Employment news and case law

12 June, 2020

Court of Appeal considers whether ET properly assessed sex discrimination claim against BBC from male freelance journalist following unsuccessful interview

[2020] EWCA Civ 733

11 June, 2020 Open access

Charity takes first step towards legal action against discriminatory nature of Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

Pre-action protocol letter sent to the Chancellor argues that scheme has a disproportionately negative impact on vulnerable new mothers

11 June, 2020

Employment Tribunal receipts, disposals and caseload outstanding continue to exceed levels seen in previous year

New MoJ statistics also show that number of cases outstanding has almost reached the peak seen in 2009, while cases are taking an average of 5 weeks longer to be disposed of

10 June, 2020 Open access

Government announces that parents returning to work after extended leave will be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Change will apply to people on statutory maternity and paternity leave, and to those on adoption leave, shared parental leave, and parental bereavement leave.

10 June, 2020 Open access

Almost £20bn of claims have been made in respect of furloughed workers ahead of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme closing to new applicants

New 'management information' also highlights that more than 2.5m claims have been made to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

10 June, 2020

Government launches review of employment rights for survivors of domestic abuse

Views sought on availability of current rights, such as flexible working and unplanned leave, and on how employers can help tackle economic abuse of survivors

8 June, 2020

Employment case law round up

3 June, 2020 Open access

Lower-paid workers need a post-pandemic settlement based on ‘more respect, higher pay, and better conditions at work’, says Resolution Foundation

New report includes calls for improved enforcement of labour market rules and greater control over working hours and pay intervals

1 June, 2020 Open access

Government launches consultation on HMRC powers to recover payments made under the Coronavirus Job Retention and Self-Employment Income Support schemes

Proposed new legislation will also provide HMRC with powers to charge a penalty where it can demonstrate deliberate non-compliance on the part of the recipient

1 June, 2020

Employment case law round up

27 May, 2020

Gender employment gap in Scotland fell by almost 2 per cent between 2009 and 2019

New statistics also show that disability employment gap for 2019 fell by almost 3 per cent from previous year

26 May, 2020

Employment case law round up

22 May, 2020

Northern Ireland Executive announces proposals for parental bereavement leave and pay

Workers who suffer the loss of a child will have a statutory entitlement to two weeks’ leave and, in most cases, a statutory payment, says Minister

18 May, 2020

Court of Appeal considers whether an Employment Tribunal made error of law in refusing disabled claimant’s adjournment request in order to seek further medical evidence

[2020] EWCA Civ 638

18 May, 2020 Open access

Lowest-paid employees are ‘bearing the brunt’ of coronavirus economic crisis, with almost a third having either been furloughed or lost jobs

New Resolution Foundation report on impacts of coronavirus on the labour market also finds nearly half of self-employed workers are not intending to take up government support scheme

18 May, 2020

Employment

Employment case law round up

Court of Appeal considers whether ET properly assessed sex discrimination claim against BBC from male freelance journalist following unsuccessful interview

Charity takes first step towards legal action against discriminatory nature of Self-Employment Income Support Scheme

Employment Tribunal receipts, disposals and caseload outstanding continue to exceed levels seen in previous year

Government announces that parents returning to work after extended leave will be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Almost £20bn of claims have been made in respect of furloughed workers ahead of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme closing to new applicants

Government launches review of employment rights for survivors of domestic abuse

Views sought on availability of current rights, such as flexible working and unplanned leave, and on how employers can help tackle economic abuse of survivors

Employment case law round up

Lower-paid workers need a post-pandemic settlement based on ‘more respect, higher pay, and better conditions at work’, says Resolution Foundation

Government launches consultation on HMRC powers to recover payments made under the Coronavirus Job Retention and Self-Employment Income Support schemes

Employment case law round up

Gender employment gap in Scotland fell by almost 2 per cent between 2009 and 2019

Employment case law round up

Northern Ireland Executive announces proposals for parental bereavement leave and pay

Court of Appeal considers whether an Employment Tribunal made error of law in refusing disabled claimant’s adjournment request in order to seek further medical evidence

Lowest-paid employees are ‘bearing the brunt’ of coronavirus economic crisis, with almost a third having either been furloughed or lost jobs

Employment case law round up

Third of UK workforce are in ‘key worker’ occupations for purposes of accessing childcare during coronavirus lockdown

Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland agrees 2020/2021 agricultural pay rates