Security guard sues Science Museum for allegedly denying suitable chair – The Guardian

‘A cancer survivor with chronic health problems is suing one of the UK’s most prestigious museums for discrimination for allegedly denying her a suitable chair to sit on when she is at work.’

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The Guardian, 17th November 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Splitting hairs: A review of the ‘related to’ test under section 26 Equality Act 2010 – Cloisters

‘In Finn v British Bung Manufacturing Company [2023] EAT 165, the EAT upheld an employment tribunal’s decision that calling a male colleague a ‘bald c**nt’ was harassment related to sex. The employer’s counterargument, that baldness is not an exclusively male characteristic, failed.’

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Cloisters, 8th October 2024

Source: www.cloisters.com

Employment law silks clash over impact of BSB equality duty – Legal Futures

Posted November 12th, 2024 in barristers, consultations, diversity, equality, news, standards by tracey

‘Two leading employment law silks have clashed over the new, proactive equality duty proposed by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).’

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Legal Futures, 12th November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Council worker who objected to pronouns policy ordered to pay £12k in costs after losing employment tribunal – Local Government Lawyer

‘A council worker who protested against his local authority employer’s pronouns policy has been ordered to pay £12,000 in costs after his claim of unfair dismissal was dismissed in the Employment Tribunal.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th November 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Disabled paralegal’s £41k damages over unfair law firm dismissal – Legal Futures

‘A paralegal has been awarded £41,000 in damages against a law firm that unfairly dismissed and discriminated against her because she could not work full-time due to disability.’

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Legal Futures, 11th November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Behind the Stained-Glass: institutional racism in the Church of England – Law & Religion UK

Posted November 8th, 2024 in Church of England, equality, news, racism, statistics by tracey

‘On 5 November, the Church of England published a report for the Archbishops’ Commission for Racial Justice, Behind the Stained-Glass: A Report on the Participation of UK Minoritised Ethnic People in the Ministry and Leadership of the Church of England.’

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Law & Religion UK, 6th November 2024

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Whistleblowing: Detriment and Dismissal Cases – Local Government Lawyer

‘In the second session of our Autumn/Winter Employment Series, Nick Bidnell-Edwards and Safia Tharoo provide a concise review of whistleblowing law for detriment and dismissal claims, including recent developments, followed by practical tips on how to bring and to defend the claims.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st November 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

When rules clash: faith, identity, and the Football Association – Law & Religion UK

Posted November 1st, 2024 in equality, human rights, Islam, islamic law, news, sport by sally

‘A Muslim football coach was prevented from playing in a match because she wears tracksuit bottoms rather than shorts: she says that wearing shorts compromises her religious beliefs.’

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Law & Religion UK, 31st October 2024

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Preventing sexual harassment in the workplace – how to prepare for the party season – Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog

‘It seems somewhat apt, then, that the mandatory duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace has come into force (the Preventative Duty)—just in time for this year’s Christmas parties. Employers have long been subject to a legal duty to provide a safe and supportive working environment for all staff but this new duty takes things further.’

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Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog, 30th October 2024

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

Bill seeks to improve UK workplace violence and harassment protections – OUT-LAW.com

Posted October 31st, 2024 in bills, employment, equality, harassment, health & safety, news, violence, women by michael

‘A bill which seeks to impose specific duties on employers to improve protections against violence and harassment, especially for women and girls, as part of their obligations to ensure workplace health safety and wellbeing is currently being considered by the UK parliament.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th October 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com%20

Disability-related absences and dismissal – Local Government Lawyer

‘Should dismissals for disability-related absences be pleaded as direct discrimination? Robin Pickard examines a recent Employment Appeal Tribunal case involving a local authority.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th October 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Council refused permission for appeal of tribunal order requiring it to publish redacted report – Local Government Lawyer

‘Havering Council has been refused permission to appeal a First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber) order that it publish a historic self-assessment peer review submitted as part of the Local Government Association’s Race Equality, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion (READI) review.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th October 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Man who lost home to coastal erosion loses court case against UK government – The Guardian

‘An East Anglian man who lost his home to coastal erosion has lost his high court challenge against the government’s climate adaptation plans.’

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The Guardian, 25th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

The price of discrimination: school ordered to pay £850,000 to an autistic teacher who it viewed as a ‘persistent complainer’ – Local Government Lawyer

‘Jo Moseley considers the lessons schools and colleges can learn from a recent tribunal decision which involved an autistic teacher who was dismissed after making a number of complaints about various aspects of his employment over a three year period.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 23rd October 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Veterans demand better payout for gay ban – BBC News

‘Veterans dismissed from the armed forces for being gay say the government is offering insufficient compensation. The total amount available has been capped at £50m and the National Audit Office says up to 4,000 are expected to be eligible, meaning an average payout of £12,500 each.’

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BBC News, 23rd October 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Unsuitable temporary accommodation and discrimination – Nearly Legal

‘Begum, R (On the Application Of) v London Borough of Tower Hamlets (2024) EWHC 2279 (Admin) – Ms Begum had applied as homeless to Tower Hamlets in 2001. She was given temporary accommodation in a studio flat. 5 months later her first child was born. In June 2022, she complained about the suitability of the studio, which at that time was still s.188 accommodation. In October 2022, Tower Hamlets accepted the full duty. An internal memo recorded that Ms B had requested a transfer due to overcrowding. By March 2023, Ms B was pregnant with her second child, with a due date in September 2023. Between May and July 2023 there was correspondence between Ms B’s solicitors and Tower Hamlets on the suitability of the accommodation. The present claim was issued and interim relief ordered in August 2023. Three days later, Tower Hamlets made an offer of accommodation which Ms B accepted.’

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Nearly Legal, 20th October 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Equality Act assessors and open advice – Nearly Legal

‘Laidley v Metropolitan Housing Trust Limited (2024) EWHC 2611 (Ch). This was the joined hearing of two appeals from a possession claim on grounds of anti social behaviour. Mr Laidley had an assured tenancy from Metropolitan from 2009. There had been complaints of anti social behaviour and Metropolitan brought possession proceedings.’

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Nearly Legal, 20th October 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Bailiff who took emotional support dog on jobs loses discrimination case – The Guardian

‘A bailiff who took her miniature Yorkshire terrier on debt collection jobs has lost her case for discrimination after being told she was not entitled to have an emotional support dog at work.’

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The Guardian, 18th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Anti-Zionism as a protected belief: final judgment in Miller v University of Bristol – Law & Religion UK

‘In February, we posted Anti-Zionism as a protected belief: Miller, which commented on the case of Dr David Miller v University of Bristol [2024] ET 1400780/2022. Dr Miller had been appointed Professor of Political Sociology at the University from 1 September 2018, but in 2019 there were complaints about his conduct, including what was said to be his use of antisemitic language. The Community Security Trust charity said that a lecture he had given had been a “false, vile, anti-Semitic slur”. The University appointed an independent barrister to investigate this as part of its internal complaints procedure, who concluded on 4 December 2020 that there was no formal case to answer in connection with any of the matters investigated.’

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Law & Religion UK, 16th October 2024

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

“Disruptive action” may be needed to improve diversity, LSB warns – Legal Futures

‘Bullying and harassment is not limited to the Bar and “disruptive action” may be needed to create a “fair, healthy, diverse and inclusive legal profession”, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 15th October 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk