Fathers and the Workplace

The Women and Equalities Committee has published a report highlighting what it sees as the difficulties that fathers face in balancing their careers with childcare responsibilities. The report makes a series of proposals which aim to put men and women on a more equal footing when it comes to maternity and paternity leave. The most headline grabbing recommendation is that fathers should receive one month’s leave at 90% of their salary (capped for higher earners) when their wife or partner has a baby and a further two months of paternity leave at £141 a week, without any loss of rights for the mother.

By Mark Hamilton

'Egregiously unfair' dismissal costs employer £30,000

The employer, Michelin, dismissed their employee who was signed off with stress.

By Victoria Albon

Sex discrimination law review final report

2018 is a momentous year, in that it marks 100 years since British women were given the right to vote. […]

By Alison Weatherhead

Discrimination

Disability – what do you know?

The Court of Appeal has handed down its decision in Donelien v. Liberata UK Ltd (see here) and provided reassurance to employers that they can rely on occupation health advisers in deciding the question of disability. However, this is subject to employers making their own enquiries also.

By Verity Buckingham

Stretched resources – immigration and gender pay

Two stories have made the headlines today, and both relate to stretched resources. The stories look at preparing the UK immigration system for after Brexit, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) enforcing employers to publish gender pay gap information.

By Verity Buckingham

Apprenticeships

How are companies coping with the apprenticeship levy?

Take a look at our article for People Management by clicking here.

By Verity Buckingham

IFS report: Part-time work is playing a major role in the gender pay gap

The latest report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has highlighted the prevalence of part-time working among women, and particularly mothers, as contributing significantly to the gender pay gap, which although down from 30 per cent from the early 90s still stands at around 20 per cent.

By UK People Reward and Mobility Team

Termination

Summary Dismissal – Calculating the Effective Date of Termination

In the recent case of Cosmeceuticals Ltd v. Parkin it was held that the effective date of termination (EDT) is not moved if notice is subsequently given following an earlier summary dismissal.

By UK People Reward and Mobility Team

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship levy in numbers

Recently released statistics indicate that the apprenticeship levy introduced by the government in April 2017 needs a radical rethink.

By Helena Rozman

Termination

Watch out for 'post employment notice pay'

At the moment contractual payments in lieu of notice are subject to tax and NIC deductions. In the absence of a contractual right to make a payment in lieu of notice, such a payment is generally regarded as damages for breach of contract, and can be paid without deduction of tax up to the £30,000 threshold.

By Claire Maclean

Data protection

Surveillance at work

The European Court of Human Rights has found that the covert surveillance of an employee at his or her workplace must be considered to be a considerable intrusion into his or her private life. It entails a recorded and reproducible documentation of a person’s conduct at his or her workplace, which he or she, being obliged under the employment contract to perform the work in that place, cannot evade.

By Claire Maclean