Employment

Four in five workers on zero-hours contracts paid less than average hourly pay, reports TUC

The TUC also reports that around one in three workers on zero-hour contracts work less than 16 hours per week, and around two in five have no usual amount of weekly pay making budgeting and organising childcare difficult.

National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers v United Kingdom

[2014] ECHR 366

Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2014

New statutory instrument provides further detail of of the change to the levels of payments that eligible applicants will receive from the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme.

Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme Regulations 2014

New statutory instrument provides detail of how scheme for people who are unable to make claims against employer will operate.

Employment case law round up

Employment Tribunals (Early Conciliation: Exemptions & Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations

New regulations issued to make it clear that the satisfaction of the requirement for early conciliation must be achieved in relation to each prospective respondent against whom a prospective claimant is considering instituting relevant proceedings.

Resolution Foundation publishes report on zero hours contracts

'Zeroing in' makes number of recommendations based on view that use of zero hours contracts should be reformed to ensure that flexibility can be maintained and workers' rights strengthened to help eradicate misuse.

Employment Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014

New statutory rule makes provision in relation to blacklisting of trade union members that includes prohibiting compilation or use of blacklists; making it illegal to refuse employment to or dismiss blacklisted employee; and providing remedies in industrial tribunal and courts for those affected.

Glasgow City Council & Ors v Unison Claimants & Ors

[2014] CSIH 27

Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2014

New statutory instrument corrects drafting errors in Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/271).

Employment case law round up

Government’s uncoordinated, piece-meal approach to whistleblowing is ‘simply not good enough’

'Completely unacceptable' that almost two-thirds of those who speak out receive no response at all from their management, says Chair of the Committee on Public Accounts.

National Minimum Wage rise from October 2014

Budget 2014 confirms, at para 1.140, that, adult rate to increase by 3 per cent to £6.50, and youth and apprentice rates by 2 per cent.

Self-employed as likely to have debt problems as unemployed, says Citizens Advice

New statistics show that 33 per cent of self-employed people who came to Citizens Advice for help in last three months got advice on debt problems, the same proportion as those who are unemployed.

Employment case law round up

Consultation on zero hours contracts receives more than 30,000 responses

Commenting on consultation, which closed on 15 March, Vince Cable says that government wants to 'make sure that people are getting a fair deal.'

Children and Families Act 2014

New legislation that, amongst other measures, provides for changes in relation to shared parental leave, statutory shared parental pay, and the right to request flexible working.