Category: Personnel
TUPE compliance in schools – important lessons from a recent ET case
This employment tribunal (ET) case highlights the correct process employers need to follow when services such as cleaning are brought in-house. It focuses on the legal protections given to employees under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE). Zoe Marie Gilbertson was a cleaner who had worked in the role since 2016. Over […]
Read MoreUnfair dismissal – lack of explanation as to how scores arrived at within a redundancy exercise
The case of Mr C Thompson v Powys County Council and The Governing Body of Brynllywarch School highlights how an unfair process in a redundancy dismissal, namely a failure to provide an employee with sufficient information in relation to their scoring, can make the dismissal unfair. Restructure Mr Thompson was employed as a teacher. In […]
Read MoreBereaved partner’s paternity leave – new right from April 2026
The Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave Regulations 2026 were laid before Parliament in January 2026 and are intended to come into force on 6 April 2026 (subject to parliamentary approval). The right to bereaved partner’s paternity leave applies on the death of a partner who is the primary carer for the child, either during the first 52 weeks after the […]
Read MoreWhistleblowing of a safeguarding concern and interim relief applications
A recent judgment serves as a useful reminder of how judges will consider applications for interim relief in whistleblowing cases where a claimant alleges the main reason for their dismissal was a protected disclosure. Background In the case of Mr A Mottram v The Inspire Multi Academy Trust, Mr Mottram brought employment tribunal (ET) proceedings […]
Read MoreWhen sickness absence policies go wrong: key lessons from a recent ET case
A recent employment tribunal (ET) decision provides an important reminder to employers about managing long-term sickness absence where disability is involved. The case highlights the legal risks of strictly applying attendance policies, without considering adjustments to processes. Complex medical history In the case of Ms J Boswell v Beacon Multi-Academy Trust Ltd, the ET considered […]
Read MoreBalancing rights at work
An ET case involving gender and changing rooms at work In January 2026, an employment tribunal (ET) considered a sensitive case about workplace changing facilities, privacy and equality law. The judgment provides important lessons for schools and other employers about balancing dignity, inclusion and legal responsibilities. Background to the case The case of Bethany Hutchison […]
Read MoreEmployment Rights Act – update
The Employment Rights Act received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025 and is now known as the Employment Rights Act 2025. The Act introduces various additions and amendments to existing legislation, including the Employment Rights Act 1996. Most reforms set out within the Act will take some time to come into effect. The only immediate change is […]
Read MoreReview of employment rights for unpaid carers
The government has launched a review ‘Employment rights for unpaid carers review: terms of reference’ that considers how those in employment are supported who are also providing unpaid care for family or others. Key points of the review The review follows the introduction of the Carer’s Leave Act 2023, which gave employees a right (effective from […]
Read MoreAcas – early conciliation
The government has published draft regulations ‘The Employment Tribunals (Early Conciliation: Exemption and Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2025’. The Acas early conciliation period is a mandatory step before an individual can proceed with an employment tribunal claim. Increase from six to twelve weeks The Regulations are due to come into force from 1 December 2025 […]
Read MoreMs A Robinson v Middlesex Learning Trust
A case has recently hit the headlines after a teacher was awarded £137,112 in compensation further to claims of disability discrimination and harassment against her former employer. Ms Robinson was employed by the Middlesex Learning Trust (the trust) as a teacher of Design Technology. Before joining the trust in September 2020, the claimant completed a pre-employment […]
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