Employment law

Employment law has become a more contentious topic recently, with the downturn in the economy resulting in more job cuts. Our blog covers recent employment law topics in the news, as well as common questions asked by you. Topics include unfair dismissal, constructive dismissal, wrongful dismissal, redundancy, employment rights, minimum wage rights, working time regulations, and employment tribunals.

Have a browse for topics of interest. If you need employment law advice or to start a claim at an employment tribunal, Contact Law can put you in touch with specialist employment solicitors near you.

Justice Secretary introduces reforms to assist unemployed ex-criminals

The Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke, is looking to make it easier for convicted criminals to find a job by significantly reducing the time period during which they are obliged to tell their employer of their criminal past. The Justice Minister, Lord McNally, said that once criminals have served their sentence they must be given the [...]

Government work-placement scheme ‘breaches’ Human Rights Act

A government work-placement scheme offering unemployed people some form of unpaid employment has been claimed to breach the Human Rights Act. Judicial proceedings have commenced and Waterstones, which used to participate in the scheme, have now decided to opt out after the Guardian reported that the scheme did not benefit its participants. Cat Reilly, a [...]

Temporary Royal Mail Christmas staff still waiting for missing salary

Many job applicants relied on some form of temporary work that they had secured, in connection with the Christmas period, to afford Christmas gifts and pay household bills. Unfortunately, the bank statements of many Royal Mail temporary sorting office workers have yet to record any such income. Thousands of the recruited temporary workers have complained [...]

NHS Trust convicted of racial discrimination

An employment tribunal has ruled in favour of a former senior manager at an NHS hospital who claimed he was subjected to racial discrimination. Elliot Browne has been awarded close to £1 million in compensation for the treatment that he suffered. The amount is amongst the highest to ever be awarded to a victim of [...]

London Underground brings legal action to stop Boxing Day strike

London underground drivers announced last month that they intend to strike on Boxing Day. In an attempt to stop the action London Underground (LU) is challenging the legality of the strike in the High Court. The challenge is based on LU’s claim that only just over 40% of the Aslef union members voted for the [...]

Further blow to employee job security

The Government’s money-saving polices are hitting employees’ rights at a time when most workers are already experiencing an increased sense of job insecurity. Previous measures announced have included controversial changes to unfair dismissal. It is now expected that the employment minister, Chris Grayling, will start pushing for reforms which will decrease employer liability for workplace [...]

Unpaid interns may qualify as workers

With the high rate of youth unemployment and changes to parliamentary expenses Westminster MPs have increasingly recruited unpaid interns. However, there is concern that this will create a political landscape which only those from wealthy backgrounds can enter. Additionally, legal advice produced for MPs reveals that such practices might violate minimum wage law. The Guardian [...]

Employment law deems Bishops responsible for priests’ actions

The High Court earlier this week ruled that the Roman Catholic church is legally responsible for children who have been abused by its priests. The judge found that, as a result of the relationship between a Catholic priest and his bishop, the Church could ultimately be held responsible for a priest’s wrongdoing. The case was [...]

More employment law reforms to affect workers and businesses

The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, yesterday announced that the Government intends to introduce measures that will significantly change employment law. The Coalition is looking to implement new employment laws in the autumn, which they hope will stimulate business growth. Clegg said that the new package of laws will help to bring about a much [...]

One million public sector workers to vote in biggest-ever industrial ballot

From next week, one million public sector workers will vote on strike action of the Government’s reforms to the public sector pension. The industrial ballot, thought to be the biggest ever, will include nurses, probation officers, hospital cleaners and dinner ladies.