Unfair dismissal
Is a dismissal unfair if the employer changes an investigation report following advice from an in-house lawyer? Not in this case, said the Employment Appeal Tribunal in Dronsfield v The University of Reading.
Vegetarianism and Philosophical belief
A philosophical belief might be a protected characteristic if it:Is genuinely held and isn’t just a viewpoint or an opinion;
Dealing with emails outside of work hours
We all find it difficult to switch off from technology. Work email being accessible on phones has blurred the lines between home and the office. Companies worried about these blurred lines are taking steps to stop employees from working outside work hours.
Britain is being warned to brace itself for the coldest winter in a decade
When temperatures fall to below freezing this can have a serious impact on someone’s health. Cold conditions can cause the body temperature to drop as can damp wet weather. This can cause illness, permanent damage and in some cases death.
Confidentiality agreements
Hot on the back of the #MeToo movement, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published some non-statutory guidance on the use of confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements in discrimination cases.
Injury to feelings
If an employee wins a discrimination claim, the employment tribunal will award compensation for injury to feelings.
Working time
Under section 45A of the Employment Rights Act 1996, workers have the right not to be treated badly by their employer for refusing to work in breach of the Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR). If such a refusal is the reason (or main reason) for an employee’s dismissal, their dismissal will be automatically unfair.
LGBTQA+ Religious discrimination
Religion and the rights of the LGBTQA+ community have had some high-profile clashes. An employment tribunal has recently considered whether a doctor’s religious beliefs ‘trump’ the right of someone who is transgender to be addressed by their chosen pronoun (he, she, they).
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a term used to describe a number of illnesses affecting the lungs, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Tis the season to be jolly
Tis the season to be jolly and this can only mean one thing – tis also the season of the famous office Christmas party! A time when bosses loosen purse strings and staff let their hair down and, love it or loathe it, the annual Christmas party will happen. So, we’ve got a few tips…