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.

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.

Stress is now number one reason for sick leave, report reveals

Stress-related illness has become the most common reason employees in Britain take sick leave, overtaking manual-related injuries, such as repetitive strain injury, and serious medical illnesses, such as cancer. The report shows a strong link between the rise in stress-related absence and the loss of job security.

Unregistered engineer risks customers’ safety

A gas engineer from Willenhall has been prosecuted for illegally carrying out work when he was not in fact registered as a Gas Safe registered engineer. Leslie Morgan, of Cedar Road, issued a gas safety certificate after installing a boiler at a house in Cannock. However, without the registration as a Gas Safe registered engineer, [...]

Waste sector is one of the most dangerous in the UK

A County Durham waste and recycling company has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive following the serious injury of a worker who was reversed into by one of the fleet’s vehicles. The 25-year-old employee of First Skips Ltd in Shotton Colliery was sorting recyclable material by hand when the incident occurred on 8 [...]

Essex contractor sentenced after friend’s fall through roof

A self-employed roofing contractor from Essex has been given a suspended prison sentence after a friend of his fell through the roof he was contracted to replace. His friend, Mr Waughman, a 58 year old man from Tiptree, suffered a stroke and fell through a gap in the rafters on to the floor below. Mr [...]

Couple claim caste discrimination lost them their jobs

A married couple are claiming unfair dismissal against their employers on the grounds that they were discriminated against because of their caste. Mr and Mrs Begraj both worked for the law firm Heer Manak and fell in love after four years of friendship. However, when the relationship progressed to marriage, Mrs Begraj’s employers warned her [...]

Nurses’ belief that life starts at conception protected by Equality Act

Two Roman Catholic nurses have successfully challenged the NHS under the Equality Act 2010 after they were made to work in an abortion clinic. The landmark case is thought to be the first time that the pro-life position has been considered a philosophical belief, and therefore come under the protection under the Act. The case [...]

Chancellor to take on “vested interests” of trade unions to create jobs

The Chancellor George Osborne told the Commons yesterday that in order to boost employment and the economy, he is considering taking on “difficult vested interests”. The Chancellor, addressing the House on the state of the economy, also said that the UK’s recovery was going to be “longer and harder” than previously hoped for because of [...]

Former Tower of London governor loses unfair dismissal claim

Major General Keith Cima, the former governor of the Tower of London, has lost his claim for unfair dismissal against his former employer, Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), after the central London employment tribunal found he had made “offensive and damaging” remarks about them. In addition, Major General Keith Cima also allegedly called Beefeaters the “lowest [...]

Pensions in ‘urgent need’ of reform, warns commission

There has been much furore recently about the Government’s plans to reform public sector pensions; teachers and other public sector workers, including most recently BBC journalists, have taken industrial action in protest over the proposals as they will receive less upon retirement, despite increasing their contributions and working for longer. However, a commission established by [...]

Government pension plans “unrealistic”, says Health Secretary

Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, has criticised the Government’s plans to reform the public sector pensions, calling them “inappropriate” and “unrealistic” in a private letter to the Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander. The letter, written two months ago, was a response to a document outlining the Government’s plans that was handed to Cabinet ministers. Lansley [...]

Retirement, redundancy and unfair dismissal – what to expect as an older employee

Older employees that come through Contact Law often regard their situation as in jeopardy during cut backs or organisational change. A particular client of mine who was nearing retirement age felt their employer was trying to marginalise their role in anticipation of a transitional period for the company. (More…)

Court to decide if Catholic church can be liable for actions of its priests

Today is the final day of a potentially landmark hearing in the High Court that could determine if the Roman Catholic church can be held vicariously liable for torts committed by its priests. The claim for damages for alleged sexual abuse by one woman, known as JGE, has brought up the legal question of whether [...]

Strike action – when employment relationships fail

Trade union members, including teachers and other civil servants, around the UK boycotted their jobs on 30 June en masse against the coalition government because of the proposed changes to their pensions. The Government, led by Prime Minister David Cameron, plan to raise the age of retirement and increase contributions to pensions during a period [...]

Post Office: unfair treatment of postmasters due to fault in Horizon software

Two months after I started working as a case handler at Contact Law I was approached by a client over the phone. The client was a sub-postmaster at her village Post Office. She had been audited that morning and found that her Post Office had a loss to the value of £7,000. The client had [...]