Office romances: is love in the air in your workplace this Valentine’s Day?
“Love is in the air, everywhere I look around”! As two employees’ eyes meet across an open plan office, sparks […]
Helena Rozman
Full bioZero-hours contracts: "flexibility" is not a draw for the majority of workers
A report recently undertaken by three labour market economists has found that 44% of workers on zero-hours contracts would like more working hours. In addition, and in contrast to the "flexibility" argument often put forward in support of the use of zero-hours contracts, only 28% of those surveyed saw flexibility as the basis for entering into one.
Sex discrimination case flushed out of the Tribunal system with a £25,000 settlement
A female council worker has settled her sex discrimination claim for £25,000. She was instructed to go to a different office, ahead of an inspector's visit, to clean the kitchen and the toilets. She was told the toilets "needed a woman's touch" despite the fact that cleaning was not within her job description.
Pay gap between younger and older workers
The pay gap between the under-30s and over-30s has risen by more than half in the last 20 years, as younger workers are still enduring the residual effects of the financial crisis.
How will Brexit affect EU workers?
As negotiations rumble on, Helena Rozman outlines the current position for EU nationals in the UK. Read the article here […]
Failing to report gender pay gap
“Let me be very very clear: failing to report is breaking the law. We have the powers to enforce against companies who are in breach of these regulations. We take this enormously seriously. We have been very clear that we will be coming after 100% of companies that do not comply.”
Apprenticeship levy in numbers
Recently released statistics indicate that the apprenticeship levy introduced by the government in April 2017 needs a radical rethink.
Uber loses appeal on worker status
In the continuing worker status saga, Uber's recent appeal against the Tribunal ruling that its drivers are workers, rather than self-employed individuals, has been dismissed by the EAT.
Greek government's imposition of height restrictions on its police force falls short of equal treatment
In the recent case of Ypourgos Ethnikis Pedias kai Thriskevmaton v. Kalliri, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) held that the requirement for candidates for the Greek police academy to be at least 170cm tall amounted to indirect sex discrimination which could not be objectively justified.
Supreme Court rules that embassy staff are not excluded by state immunity
In the recent case of Benkharbouche v. Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs & Anor the Supreme Court agreed with the EAT and the Court of Appeal and unanimously held that sections 4(2)(b) and 16(1)(a) of the State Immunity Act 1978 (SIA) cannot protect embassies from Employment Tribunal claims brought by domestic staff in the UK.
Court of appeal rules that gender segregation at school amounts to unlawful discrimination
In the recent case of HMCI v. The Interim Executive Board of Al-Hijrah School, the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court's finding that a school's complete gender segregation of pupils from year five onwards was not direct sex discrimination.
Parental bereavement leave bill published by the government
On 13 October 2017, the government published the Parental Bereavement (Pay and Leave) Bill. This will offer two weeks' paid leave to any employed parent who loses a child under the age of 18.