News & insights
Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill
As a nation, we have seen strikes in many areas of public life. Initially the government started by producing a bill to address strikes in the transport sector, but as the cost of living crisis has impacted wider society, with strikes in many different sectors, the government set about widening the scope of its proposals […]
Read MoreReview to boost the employment prospects of autistic people
On 2 April 2023 the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), in association with UK autism and research charity Autistica, announced a government review to boost the employment prospects of autistic people, to close employment gaps and to help grow the economy. The press release from the DWP states that fewer than 3 in 10 […]
Read MoreAcademies regulatory and commissioning review
One of the aspects of the last year’s abandoned Schools Bill 2022 which has survived has been the proposed review of the academies regulatory and commissioning system. This work was carried out over the summer of 2022 and the final outcome of that review has just been published (28 March 2023). Baroness Barran In her introduction to the […]
Read MoreCalculating basic hours for term-time only workers
In L Lloyd v Elmhurst School Ltd, the employment tribunal (ET) and then the employment appeal tribunal (EAT) considered the question: was a learning support assistant (LSA) entitled to receive the national minimum wage for basic hours, which fell outside the school terms, even when those hours were not worked? Ms Lloyd was employed as […]
Read MoreSchool Chaplain’s claims for discrimination on the grounds of religion and religious belief fail
In the recent case of Randall v Trent College Ltd and others a school chaplain presented various discrimination claims based on his religion and religious beliefs. As a Christian Mr Randall’s protected characteristic was unchallenged. Trent College Ltd is an Anglican foundation, co-educational, independent day and boarding school which objected to and defended the numerous […]
Read MoreThe perils of managing flexible working requests
In Ms M Glover v Lacoste UK Ltd, the employment appeal tribunal (EAT) considered whether the employment tribunal (ET) had erred in law by finding that because the claimant did not ultimately work a fully flexible part-time working pattern, then a provision, criterion or practice (PCP) did not apply. A provision, criterion or practice (PCP) […]
Read MoreProposed changes to data protection legislation
Last year, the government announced its intention to replace the UK GDPR with a Data Protection and Digital Information Bill. The Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 18 July 2022 and was scheduled to have its second reading on 5 September 2022. However, following the election of Liz Truss as leader of the Conservative Party, the […]
Read MoreAre schools required to pay into the LGPS for employees beyond the age of 75?
No – held the employment tribunal in the case of Mr G Phillips v Woodcote High School. Mr Phillips was a cleaner who had reached his 75th birthday and upon which the school had stopped making pension contributions towards pension into the LGPS. He argued that this was age discrimination under s13 and s61 of […]
Read MoreProving your staff are aware and understand your policies could be the difference between a fair and an unfair dismissal
In Paul Weller v First MTR South Western Trains Ltd, the employment tribunal (ET) considered whether Mr Weller’s dismissal for conduct relating to publication of various tweets on his private Twitter account was unfair. Background The employer (First MTR South Western Trains Ltd) is a train operating company with a multi-cultural staff profile. Mr Weller […]
Read MoreGovernment rejects recommendation to make menopause a protected characteristic
The government has published its response to the Women and Equalities Committee’s report on menopause, which was published in July 2022. The government has rejected five of the Committee’s recommendations, including the recommendations to make menopause a protected characteristic under the Equalities Act 2010 and to pilot a menopause leave policy. One of reasons given for rejecting […]
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