Author: Thomas Bennett

Since Saturday 26th October 2024, employers have been obliged to take reasonable steps to prevent the sexual harassment of their employees in the course of their employment. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has prepared a checklist and action plan to help employers create a safer working environment and comply with their legal obligations under…

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The Employment Rights Bill, introduced to Parliament on Thursday 10th October 2024, is the government’s first phase of achieving the Plan to Make Work Pay. It has published a set of factsheets to help people understand the measures within the bill.  So, what does it say about its plans to provide day-one protection from unfair…

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The Information Commissioner’s Office has published a list of key considerations for employers who are thinking of procuring an AI tool for recruitment. What are they? Risk assessment: Assess the necessity of using AI, complete a data protection impact assessment to identify and mitigate risks, and consult affected groups. Explain: Explain AI decisions clearly and…

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In the Employment Rights Bill, the government plans to ‘end unscrupulous fire and rehire and fire and replace’ practices by considering any dismissals for failing to agree to a change in the contract as automatically unfair, except where businesses genuinely have no alternative.   What does this mean? The government’s factsheet on the topic says:…

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1 Unfair Dismissal Change Clause 19 removes the two-year qualifying period for claiming unfair dismissal, making it a right from day one of employment.  The government will consult on a new statutory probationary period, with its preference being nine months. Action Monitor probationary periods Begin planning to monitor and evaluate your employees more rigorously during…

[ READ MORE ] from 10 Ways You Should Prepare for the Employment Rights Bill

From Saturday 26th October 2024, employers are under a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent the sexual harassment of their employees in the course of their employment. An employer is unlikely to be able to comply with the preventative duty unless it completes a risk assessment to identify risks and the control measures required…

[ READ MORE ] from How do you do a sexual harassment risk assessment?

Today (Thursday 10th October) the Government published the draft Employment Rights Bill. It is claimed to be ‘the biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation’ and stems from one of Labour’s key manifesto commitments. So what are the highlights? Employers will have a legal duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual…

[ READ MORE ] from Newsflash – Employment Rights Bill

The government has confirmed its plans to bring the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 into force on Saturday 26th October 2024.  The Act will require employers to take ‘reasonable steps’ to protect employees from sexual harassment in the course of their employment. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) will be…

[ READ MORE ] from Eight ways to comply with the employer’s new duty to prevent sexual harassment of employees.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published a guide to help employers support disabled workers’ full participation in hybrid working. The guide provides practical tips, conversation prompts, questions, and case study examples.  It covers recruitment and employment. What does the law say about reasonable adjustments in employment? The Equality Act 2010 recognises that achieving…

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The Labour government has made comprehensive proposals to enhance workers’ rights.  The aim is to create a fairer and more inclusive working environment. Here is a summary: Artificial intelligence Labour plans to introduce regulations to protect workers from the potential negative effects of artificial intelligence in the workplace.  This includes ensuring that AI systems are…

[ READ MORE ] from How will the Labour government reform employment law?

We will likely see increased claims, adding to the backlog already within the system.  In 2023/24, open employment tribunal cases increased by 3% to 653,000. Solutions Labour’s primary solution to combat the strain appears to be digitising claims. However, the Conservatives already modernised and digitised the tribunal process by introducing the ‘MyHMCTS’ system for submitting…

[ READ MORE ] from Will employment tribunals cope with the Labour government’s transformational reforms?

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has updated its guidance on adverts.  What does it say? What is a discriminatory advert? A discriminatory advert restricts jobs, goods, facilities, or services to people with particular protected characteristics, such as men or people of a particular age group.  It is unlawful except in limited circumstances where…

[ READ MORE ] from How can you avoid placing discriminatory adverts?