despite two requests before she returned.