News & insights
Sexual harassment – new statutory duty
The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 will come into force in October 2024. Employers will be under a statutory duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of employees in the course of their employment. Sexual harassment occurs where both: A engages in unwanted conduct of a sexual nature. The conduct has […]
Read MoreCrossing professional boundaries
The case of Mr Adams v Better Futures Multi-Academy Trust highlights the importance of having the necessary safeguarding procedures in place. Mr Adams was employed as a teacher and promoted to course leader for Ethics and Philosophy in 2018. In March 2020, a colleague raised concern that Mr Adams was crossing professional boundaries after it was found […]
Read MoreWorkers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill receives Royal Assent
The Bill, which received Royal Assent in September, represents an important development in employment legislation. However, it is important to note that it may not come into force until later on in 2024. The key provision of this new Act is the empowerment of workers with atypical contracts, because it grants them the statutory right to […]
Read MoreNew guidance – fit notes
The government has updated its guidance for employers and line managers relating to fit notes. The guide provides details of how to get the most out of the fit note, detailing rules of the fit note and assessing an employee’s fitness for work. An employer’s checklist has also been added to the updated guidance which […]
Read MoreIndirect sex discrimination – childcare responsibility
The case of Mrs Dobson v Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust found that the trust’s policy of requiring all community nurses to work flexibly, including at weekends, was not indirect sex discrimination. Flexible working Mrs Dobson was employed as a community nurse, working fixed days per week following a successful flexible working request. In 2016, […]
Read MoreNavigating fertility at work
The Fawcett Society, the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for gender equality and women’s rights at work, at home and in public life, has collaborated with Totaljobs to produce a guide on navigating fertility in the workplace. Key findings include that 77% of employers have struggled to implement fertility support. 68% of workers who went […]
Read MoreTransgender and non-binary inclusion at work
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has published new guidance to help professionals, employers and people managers to improve their understanding of issues and to support them in delivering transgender and non-binary equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the workplace. The guide covers all aspects of employment from recruitment to progression, as well […]
Read MoreLabour promises menopause support guidance for small businesses
Anneliese Dodds MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, reiterated at the Labour Party conference that a forthcoming Labour government would introduce guidance for small businesses to better support employees experiencing the menopause. Ms Dodds said that the aim would be to encourage more women to remain in work and that: “With […]
Read MoreMenopause discrimination
The case of Lynskey v Direct Line Insurance Services Ltd highlights the importance of managers being trained and made aware of the complex issues surrounding menopause. Although menopause itself is not a specified disability under the Equality Act 2010, symptoms of menopause can amount to a disability. Brain fog Mrs Lynskey worked for the insurance company […]
Read MoreData sharing for child safeguarding
On 14 September 2023, the Information Commissioner’s Office released new guidance to address concerns about breaching data protection legislation when sharing information to protect at-risk children and young people. The UK Information Commissioner, John Edwards, stated: “My message to people supporting and working with children and young people is clear: if you think a child […]
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