The Department for Work and Pensions` back-to-work schemes, criticised as "slavery" or "forced labour" by some opponents, were ruled lawful by the High Court this week. To help recipients back to work, individuals are required to participate in these schemes that involve them providing unpaid work. A failure to participate in the scheme can result in a loss of job seekers allowance. In R (on beh...
The Government`s Electronic Fit Note (eMed) began its roll out from July 2012 and is expected to be completed by early 2013. The eMed is a soft copy version of The Statement of Fitness for Work (Fit Note) to be used by GP practices....
Whilst much focus has been on 2012 and creating sporting history, the government has been tackling another challenge of Olympic proportions - reforming the heavily burdened tribunal system. Judging by the preparations under way, 2013 is looking to be a decisive year for changes that could see early conciliation come out on top....
A report published by the Higher Education Statistics Authority has shown that the number of graduates going into unpaid employment or voluntary work has increased by 23% in the past year, and more than tripled since 2003....
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has recently conducted an Employer`s Pension Provision survey. This tracks the number of people in workplace pensions. The survey has revealed that only a quarter of private sector workers are active members of their employers` pension schemes. However, it has also come to light that only three in ten private sector companies offer any pension provi...
Further to our blog on the government`s plans to block strike action by public sector workers on the eve of the Olympics, the strike has now been called off....
Few topics provoke more argument in the workplace than the question of how holiday requests are granted to accommodate a wide range of staff with differing child care or other family responsibilities. Is there a "holiday hogger" in your workplace? What about the school summer holidays? Employees are legally entitled to 5.6 weeks` paid annual leave. The process for granting annual leave requests...
The Court of Appeal has given a judgment in NHS Leeds-v- Larner, an important case on the law surrounding annual leave....
Greek triple jumper, Voula Papachristou, has been expelled by the Greek Olympic Committee from competing in London 2012 after tweeting a racist joke. Voula`s tweet: "With so many Africans in Greece, at least the West Nile mosquitoes will eat home made food!" has sparked outrage and huge criticism across the social media networks. Despite having issued a lengthy apology the Greek Olympic Comm...
In the case of Hospital Medical Group Ltd v Westwood, the Court of Appeal commented on how to decide whether an individual is a "worker" rather than a self-employed contractor....
The government is seeking an injunction to block strike action by thousands of public sector workers on the eve of the Olympics. The Home Office has said that it believes there were "procedural errors" in the PCS union ballot and that it will be requesting an injunction in the High Court today. If successful, the union would be obliged to re-ballot its members, delaying the strike....
The Prime Minister has recently pledged to "change the law" to allow people to wear religious symbols in the workplace in relation to a discussion regarding the case of Eweida v British Airways Plc [2009]. Nadia Eweida was a former British Airways (BA) employee. She was asked to go home by BA for wearing a visible crucifix around her neck in breach of the company`s dress code. She claimed relig...
The British Medical Association has announced that it is not planning any further industrial action at this stage. The BMA had encouraged NHS doctors to take industrial action on 21st June 2012 by stopping all non-urgent NHS patient care (as we reported on 30th May 2012). This was over concerns with the Government`s plans for doctors` pensions and an increase in their retirement age to...
The Supreme Court yesterday handed down judgment in R (Alvi) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] UKSC 33 and some commentators are already saying it could be one of the most important judgements on immigration in a decade. The Telegraph reported yesterday, Supreme Court delivers blow to the immigration rules, the Supreme court was unanimous in it decision that it was wrong to bar...
Can I make a pregnant employee or an employee on maternity leave redundant? When looking at selection criteria, do I have to ignore all the negatives associated with an employee because she is pregnant or on maternity leave? Do I have to prejudice others in a redundancy process because another employee in the pool is pregnant or on maternity leave? Does an employee on maternity leave have to...
This was the question that an Employment Appeal Tribunal recently had to consider in Quashie -v- Stringfellows Restaurants Ltd. Miss Quashi had been a lapdancer at a Stringfellows gentleman`s club, Angels, in London. She brought an unfair dismissal claim against Stringfellows, and for this needed to show that she was an employee. Miss Quashi had initially understood that she was self-em...
Mr Justice Underhill, the former President of the EAT, has proposed some fundamental changes to the existing Tribunal Rules, including: requiring an early paper sift of weak cases to ensure employment judges consider these earlier in the process and dismiss claims with no arguable complaint or response. This is something that has mooted for some time and would bring employment tribunal process...
The rise of social media as a prevalent tool for conducting business has led to issues such as if an employee leaves, can the employer stop them taking business relationships with them?...
The Ministry of Justice has announced the introduction of fees in employment tribunals, intended to take effect in Summer 2013. According to the press release, the aim is "to encourage businesses and workers to mediate or settle a dispute rather than go to a full hearing", as well as reduce taxpayer subsidy. Taxpayers currently meet the full cost of the system....
The Government has set a target that 25% of board members of FTSE 250 companies be women by the year 2015. The ‘30 per cent Club,` which works to increase the number of women in boardroom posts, has set that target at 30% (as reflected in the name!)....