Acas has published guidance that provides an overview of the statutory right to carer’s leave, which came into force on 6th April 2024. The guidance includes helpful examples of how employees with different working patterns may choose to take leave and a table confirming how much notice should be provided. Anyone legally classed as an…
Flexible working: new Acas guidance to support changes from 6th April 2024
On 6th April 2024, when changes to the statutory right to request flexible working came into force, Acas published new guidance which provides practical examples for employers and employees on flexible working requests. What does it say? Benefits of flexible working Flexible working can benefit both employees and employers. For employees, it can help: balance…
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Government’s Inclusion at Work Panel (The Panel) publishes its first report
The recommendations for improving diversity and inclusion (D&I) practices in the workplace include: Framework The Government endorses a new framework that sets out criteria employers might apply to their D&I practice, embedding effectiveness and value for money. The framework should act as a set of conditions and expectations employers should strive to meet to embed…
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Manchester United sued for data breach following disclosure of employee pay information
Manchester United is currently facing legal action owing to a data breach that occurred in 2018. The breach involved accidentally transmitting a file containing personal information, including names, addresses, earnings details, and national insurance numbers, of 167 employees to a casual catering and hospitality staff group. The affected employees are now seeking compensation and are…
Boots to stop hybrid working
Boots has decided to end its hybrid working policy and require all office employees to work full-time in the office. Previously, employees were allowed to work remotely two days a week but starting on 1st September 2024 they will be expected to be in the office daily. Boots UK’s Managing Director, Seb James, believes this…
New Equality laws?
The Labour Party has announced that it will propose significant changes to discrimination laws if it wins the next general election. While the exact wording of the proposed legislation has not been published, several press publications have indicated what it may include. Extend equal pay Extend equal pay protections under the Equality Act 2010 to…
Seven ways to create a neuroinclusive business
On 20th February 2024, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) published a guide on neuroinclusion at work. Here are its key principles: Principle one: Understand where you are now and commit to a long-term action plan. Regardless of your organisation’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), there may be some way to…
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Will Employment Tribunal fees return before Christmas?
On 29th January 2024, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) launched a consultation on re-introducing fees for employment tribunal claims and appeals to the EAT. What happened last time? Employment Tribunal (ET) fees were introduced in July 2013. Type A claims (simpler disputes such as unpaid holiday pay) attracted a total cost of £390, and Type…
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£340,000 for being called ‘a pensioner’
A tribunal has awarded £340,000 to an employee who was labelled ‘a pensioner’ because of his age and placed ‘in the relegation zone’. What happened? Mr Gregory (G) began working for PetroTrace Ltd (P) as a project geophysicist in September 2017. He was in his late 50s. P is owned by Mr Baranksy (Ba) and…
Menopause guidance for employers
On 22nd February 2024, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published employer guidance on menopause in the workplace. The guidance explains: Menopause and perimenopause Menopause is when a woman’s periods stop owing to lower hormone levels. It usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55, but can be earlier or later. It can…
New employment legislation to come into effect on 6th April 2024
Paternity leave changes The main changes to statutory paternity leave are: New flexibility is being introduced, allowing employees to take two separate one-week blocks of leave rather than having to take a single period of one or two weeks’ paternity leave. Employees will be entitled to take paternity leave at any time in the first…
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£470,000 awarded to employee sacked for using the ‘N-word’
An employment tribunal (‘ET’) decided at a liability hearing that a manager, Mr Borg-Neal, who used an offensive racial term in a race awareness training session, was unfairly dismissed and subjected to discrimination because of something arising from his disability (dyslexia). We discussed the reasons for the decision and what we can learn from it…
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