On 17 October 2015, the Independent reported that the government intends to proceed with its introduction of a British Bill of Rights to replace the Human Rights Act 1998. A 12-week consultation is expected to start in November or December 2015 with a view to...
The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills has published guidance on zero hours contracts aimed at employers. The guidance provides further information on zero hours contracts and how they should be used. It includes information on employment rights, appropriate use, inappropriate use, alternatives, best practice...
The latest estimate of the number of people who are employed on zero-hours contracts in their main employment is 744,000 for April to June 2015, representing 2.4% of people in employment. This is higher than for the same period in 2014, in which 624,000 people...
BIS has launched a call for evidence to look at how restaurants treat tips left by customers and whether government intervention is necessary to strengthen the voluntary code of practice overseen by industry body, the British Hospitality Association. Recent investigations have revealed that it remains...
The Court of Appeal has dismissed Unison's appeals against its judicial review applications challenging the legality of tribunal fees. Whilst the judicial review application has failed in the Court of Appeal, the leading Judge did appear to support the proposed Government review of the level...
In Stevens v University of Birmingham [2015], the High Court decided that an employer's refusal to allow the employee's choice of companion to attend a disciplinary investigation meeting concerning serious allegations of misconduct, was a breach of mutual trust and confidence. Although the express terms of...
In The British Waterways Board v Smith [2015], the EAT has held that it was fair to dismiss an employee that made derogatory comments about his employer on Facebook notwithstanding the fact that the misconduct had taken place two years before dismissal or that the...
The GMB union is bringing a case against Uber arguing that Uber's contract terms with drivers breaches UK employment law. They argue that Uber does not currently ensure drivers are paid minimum wage or receive paid holiday. Uber claims that the drivers are "partners" rather...
Aimed at increasing transparency and, thereby reducing the gender pay gap, the government has published a consultation on its plans to introduce mandatory reporting of information on gender pay differences for larger employers (250 employees). Employers have an opportunity to help shape these important regulations...
On 24 July 2015, the government launched a consultation on simplifying the rules concerning the treatment of termination payments. Proposals include removing distinctions between types of payment, replacing the current £30,000 allowance with an exemption for redundancy (voluntary or compulsory) at a rate rising in...