November 2023 - Didlaw

Sexual harassment, again

22 November 2023

The case of Rebecca Kalam against West Midlands Police is a stark and horrifying example of sex discrimination, sexual harassment and discrimination. The behaviours that Ms Kalam was subjected to during her time with the Firearms Operation Unit saw her medically retire in July 2023. Ms Kalam worked for the Unit from 2008 to 2012 […]

Holiday pay claims made a bit easier by the Supreme Court

20 November 2023

Entitlement to holiday is governed by the Working Time Regulations 1998, where workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday each year. This is comprised of statutory leave of four weeks’ paid holiday (derived from EU law) and 1.6 weeks of additional leave (derived from UK law). Statutory leave can be paid at basic pay, but additional […]

Protected characteristics – always a balancing act

15 November 2023

We have seen increasing numbers of clients come to us having been diagnosed with ADHD/ASD in later life. It can be a real struggle getting employers to understand how neurodivergence impacts an individual and to get reasonable adjustments implemented. This can be particularly tricky if someone has been managing their work adequately for some time […]

Remote working tribunal claims increase by 50% from 2021 to 2022

13 November 2023

An analysis of 2021 and 2022 data by HR consultancy Hamilton Nash reveals that employment tribunal claims concerning remote working increased by 50% in that period. The data indicates a rise from 27 claims in 2021 to 42 claims in 2022. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic-driven shift towards remote and flexible work arrangements, there were […]

Heat of the moment resignation – is it a real resignation?

10 November 2023

We have all heard of people who resign in the heat of the moment – where an employee says things they may later regret when it comes to resigning from their job. The case of Omar v Epping Forest District Citizens Advice saw the EAT explore the current legal position surrounding the retraction of a […]

Sexual harassment at work – new law

3 November 2023

The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 has received Royal Assent. Sadly it won’t come into force until October 2024. This is an important development in the protection against sexual harassment at work. It will place employers under a statutory (legal) duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment at […]

Is it OK to start a romantic relationship with a work colleague?

1 November 2023

Yes, if it’s consensual and not banned under your workplace rules. Time to check? I had to chuckle when reading Rod Liddle’s piece in The Sunday Times last weekend on relationships at work and whether this might have unintended consequences for humanity. After all, before Swipe Right it used to be the case that many […]