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.
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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.
Safeguarding the status of EU citizens: UK and EU negotiation update
The EU and UK have concluded their fifth round of negotiations. Progress has been made on coming to an agreement in relation to the rights of EU citizens living in the UK. Some points are still to be negotiated.
Have your say on the future of the UK immigration system
As highlighted in our September Round-Up, we are participating in the call for evidence of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).
Worker status
Following last years Employment Tribunal decision that Uber drivers were workers rather than self-employed, Uber’s appeal hearing at the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) concluded today.
Choice words
The case of Ms Carolina Gomes v. Henworth Limited t/a Winkworth Estate Agents & anor. serves as a useful reminder to be careful when selecting your choice of words when talking to employees.
Check the holiday calendar!
Failure to correctly plan pilots’ holidays will result in Ryanair cancelling hundreds of flights over the next six weeks.
EAT finds that Asda retail store workers are comparable to higher paid distribution workers
The EAT upheld the previous Tribunal ruling that female employees who work in Asda’s retail stores are entitled to compare their work to that of the higher paid male employees that work in its distribution centres. The EAT agreed that the value of work between these two groups of staff is of equal value and, therefore, that their pay should be comparable.
GDPR: time to start thinking about the new rules coming into force from 2018
The EU’s General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) will apply in the UK from 25 May next year. With increasingly tighter requirements around how employers must maintain and process personal data, and with the number of fines issued for breaches of UK data protection laws on the increase, many employers are already looking to employ permanent staff dedicated to ensure compliance with the new rules.