Search Results for:

The Government is considering reform of the fit note system

1 January 2024

On 16 November 2023, the Government announced that it plans to consult on reform to the fit note system (sick notes). The announcement was made as part of the government’s launch of a new Back to Work plan for welfare reforms to support individuals with long-term health conditions, disabilities or long-term unemployment to look for […]

Legal support for litigants in person

27 December 2023

The Employment Tribunal system permits parties to represent themselves without the assistance of legal support. The system was expressly designed to be user-friendly back in the day when it was known as the Industrial Tribunal. Since then lawyers have rather taken over but that does not mean that it is not possible to represent yourself […]

Tribunal was wrong

25 December 2023

Social worker with anxiety was disabled & protected by the Equality Act provisions around disability Mrs Williams was a social worker for Newport City Council (Newport). She worked in a team that assessed prospective foster carers, and the Council’s assessment can be challenged in the family court. Mrs Williams did not usually attend court, but […]

So much more can be done to support new mothers at work

20 December 2023

The Fawcett Society, in collaboration with TotalJobs, has published an employer’s guide on supporting new mothers at work, which is part of the same series as its guide on fertility at work. Key findings include that, due to childcare pressures: The Fawcett Society’s recommendations for employers include (with didlaw comments in italics): There’s nothing new […]

Proposed reforms to Occupational Health at work

18 December 2023

On 20 July 2023, the Department for Work and Pensions launched a consultation on occupational health provision, Occupational Health: Working Better (Working Better consultation). The Working Better consultation focused on the role of the government, employers and occupational health (OH) providers in improving productivity and preventing ill-health related unemployment. Also on 20 July 2023, HMRC […]

Constructive dismissal – will a grievance affirm my contract?

15 December 2023

Not usually, no, said the Employment Appeal Tribunal in Brooks v Leisure Employment Services Ltd.  Why does it matter? It matters in the context of constructive dismissal. If you are alleging that you had no option but to resign your contract because your employer acted so egregiously as to make the ongoing contract impossible you […]

A settlement is a settlement! 

13 December 2023

Employment tribunal claims are usually settled by way of either a settlement agreement or a COT3 agreement. The latter is facilitated via Acas and often has more concise settlement terms. It is Acas that determines that a binding settlement has been reached and notifies the Tribunal that settlement has been reached. The premise of any settlement agreement is […]

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 […]