News & Legal Updates

ny employers have detailed policies and procedures setting down the ground rules in respect of the interplay between alcohol (and usually drugs too) at work. In Krolik v Youngs Seafood Limited, Ms Krolik (the claimant) raised an employment tribunal claim against her former employer. 

Mr Seccombe was a Supply Chain Manager employed for around one and a half years between 2016 and 2018. He was ultimately dismissed for performance-related reasons. Mr Seccombe claimed he was disabled by reason of his severe anxiety and depression. His employer denied Mr Seccombe was disabled and, even if he was, they had no knowledge it...

What is a grievance? What is the point of a grievance? My go-to strategy when a colleague moans to me about someone or something that has happened to them, after initial sympathy of course, is to advise “why don’t you lodge a grievance then”? Often this suggestion is met with a quizzical look...

When Dr Katie Lidster went on maternity leave, she had worked for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) for 7 years. Her daughter was born two months early by caesarean section and was in neonatal care for 53 days. Dr Lidster was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder but felt well enough 7 months after the birth to contact UKRI to discuss her return to work...

Imagine the following scenario: A small employer drafts an equal opportunities policy as well as a bullying and harassment policy. The employees are all given equality and diversity training. An ex-employee, who has been dismissed on performance grounds, lodges a complaint with the Managing Director, followed by an employment tribunal claim of harassment...

The Euro 2021 Final was highly anticipated amongst England fans. If you did not watch the game, England lost on penalties. Football did not come home, instead it went to Rome. Disappointingly, the backlash on social media from some individuals has focussed on the race of the three England players (since dubbed “The Three Lions”) who missed their penalties. One employee of Savills appears to have used a racial slur in relation to The Three Lions. He claims his account was hacked. Savills have suspended him and have since confirmed they are committed to eliminating discrimination and are carrying out a full investigation...

I’ll give you three guesses as to which of the many employment claims, that can be made to the employment tribunals, is on the rise. That’s right. Public Interest Disclosure, or whistleblowing, claims. And the apparent reason for this? Covid-19.

It is hard to believe that the pandemic still takes hold. If you had asked me in March 2020 when the pandemic would end, I would have said Christmas. How wrong was I – and quite possibly most of you?! Even in 2021, the terms ‘social distancing’, ‘face coverings’ and ‘furlough’ are still very much … Continue reading "ATTENTION EMPLOYERS – the furlough scheme is changing again!"

In Gibson v Lothian Leisure, an employee was unfairly dismissed after being selected for redundancy having raised health and safety concerns.

We are all familiar with The Apprentice: the cut-throat popular television programme whereby budding entrepreneurs ruthlessly compete to secure investment from Lord Sugar. The Apprentice is, in my view, synonymous with Lord Sugar pointing his finger at a candidate and saying the infamous words ‘you’re fired’.