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Pregnancy discrimination in the workplace: Burns V Tralee Ltd

20 July 2022

In the case of Burns v Tralee Ltd, an Employment Tribunal was asked to determine whether the claimant had experienced pregnancy discrimination in the workplace by her employer. In a judgment that reads as a salutary lesson for employers in how not to treat pregnant women, the Employment Tribunal found in the claimant’s favour. Background […]

A legal maximum working temperature

18 July 2022

As the climate crisis continues its dangerous trajectory, the UK is again facing a heatwave and anticipating record-breaking temperatures. Across the country, fans will be turning, ice lollies dripping, while the Daily Mail is recommending that people lick their wrists to keep cool. A question that often gets raised in the summer is: what is […]

Failure to make reasonable adjustments case study:

15 July 2022

Will a failure to make reasonable adjustments leading up to the dismissal of disabled employee make their dismissal unfair? A failure to make reasonable adjustments leading up to the dismissal of a disabled employee will not necessarily make their dismissal unfair. The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) decided this in Knightley v Chelsea Westminster Hospital NHS […]

Ethical veganism – not a protected philosophical belief. Free Miles v RVC:

13 July 2022

An Employment Tribunal has found that ethical veganism encompassing an obligation to break the law to relieve animal suffering did not amount to a philosophical belief under section 10 of the Equality Act 2010. The Claimant, Shakira Free Miles, was a veterinary nurse for the Respondent, the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). Ms Free Miles was […]

Unfair dismissal – Kong appeal for whistleblowing is rejected

8 July 2022

The Court of Appeal has dismissed Ms Kong’s unfair dismissal appeal as a result of making protected disclosures. The facts of the case are as follows: the Appellant was employed as Head of Financial Audit for the Respondent’s bank.  She had worked there for over eight years and had unblemished service.  As Head of Financial […]

A look at the overturning of Roe v Wade

8 July 2022

Today, we take a look at the recent overturning of Roe v Wade and what it means for us. When I was studying for my American Law masters in order to be able to take the Massachusetts Bar and practise as an attorney, one of the seminal decisions we studied in US constitutional law was […]

Range of healthcare professionals able to issue doctors fit notes

6 July 2022

Newly introduced regulations will aim to combat the strain on GPs by allowing a wider range of healthcare professionals to certify doctors fit notes for sickness absence. The purpose of fit notes Fit notes are generally required by an individual in order to claim Statutory Sick Pay (‘SSP’) when they are unwell and unable to […]

Tribunal finds long Covid symptoms met disabled person definition

4 July 2022

In Burke v Turning Point Scotland, an employment tribunal found that an employee suffering from symptoms of long COVID met the disabled person definition under section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 and will therefore be allowed to bring a claim of disability discrimination in relation to his unfair dismissal. FACTS Prior to his unfair […]

Individual risk assessments for pregnant workers and new mothers

1 July 2022

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has updated its guidance to make it clear that employers must carry out individual risk assessments for pregnant workers and new mothers. The previous guidance was said by many to be confusing, with many employers unsure of their obligations. Pregnant women and new mothers often report feeling overlooked and […]