Workers are protected by whistleblowing legislation if they make a disclosure in the reasonable belief that it is in the public interest. In Underwood v Wincanton plc, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) confirmed that an employee can be protected under the whistleblowing rules for raising a contractual matter that affects only a small group of […]
Since a new Employment Tribunal fees structure was put in place in July 2013, there has been a 67% drop in claims in UK Employment Tribunals, with an even bigger drop in sex discrimination claims. A government review of this is underway and a report is expected in the next few months.
1. From 1 October, the National Minimum Wage (NMW) hourly rates increased: Standard adult (workers aged 21 and over): GBP 6.70; Youth development (workers aged 18-20): GBP 5.30; Young workers (workers aged 16-17): GBP 3.87. Of greater significance for employers, however, is the introduction of the National Living Wage (NLW) in April 2016 of GBP […]
1. The way in which entitlement to annual leave is calculated under UK law is currently under scrutiny in the European Court of Justice in Kathleen Greenfield v The Care Bureau Ltd (Case C-219/14). Judgment is expected on 11 November 2015 to decide whether UK law should be changed so that a worker who increases […]
Summary of the FCA and PRA consultation paper on how they propose whistleblowing issues are going to be handled in future – mix of legal/HR and compliance issues It is going to make some very important and wide reaching changes, including that an independent non-executive director will have to be appointed as a “whistleblowers’ champion” […]
The European Union’s Youth Employment Initiative 2013 (YEI), launched to address the occupational challenges of young adults, is moving forward. The YEI is designed to allow the Member States to improve their policies by providing additional funding to fight youth unemployment, which has risen to unprecedented levels – the unemployment rates for young people in […]
The European Commission recently presented a new initiative to better protect over 217 million workers in the EU from work-related accidents and diseases. The Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2014-2020 identifies key challenges and strategic objectives for health and safety at work, presents fundamental actions and identifies crucial instruments to address these […]
An International Guide to Employment Law Across 26 Jurisdictions offers analysis on a host of employment law matters, ranging from hiring foreign nationals and business transfers to wages, annual leave and working time.
1. Trade Unions Workers have the right to be represented in the workplace in certain situations (such as in disciplinary and grievance hearings). Where the worker is a trade union member, they will usually be represented by a union representative or official. 2. European Works Councils A European Works Council (“EWC”) is a consultative body […]
A Practical Guide to Workplace HR Strategies on how to get the best out of your workforce and at the same time protect the company’s business. Topics covered Subordinate employee versus Independent contractor Flexibility of the employment relationship Individual Dismissal Is poor performance a common ground for dismissal and how is it handled in your […]
