Employment

Insecure workers face ‘triple whammy’ of a lack of sick pay, fewer rights and endemic low pay while also having to shoulder more risk of Covid-19 infection

TUC research reveals that insecure workers are nearly 10 times more likely to receive no sick pay compared to secure workers, while Covid-19 mortality rates are twice as high

Government issues new Treasury Direction in relation to extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to the end of September 2021

Direction sets out the scheme applying for the period beginning on 1 May 2021 and ending on 30 September 2021

Almost two-fifths of UK workers are given less than a week’s notice of working hours

Living Wage Foundation highlights that low-paid workers, particularly from BAME backgrounds and families, have been hard hit by short notice practices during the Covid-19 pandemic

Government launches consultation on making Covid vaccination a condition of work for some care home staff

Evidence sought on how the change for care homes with older adult residents in England could be implemented and whether respondents think it would be beneficial

Employment case law round up

New JobStart Scheme launched in Northern Ireland to fund work opportunities for 16 to 24 year olds

Scheme to provide employers with 100 percent of National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage for 25 hours a week on six or nine month placements

Presidential Guidance issued on hearing Employment Tribunal cases remotely ‘by default’ in 2021/2022

New 'road map' for the year also sets out staffing developments including a 'virtual region' that will bring together judges and lay members remotely to hear cases

Increase in banding rates for Employment Tribunal awards for injury to feelings

Joint Presidential Guidance increases banding for claims presented on or after 6 April 2021

Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland agrees 2021/2022 agricultural pay rates

New minimum rates to take effect from 1 April 2021

Delays and increasing backlogs in the Employment Tribunal risk undermining ‘fundamental aims’ of our justice system, Peers warn

Lords Constitution Committee says that considerable new effort and investment is required 'for justice to be done, and be seen to be done'

Employment case law round up

Supreme Court rules that Asda shopworkers are entitled to compare themselves with workers in distribution centres for purposes of equal pay claim

[2021] UKSC 10

Senior President of Tribunals issues Practice Direction authorising Employment Tribunal legal officers to carry out specified functions

However, authorised officers will still need to comply with Employment Presidents’ guidance and act under supervision of Employment Judges

TUC and employment rights lawyers warn of ‘huge gaps’ in law relating to use of artificial intelligence at work

Union calls for urgent legal reform in light of evidence that AI is now being used to make 'high-risk, life changing' decisions about workers' lives

Increase of limits applying in 2021/2022 to certain awards of employment tribunals and other sums payable under employment legislation in Northern Ireland

New statutory rule

Almost 11.5 million jobs have been furloughed since CJRS was introduced in March 2020

Total value of claims increases by almost £4 billion in the last month to stand at more than £57 billion

Consultation launched on National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates to apply from 2022

Low Pay Commission particularly interested in views on National Living Wage in light of government's target for rate to reach two-thirds of median earnings by 2024