Gove announces review of Legal Services Act – Legal Futures

‘There will a review of the Legal Services Act 2007 during this Parliament, the Lord Chancellor Michael Gove announced today.’

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Legal Futures, 15th July 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Sainsbury’s faces equal pay battle with female shop floor workers – The Guardian

‘Sainsbury’s is facing legal action from four female shopfloor workers who claim they are paid less than men to do equally valuable jobs at the supermarket chain.
The case, which will be the subject of a preliminary hearing at a Birmingham employment tribunal on Friday, comes as a similar legal action involving 6,000 female Asda employees remains to be settled.’

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The Guardian, 9th July 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Essop and others v Home Office (UK Border Agency) – WLR Daily

Essop and others v Home Office (UK Border Agency) [2015] EWCA Civ 609; [2015] WLR (D) 269

‘In order to succeed in claims of indirect discrimination under section 19 of the Equality Act 2010 based upon the protected characteristics of race and/or age the claimants had to prove the nature of the group disadvantage for the purposes of surmounting the section 19(2)(b) hurdle and each claimant had also to prove that he had suffered the same disadvantage for the purposes of surmounting the section 19(2)(c) hurdle.’

WLR Daily, 22nd June 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Gay couple in fight for equal pension rights – BBC News

‘A gay man has launched a legal bid for his husband to have the same pension rights a wife would have if he was in a heterosexual relationship.’

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BBC News, 29th June 2015

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Met Police officer Carol Howard was bullied by her boss on account of her sex and race – so why did she find it so difficult to win her case? – The Independent

‘As a black – and female – firearms officer, Carol Howard stood out in the Metropolitan Police’s Diplomatic Protection Group (DPG), one of only 12 women in a unit of 700. She had wanted to join the police from a young age and was incredibly proud of her job. But instead of being rewarded for her tenacity in such an environment, she was treated with suspicion, passed over for promotion and subjected to intense scrutiny.’

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The Independent, 17th June 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Architect accused by boss of ‘maternity paranoia’ wins £250k payout – Daily Telegraph

‘Tribunal hears Julie Humphryes felt she was being ‘marginalised by the company’ while she was on maternity leave.’

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Daily Telegraph, 16th June 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

First priest to marry same-sex partner sues church for discrimination – The Guardian

‘The first priest to marry his same-sex partner has begun a discrimination case against the Church of England over its withdrawal of his right to officiate as a priest following the union.’

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The Guardian, 16th June 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Muslim nursery worker loses appeal to wear jilbab gown at work because it is a ‘tripping hazard’ – The Independent

‘A nursery worker has lost her appeal to wear a head-to-toe Islamic jilbab dress to work, after a judge upheld a previous ruling that it was a “tripping hazard”.’

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The Independent, 13th June 2015

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Millionaire businessman wins gagging order over alleged sex parties – Daily Telegraph

‘A multi-millionaire businessman has won a permanent ban on a former friend and business colleague from exposing details of alleged sex and drugs parties.’

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Daily Telegraph, 7th May 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Banker who won tribunal after being dubbed ‘Crazy Miss Cokehead’ warns others against taking legal action – Daily Telegraph

‘A banker awarded £3.2 million for sexual harassment after being nicknamed “Crazy Miss Cokehead” and “Miss Bonkers” by bullying male colleagues has described her tribunal as “hell” and cautioned other victims thinking of pursuing a similar claim.’

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Daily Telegraph, 30th April 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

TUPE and Property Management – Tanfield Chambers

‘It is well known that where the management or ownership of property passes from one company to another, the employment of staff engaged in property management or maintenance may transfer with it under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (“TUPE”). However, it is not unusual for several different managed service contracts simultaneously to transfer from one contractor to another or for a number of sub-contracted maintenance contracts to be taken in-house by a property management company. A recent case has considered how TUPE applies in these circumstances involving multiple contracts.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 27th April 2015

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

EAT upholds £10,000 costs order against claimant “in dire straits” – Litigation Futures

Posted April 23rd, 2015 in appeals, costs, employment tribunals, news by sally

‘A costs order of £10,000 against a woman described by her barrister as “in dire straits” has been upheld by the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT).’

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Litigation Futures, 23rd April 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Whistleblowing ‘public interest’ test can cover internal matters in some circumstances, says UK’s EAT – OUT-LAW.com

‘Matters covered by someone who ‘blows the whistle’ on suspected bad practices at their employer need not necessarily be “of interest to the public” to benefit from stricter rules governing whistleblower protection, the UK’s Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 13th April 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Banker dubbed ‘Crazy Miss Cokehead’ awarded £3.2m for sexual harassment – Daily Telegraph

‘Cambridge graduate Svetlana Lokhova in cash payout from London branch of Sberbank CIB after being driven to mental breakdown by bullying colleagues.’

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Daily Telegraph, 7th April 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Christian NHS worker appeals ruling she ‘bullied’ Muslim colleague by praying for her – Daily Telegraph

‘Lawyers for Victoria Wasteney lodge appeal against tribunal, claiming human rights were breached when she was disciplined after claims she tried to convert Enya Nawaz.’

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Daily Telegraph, 5th April 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Are Covert Recordings Admissible? – No. 5 Chambers

‘Charles Crow reviews recent decisions in relation to covert recordings by employees and the implications for Tribunals and employers.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 12th January 2015

Source: www.no5.com

Can Employment Tribunals Conduct Their Own Internet Research? – No. 5 Chambers

Posted March 19th, 2015 in appeals, civil procedure rules, employment tribunals, internet, news by sally

‘A vexed question: Where is the boundary between assistance and being in the arena? And how does the internet impact on that. The latest attempt to give guidance is the curious case of East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust v Sanders UKEAT/0217/14/RN before Langstaff P and 2 lay members.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 12th January 2015

Source: www.no5.com

Judges Behaving Badly? – No. 5 Chambers

Posted March 19th, 2015 in employment tribunals, judiciary, news, professional conduct, recusal, tribunals by sally

‘Irvine Maccabe discusses practical issues and strategies to consider in relation to recusal, judicial misconduct and transcripts.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 12th January 2015

Source: www.no5.com

Getting to Grips with the Holiday Pay Conundrum – Littleton Chambers

Posted March 17th, 2015 in appeals, EC law, employment tribunals, holiday pay, news, working time by sally

‘The Employment Appeal Tribunal’s (EAT’s) judgment in the Bear Scotland case is the latest in a series of cases considering what must be included in the calculation of holiday pay under the UK’s Working Time Regulations (WTR). The ruling sent shockwaves through the business community, with some commentators estimating that around five million workers in the UK could be entitled to more holiday pay at a potential cost to companies of billions of pounds. Business Secretary Vince Cable even set up a taskforce to assess the possible impact of the EAT’s decision. Adam Solomon and Sophia Berry throw the spotlight on the Bear Scotland litigation in the context of other decisions on holiday pay and consider its implications. This article first appeared in the March 2015 edition of Tolley’s Employment Law Newsletter.’

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Littleton Chambers, 17th March 2015

Source: www.littleton.com

Variation of employment contracts – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted March 17th, 2015 in amendments, contract of employment, employment, employment tribunals, news by sally

‘If employers want to vary a contract of employment they must first make sure that they have a very clear right to do so.’

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Hardwicke Chambers, 18th February 2015

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk