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Employment Law – workplace fridge politics!
Adrian Fryer
The politics which surround the work fridge and its contents are often the cause of significant workplace friction.
Continue ReadingNew holiday pay rules: a new regime for part-year and irregular hours workers
Adrian Fryer
We are about to enter a brave new world in terms of holiday entitlement for those who have irregular or part-year working patterns.
Continue ReadingEmbassy uses state immunity to deny the jurisdiction of the employment tribunal in a discrimination case
Adrian Fryer
In the recent case of The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia (Cultural Bureau) v Alhayali, the Claimant worked for the Respondent in their Cultural Affairs department where her duties included supporting Saudi students in the UK on cultural projects.
Continue ReadingA reminder that contractual agreements can’t be used to subvert statutory employment rights
Adrian Fryer
A recent Employment Appeal Tribunal decision reminds employers that contractual terms cannot be used if their effect is to subvert or limit statutory employment rights.
Continue ReadingThe Supreme Court confirms an important limitation on trade union recognition rights
Adrian Fryer
In November 2023, the Supreme Court handed down their judgment in the case of Independent Workers Union of Great Britain v CAC. The Union had applied to the CAC for recognition in respect of a group of riders working for Deliveroo.
Continue ReadingPilot engaged by Ryanair through an intermediary had rights as an agency worker and was also ‘employed’ by the intermediary for the purposes of the Civil Aviation (Working Time) Regulations 2004
Adrian Fryer
In the recent case of Lutz v Ryanair DAC and others, the Claimant was supplied to Ryanair as a pilot under a 5 year agreement via a company called MCG Aviation Limited.
Continue ReadingOccupational requirements must be applied proportionately to avoid liability for discrimination
Adrian Fryer
Paragraph 1 to schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010 sets out the general occupational requirement exception, which applies to direct discrimination claims. There will be no liability for direct discrimination where holding a particular protected characteristic (or, in some cases, not holding it) is an occupational requirement.
Continue ReadingDefinition of disability – Williams v Newport City Council
Adrian Fryer
The Employment Appeal Tribunal recently looked in detail at the definition of disability under Equality Act 2010 and, in particular, what should be regarded as ‘day to day activities’ when considering whether a Claimant’s impairment has a substantial adverse impact on day to day activities.
Continue ReadingA guide to the different types of seasonal workers and their rights
Adrian Fryer
During demanding times, many companies need to bring in temporary staff members to help take on the additional work. Seasonal workers can provide an effective short-term solution, however, it is important that you do not neglect their rights.
Continue ReadingThe importance of early consultation with the workforce in redundancy situations
Adrian Fryer
A recent Employment Appeal Tribunal decision reminds employers that it is crucially important that redundancy proposals are shared with the workforce at a formative stage. Failure to do so could make any resulting dismissals unfair. In Joseph de Bank Haycocks v ADP RPO UK Limited, the Claimant and the wider workforce were not consulted about redundancy proposals before pooling and scoring took place. The criteria for selection and the Claimant’s own scores were not provided to him before his dismissal. This information was, however, provided on appeal. The EAT held that the failure to consult at a formative stage meant that the dismissal was unfair. The EAT held that ‘whilst the appeal could correct any missing aspect of the individual consultation process (e.g. the provision of the claimant’s …scores), it could not repair [the] gap of consultation in the formative stage’.
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