Discrimination and Freedom of Belief in the Sex and Gender Debate – UK Human Rights Blog

‘We do not usually cover first-instance employment tribunal judgments on this blog, but two cases handed down in the last three weeks – Forstater v. CGD Europe and Bailey v. Stonewall Equality Ltd and Garden Court Chambers – have attracted so much attention that we feel an exception must be made. Both cases involved women with ‘gender critical’ beliefs who faced hostility in their workplaces after expressing them. Both succeeded in their claims of direct discrimination and victimisation on grounds of belief under the Equality Act 2010. Although neither of the cases sets a binding precedent for other courts or tribunals, they contain interesting legal analysis and comment about the importance of freedom of expression and freedom of belief in the context of work which is of wider significance.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd August 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Labour MP unfairly sacked senior adviser who called him ‘first class idiot’, tribunal finds – The Independent

‘A Labour MP unfairly dismissed his aide and ex-girlfriend after she felt “marginalised and isolated” in the months leading up to her losing her job, a tribunal has found.’

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The Independent, 3rd August 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

MPs call for menopause to be protected characteristic in UK Equality Act – The Guardian

Posted July 28th, 2022 in employment, equality, health, menopause, news, reports, women by sally

‘MPs have called for menopause to be a protected characteristic and for a special ambassador to keep women in the workplace, after a report showed the UK is currently “haemorrhaging talent”.’

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The Guardian, 28th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Allison Bailey: Barrister awarded £22,000 in discrimination case – BBC News

‘A barrister has won part of her employment tribunal claim that she was discriminated against because of her gender-critical views.’

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BBC News, 27th July 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law change allows organisations to employ agency workers during strikes – Local Government Lawyer

‘A new law is now in place that will enable organisations impacted by industrial action to plug staffing gaps with agency workers, the Government has said.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th July 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Top barrister accuses Labour of ‘spin’ over NDAs gagging ex-staff – The Guardian

‘One of the UK’s most high-profile freedom of expression lawyers has accused Labour of “spin and dissembling” for denying it attempted to stop two female ex-staffers from speaking about sexual harassment. In a highly unusual intervention, Mark Stephens, who represented Georgie Robertson and Laura Murray, said there were “high public interests at play” and said the party was “undermining their credibility” by issuing statements denying it had tried to offer them non-disclosure agreements.’

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The Guardian, 21st July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Judgment: Harpur Trust v Brazel [2022] UKSC 21 – UKSC Blog

Posted July 21st, 2022 in appeals, employment, flexible working, holiday pay, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘This appeal concerned the calculation of annual leave and holiday pay entitlements for workers who work for varying hours during only certain weeks of the year but have a contract throughout that year (“part–year workers”).’

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UKSC Blog, 20th July 2022

Source: ukscblog.com

No diplomatic immunity for actions grounded in modern slavery allegations – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Basfar v Wong [2022] UKSC 20. Judgment here, links to hearings here. The landmark decision handed down on 6 July 2022 by a majority of 3 to 2 in the Supreme Court held that a serving diplomat does not enjoy immunity in an employment tribunal claim grounded in allegations of modern slavery.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 18th July 2022

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Thousands of offenders in work as UK businesses help break cycle of crime – Ministry of Justice

‘Almost 4,000 ex-offenders have been helped into work since the launch of a major drive to increase employment and cut crime.’

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Ministry of Justice, 15th July 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

Workplace fatalities data highlights employers’ health and safety duties – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 14th, 2022 in accidents, employment, health & safety, news, statistics by sally

‘The latest data on workplace fatalities in Britain should sharpen the focus of employers on ensuring their workplaces are safe environments for both workers and members of the public, a health and safety expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 13th July 2022

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Heatwave: When is it too hot to work? – BBC News

Posted July 14th, 2022 in employment, health & safety, news, trade unions by sally

‘Is there a maximum temperature for workplaces? No law in the UK says a given temperature is too hot or cold to work.’

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BBC News, 14th July 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Bill of Rights Act 2022 and employment law: free speech implications – by Gus Baker – UK Labour Law

‘The “Bill of Rights Bill” (the “Bill”), introduced to Parliament on 22 June this year, has the potential to have significant implications for employment law. Once tribunals and courts accept the Bill’s exhortation to give “great weight” to freedom of speech, the consequences for workplace relations may be profound.’

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UK Labour Law, 6th July 2022

Source: uklabourlawblog.com

No diplomatic immunity in modern slavery cases, Supreme Court rules – BBC News

‘The UK Supreme Court has ruled that diplomats cannot hide behind immunity to exploit workers, in a victory for campaigners against modern slavery.’

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BBC News, 7th July 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New Judgment: Basfar v Wong [2022] UKSC 20 – UKSC Blog

‘The Appellant (a national of the Philippines) is a migrant domestic worker who worked in the household of the Respondent, a diplomat representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the United Kingdom. Ms Wong claims to be a victim of human trafficking who was forced to work for Mr Basfar and his family in circumstances of modern slavery after they brought her with them to the UK in August 2016.’

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UKSC Blog, 6th July 2022

Source: ukscblog.com

Setting up a branch or subsidiary of an overseas business in the UK – EIN Blog

Posted July 4th, 2022 in company law, employment, immigration, news, visas by sally

‘There is no specific visa requirement for anyone who wants to register a business in the UK. However, this is not the same as working for or on behalf of the business.’

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EIN Blog, 30th June 2022

Source: www.ein.org.uk

Crucifixes, neck-chains and food hygiene: Kovalkovs – Law & Religion UK

‘In Mr J Kovalkovs v 2 Sisters Food Group Limited [2022] UKET 4102454/2020, Mr Kovalkovs, an Orthodox Christian, was a quality inspector in 2 Sisters Food Group’s chicken processing factory. He wore a silver crucifix on a neck-chain as an expression of his faith. 2 Sisters’ Foreign Body Control policy stated that “jewellery must not be worn in the production areas on site, with the exception of a single plan band ring”. An exception was made for religious jewellery, subject to a risk assessment; however, the risk assessment concluded that “because the chain was made of links there was a risk of contamination” and there was a potential for “entanglement, entrapment or tearing”. Mr Kovalkovs refused to give up wearing his crucifix and was dismissed.’

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Law & Religion UK, 21st June 2022

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Windrush: only one in four applicants have received compensation – The Guardian

‘Only one in four applicants to the Windrush compensation scheme have received payments four years after the government promised redress for those wrongly classified by the Home Office as illegal immigrants.’

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The Guardian, 22nd June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Post Office IT scandal victims may be disqualified from compensation scheme – The Guardian

‘Scores of post office operators wrongly accused of embezzlement by the Post Office due to faulty accounting software, may be disqualified from a dedicated compensation scheme.’

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The Guardian, 21st June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

COVID-19 and return-to-work refusers – Local Government Lawyer

‘Adele Shortman analyses the first significant COVID dismissal case to be heard in the Employment Appeal Tribunal.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th June 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

What does UK law say about sexual harassment in the workplace? – OUP Blog

Posted May 26th, 2022 in employment, equality, harassment, news, vicarious liability by sally

‘An MP watching porn in the House of Commons and inappropriate comments made about the deputy leader of the Labour party’s legs: not even the place where our legislation is made appears to be immune from the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace.’

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OUP Blog, 25th May 2022

Source: blog.oup.com