Back in June, we highlighted that, from October 26, 2024, all employers in the UK will have a mandatory duty to take “reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment of their employees in the course of their employment. We...more
After winning the general election last month, the new UK government has started to focus on the implementation of its manifesto pledges, as discussed in our previous alert. The King’s Speech, which took place on 17 July...more
Welcome to the new Two Minute Weekly. Following requests from readers, we are changing the format of our employment law newsletter. It will now be weekly and will feature as it did before news items and new cases....more
As we previously reported, from October 26, 2024, under the (not-so-concisely named) Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 – which we are calling “the Worker Protection Act” – all employers in the UK...more
The UK Worker Protection Act 2023, amending the 2010 Equality Act, represents a significant milestone in safeguarding employees against sexual harassment. With a compliance deadline of October 26, 2024, this Act places a...more
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has confirmed that it will be updating its existing Code of Practice and technical guidance on ‘Sexual harassment and harassment at work’ to address the new mandatory duty that...more
In this issue, we discuss upcoming regulatory changes as well as recent court decisions with far-reaching implications, including case law on the need to replace share awards on a TUPE transfer and a UK Supreme Court ruling...more
On 21 November 2023, as part of its inquiry into large language models (LLMs), the UK’s Communications and Digital Lords Committee considered the role of regulators and emerging trends regarding LLMs, including evidence from...more
In April’s instalment, our team identify key takeaways from the Court of Appeal’s decision in Boydell v NZP Pharma Limited surrounding the enforceability of non-compete clauses. We highlight the letter recently published by...more
The UK Government is supporting the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill to significantly expand employers’ liability for harassment in the workplace....more
Settlement agreements are a pragmatic and effective tool in resolving workplace disputes. The employee benefits from financial support and a dignified exit, and the employer achieves a clean break. However, when used...more
The UK Government has recently published its long-awaited response to its 2019 consultation on measures to combat sexual harassment in the workplace and strengthen existing legal protections. Most significantly, the...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
UK FinTech: Kalifa Review final report - HM Treasury has published the final report on the review of the UK FinTech sector by Ron Kalifa OBE (the Kalifa Review). The Kalifa Review formally launched in July 2020 with...more
Employers will have 6 months longer than usual – until 5 October 2021 - to comply with their 2020/2021 gender pay gap reporting obligations which, in contrast to the 2019/2021 reporting period, have not been suspended....more
In another step designed to relieve burdens on business during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, it was announced last week that enforcement of the obligation on UK employers of the requisite size to file gender pay gap...more
The UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has issued technical guidance setting out a detailed explanation of the law relating to harassment and sexual harassment, and offering employers practical recommendations...more
Continuing focus on sexual harassment - The EHRC has published technical guidance on sexual harassment and harassment at work, while the Government Equalities Office launched a survey on people's experience of sexual...more
Our November update considers recent developments in employment law, including cases on religion and belief discrimination, third party harassment and investigations. We also outline other points of note, including the new EU...more
Further developments in relation to harassment - The EAT confirmed in Bessong v Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust that as the law currently stands employers will not generally be liable for third party harassment of...more
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has issued guidance on the use of confidentiality provisions in discrimination cases. The guidance, if followed in its entirety, would mean employers significantly changing the way...more
This OnPoint reports on the guidance recently issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on the use of confidentiality agreements. Whilst it does not have statutory force, the EHRC guidance provides further...more
We include the 2018 chapter in its entirety for reference following the 2019 update. Background - As part of last year’s Labour & Employment group paper, "Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: What Your Company Needs to...more
Noteworthy – no holiday pro-rating for "part year" music teacher - In The Harpur Trust v Brazel the Court of Appeal confirmed that a music teacher was entitled to be paid for 5.6 weeks' annual holiday, even though she only...more
In an effort to update UK discrimination law, the Women and Equalities Committee of the UK Parliament (the Committee) has published its report following a yearlong inquiry into the legal aspects of enforcement across all...more