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Are laws changing regarding businesses having to carry out greater checks on those providing services to them via umbrella companies? One of the outcomes of the recent Autumn Budget 2025 was the government confirming that from 6 April 2026, all end clients taking on workers via umbrella companies m…
Read moreOn 4 November 2025, new regulations came into force extending the ACAS early conciliation period from six weeks to 12 weeks. The reason for this is to reduce the strain on ACAS, which currently has a substantial backlog of cases. The new rules apply a maximum early conciliation period, but claims w…
Read moreThe Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its annual statistics for 2024/25. Although the number of fatalities was slightly lower than last year, alarmingly, mental health-related conditions dominate the report. The report serves as a reminder that workplace safety remains a critical issue…
Read moreThe Government announced on 26 November 2025 that it has accepted the Low Pay Commission's recommendations for the NLW and NMW. Rate Category 2025–26 2026–27 Change National Living Wage (Age 21+) £12.21 £12.71 4.1% increase (£0.50) NMW Age 18–20 £10.00 £10.85 8.5% incre…
Read moreEmployers are required by law to safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of their staff. This includes both physical and mental health. Physical health concerns are usually more visible and readily detectable, whereas mental health issues are far more difficult to identify. This is partly due to…
Read moreCan an employee in the near vicinity of office banter complain that such workplace banter is creating an offensive environment, even if the employee is not a participant in, or the subject of, such banter? The Employment Tribunal (ET) decision in the case of Mr M Davies v White Doves Ga…
Read moreIn the case of Platukyte v Secretary of State for Justice, the Employment Tribunal has now recognised menopause as a disability. In this case, the employee worked for the Ministry of Justice as an administrator. Her menstrual cycle caused her to suffer very painful and debilitating symptoms, includ…
Read moreDiscover how flawed disciplinary procedures can result in unfair dismissal claims and learn what steps employers should take to ensure a fair and compliant process.
Read moreDoes sexual harassment only have to take place in the course of employment for an employer to be liable for their employee’s inappropriate behaviour? From 26 October 2024, a new statutory duty under the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023(1) came into effect, whereby employe…
Read moreThe Health and Safety Executive recently published statistics which indicate that falls from heights were the most common work-related accident leading to fatalities. During 2023/2024, 50 deaths were directly attributable to falls from height. Falls can occur roofs, ladders, scaffolding and other mo…
Read moreCan employers rely on blanket non-disclosure clauses to prevent an employee disclosing serious wrongdoings? Under reforms to be introduced by the Employment Rights Bill (ERB), any agreement, including settlement agreements, between an employer and a worker which would prevent a worker…
Read moreA recent Employment Tribunal case serves as a reminder that seemingly minor workplace issues in isolation can add up to significant legal risks if they undermine the trust between employer and employee. In Mr N Walker v Robsons (Rickmansworth) Ltd, the Tribunal upheld a claim of constructive unfair…
Read moreUnder regulation 3(3)(a)(i) of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE), for TUPE to apply to a service provision change, there must be an organised grouping of staff existing prior to the change whose principal purpose is to carry out activities on behalf of t…
Read moreThe Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and various Regulations made under it require employers to safeguard the health, safety, and wellbeing of their staff. Historically, the legislation and people’s general perception was that these duties applied to their physical safety. However, with education,…
Read moreEmployers should be mindful of harassment in the workplace. This can occur when an employee or worker is exposed to unwanted conduct by fellow employees or workers. The purpose of such action is to violate their dignity and create a degrading, hostile, intimidating, and offensive environment. The Em…
Read moreEmployers should be aware of the risk of damages due to disability discrimination. The Employment Appeal Tribunal has awarded a former employee £1.2 million in damages in the case Wainwright v Cennox Plc. The action was based on discrimination and constructive dismissal. The Employment Appeal Tribu…
Read moreHow thorough should a sexual harassment investigation be when an allegation of sexual harassment is made by an employee against another employee? Employers can be vicariously liable for sexual harassment committed by their employees in the course of their employment, and from 26 October 2024 all em…
Read moreA recent Court of Appeal case ruled that an employee was unlawfully discriminated against on the grounds of her race, after the employer transferred her to another job and subjected her to baseless disciplinary action – Leicester City Council v Parmar. Mrs Parmar (P), of Indian origin, worked for t…
Read moreIn the case of BCA Logistics Ltd v Parker & Ors, the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal both held that drivers in a company with no legitimate right of substitution were not self-employed but classed as workers. In this case, both the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Ap…
Read moreChanges to Flexible Working Rights The Employment Rights Act 1996 allows employees to make an application for flexible working. A flexible working request is a request by an employee to change their contractual hours of employment or place of work. From 6 April 2024, all employees have had the sta…
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