Employment

ACAS reports continuing high demand for its conciliation service since the removal of tribunal fees

Number of cases relating to an Employment Tribunal claim increased by 40 per cent over the last year

Employment (Minimum Hours) Bill receives first reading in the House of Commons

Bill requires employers to offer workers on zero hours contracts the option of guaranteed minimum hours

Flexible Working Bill receives first reading in the House of Commons

Bill requires employers to offer flexible working in employment contracts and to advertise vacancies as suitable for flexible working unless certain conditions are met

Government launches consultation on establishing a single enforcement body for employment rights

Proposed powers of new body include enforcement of minimum wage and holiday payments

Employment case law round up

Government launches consultation on strengthening Equality Act protections against third party harassment at work

Evidence sought on whether current laws on protecting people from sexual harassment in the workplace are effective

20 per cent of self-employed sole traders don’t survive one year, and 60 per cent don’t survive five

New IFS research finds that most self-employed businesses fail quickly and very few go on to make significant investments or employ others

Employment case law round up

Court of Appeal considers method for assessing 'particular disadvantage' under section 69 of the Equality Act 2010 in equal pay claim

[2019] EWCA Civ 1112

Employment case law round up

Gig economy workforce has doubled since 2016, says TUC

Results of survey also include that nearly two-thirds of people undertaking 'platform work' are aged between 16 and 34

Court of Appeal considers whether police officer was discriminated against because of a perceived disability

[2019] EWCA Civ 1061

Employment case law round up

Employer has no enforceable obligation to re-engage unfairly dismissed employee when ordered to do so by Employment Tribunal

[2019] EWCA Civ 1060

No workplace discrimination cases received legal aid funding between 2013/2014 and 2017/2018

EHRC highlights that discrimination claims may seek resolutions other than damages and calls for changes to guidance on how funding is granted

Court of Appeal considers provisions on inducements to avoid collective bargaining under Trade Union and Labour Relations Consolidation Act 1992

[2019] EWCA Civ 1009

Bill to extend entitlement to parental leave receives first reading in the Commons

Parents of babies born prematurely or requiring neonatal care would be covered under proposed reforms