Employers have a new duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of employees in the course of their employment under the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 (the Act). After receiving...more
As projected, the King’s Speech of 17 July 2024, outlining the UK government’s legislative agenda, made reference to the Labour Party’s “New Deal for Working People” among other proposed legislation for the Party’s first 100...more
The 2024 UK general election resulted in a victory for the Labour Party, marking the party’s return to government after 14 years. Prior to this election, the Labour Party set out various proposals that could impact UK...more
At a time marked by themes of “push” and “pull,” organizations across all sectors and jurisdictions are grappling with the pursuit of innovation within an increasingly complex regulatory framework. Over the next 12 months,...more
The UK government’s “Growth Plan” (or “mini-budget”), delivered on 23 September, announced that the recent changes to the United Kingdom’s off-payroll working rules will be repealed with effect from April 2023....more
The High Court of England and Wales in USDAW & Others v Tesco Stores Limited granted an injunction on 3 February preventing an international retailer, Tesco, from deploying “fire and rehire” to phase out an employee benefit....more
On 23 September, the UK government published a consultation document, “Making flexible working the default”, which proposes various reforms to the right for employees to request flexible working arrangements—particularly in...more
The UK’s Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) found on 10 June 2021 in Maya Forstater v CGD Europe and others that gender-critical beliefs—including believing that one’s biological sex is immutable and not to be conflated with...more
6/16/2021
/ Adverse Employment Action ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Discrimination ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Litigation ,
Equality Act ,
Freedom of Expression ,
Gender Identity ,
Harassment ,
International Labor Laws ,
LGBTQ ,
Transgender ,
UK ,
UK Employment Appeal Tribunal
The UK Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) handed down its judgment in Mrs F Mercer v. Alternative Future Group Ltd. and Others on 2 June 2021. The EAT found that the relevant provisions in UK legislation protecting workers...more
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has recently published two speeches reiterating the broad and fundamental importance of diversity and inclusion within financial services. ...more
With the United Kingdom’s vaccination programme well underway, many employers are struggling with the best course of action for how to approach COVID-19 vaccines and their workforce. As mantras like “No Jab, No Job” circulate...more
On 3 March 2021, the UK government confirmed the continuation of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) through the end of September 2021. The CJRS was due to end on 30 April 2021 and has, so far, supported more than...more
As businesses continue to grapple with the effects of the pandemic in the spring of 2021, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has granted companies a six-month extension to report their gender pay figures. ...more
3/4/2021
/ Employer Liability Issues ,
Equal Pay ,
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) ,
Gender Equity ,
Gender-Based Pay Discrimination ,
Grace Period ,
International Labor Laws ,
Pay Equity Laws ,
Pay Gap ,
Reporting Requirements ,
UK ,
Wage and Hour
With growing reports of an increase in online harassment during government-imposed pandemic lockdowns, a recent UK Employment Appeal Tribunal case alerts employers to their obligations with respect to tackling bullying,...more
2/15/2021
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Harassment ,
Hostile Environment ,
International Labor Laws ,
Labor Regulations ,
UK ,
UK Employment Appeal Tribunal ,
Workplace Bullying
HM Treasury in the United Kingdom released its sixth direction concerning the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme on 26 January 2021. Many of the central features of the furlough scheme have not changed, including the level of...more
Following the announcement of its third national lockdown on 5 January 2020, the UK government has updated its guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, stating that employers may furlough employees in circumstances...more
1/15/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Retention ,
Furloughs ,
Government Lockdown ,
HMRC ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Labor Laws ,
Job Retention Schemes ,
Relief Measures ,
UK ,
Wage and Hour
The United Kingdom on 2 December became the first country to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for coronavirus (COVID-19), with approximately 500,000 people receiving the vaccine in the first two weeks of the largest...more
UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced on 17 December that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is to be extended until 30 April 2021. This represents a further extension of one month. ...more
Businesses in the United Kingdom which engage contractors through intermediaries should prepare now for changes to the “IR35” rules that will take effect in April 2021. ...more
In a judgment handed down on 13 November 2020, the High Court held that the UK government failed to provide workers with the right not to be disadvantaged for taking steps in response to serious and imminent danger and did...more
The eagerly anticipated news of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine candidates last week has been welcomed by the scientific community across the globe. For employers, the news has prompted consideration of the potential...more
11/24/2020
/ Biotechnology ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
FDA Approval ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Life Sciences ,
Pfizer ,
Popular ,
Research and Development ,
UK ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in the United Kingdom (UK) has released its full guidance for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) extension, which was first announced by the UK government on 31 October 2020. The scheme...more
The United Kingdom has announced a second extension to the country’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) in less than a week. The CJRS will now run until 31 March 2021, with some revised details compared to the previous...more
The United Kingdom’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended by one month, replicating the furlough measures previously in place April through July....more
The United Kingdom has amended its new job protection scheme to require employees to work 20% of their usual hours in order to receive a government subsidy, and employers that knowingly received money to which they weren’t...more