Parental Bereavement Leave – What You Need to Know
In January 2020, the government confirmed that paid parental bereavement leave will be introduced for eligible employees on 6 April 2020. Here we look at the new entitlements, and discuss how employers can support staff going through a bereavement. Quite amazingly, there has been no legal obligation for employers to provide paid time off for grieving […]
Beware Bills for Balcony Repairs!
Having dealt with a number of queries involving balcony repairs in both tenements and flatted dwelling house complexes, it is useful to learn lessons from the experience of others. The recurring question of ownership was highlighted in a recent case, Speirs Gumley Property Management v- Lafferty. Factors for a development in Paisley carried out ‘necessary repairs’ […]
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace – EHRC Guidance
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published new guidance in relation to sexual harassment and harassment in the workplace. In this blog we will look at the guidance, and what it means for employers. The Equality Act 2010 prohibits discrimination and harassment because of, or related to, one or more of the nine protected characteristics […]
A Ferry Bad Approach to Redundancy
Last week we were all alarmed at the seemingly heartless way in which 800 staff were dismissed by P&O Ferries by way of a 3-minute long pre-recorded message. While redundancies and business restructures are unfortunately relatively common place, it was the lack of correct legal approach, together with the lack of civility which drew attention […]
Menopause in the workplace
Let’s pause and think about the menopause. As with many subjects which at one point seemed too “taboo” to discuss in the workplace, the menopause, and its symptoms, have started to shift the conversation in workplaces across the country. Managing the effects of the menopause at work is essential for both employers and their staff. […]
China’s Personal Information Protection Law: All You Need to Know
On 20 August 2021, China passed the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL). The new PIPL came into force on 01 November 2021 and has been described as one of the strictest data privacy laws in the world. While there are various requirements under the new PIPL, many articles are modelled on similar concepts as the […]
Government Consultation on Flexible Working
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will shortly be publishing its consultation on extending the right to request flexible working to all employees, removing the current requirement for 26 weeks’ service before doing so. This proposal was part of the Conservative party’s 2019 manifesto but the introduction of the “day one” right […]
Up to Date Equalities Training is Key
Many employers take steps to ensure that their staff undertake equality and diversity training within their organisations. Employers can also use this as a defence in any discrimination claims to say they have taken all “reasonable steps” to ensure that no discrimination takes place within their organisation. However, a recent case of Allay (UK) Ltd […]
Furlough to be Extended to March 2021
This lunchtime, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will remain open until 31 March 2021, which will allow employers to furlough employees until that point. For claim periods running to January 2021, employees will receive 80% of their usual salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of […]
New Reforms to Boost Hearing Capacity in Employment Tribunals
New reforms to boost hearing capacity in employment tribunals have been introduced at Westminster with the aim to hear more cases and allow for greater flexibility in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the changes being made will allow the judiciary the option of deploying non-employment judges into employment tribunals and will also allow […]
