Employment law has remained as fast paced as ever in the last few months with a number of interesting cases ranging from employment status to historic holiday pay claims. Our HR Insights will bring you up to speed with the latest developments, including the impact of the trade agreement following Brexit and what the COVID-19 vaccination means for employers.
- Equal pay: Supreme Court rules that lower paid retail employees can compare themselves to higher paid distribution employees:
In the long-running litigation of Asda Stores Limited ("Asda") v Brierley and ors, the Supreme Court has held that lower paid supermarket employees, who are predominantly women, can compare themselves to higher paid distribution depot employees, who are mainly men. Read more >
- Pimlico Plumbers: What is the latest position on historic holiday pay claims?
In the long-running case of Smith v Pimlico Plumbers the Employment Appeal Tribunal considered the question of whether holiday can be carried over indefinitely when the worker has taken unpaid annual leave. Read more >
- Key payments and limits 2021/22
We take a look at the compensation limits and statutory payment increases as of April 2021 and the revised Vento bands published by the Presidents of the Employment Tribunals. Read more >
- Health and safety: Order laid before Parliament extending protection against health and safety detriment to workers
Subject to Parliamentary approval the change in legislation will come into force on 31 May 2021 providing protection against detriment to workers. Read more >
- Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Extended to end of September 2021
Rishi Sunak has confirmed in the budget that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has been extended to the end of September 2021. Read more >
- Gender pay gap reporting: Six month suspension to the enforcement of gender pay gap regulations
Due to the impact of the pandemic the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has announced that employers have until 5 October 2021 to report their gender pay gap. Read more >
- Employment status: Supreme Court unanimously dismisses Uber's appeal
In the case of Uber BV and others v Aslam and others, the Supreme Court has handed down its judgment and agreed with the Court of Appeal that Uber drivers were workers, not self-employed contractors, for the purpose of the Employment Rights Act 1996, the Working Time Regulations 1998 and the National Minimum Wage Act 1998. Read more >
- Restriction of Public Sector Exit Payments Regulations 2020 to be revoked
As of 12 February 2021, the government has confirmed that the cap introduced on exit payments in the public sector may have had unintended consequences and should be revoked. Read more >
- Brexit and employment law: What is the latest position?
Although much of our employment laws derive from the EU, the immediate implications of Brexit on UK employment law may be relatively limited. Read more >
- COVID-19 vaccination: What does it mean for employers?
News of effective COVID-19 vaccines certainly provided the much needed light at the end of the tunnel. As the government embarks on the mass vaccination programme in 2021, we explore some of the key legal issues employers will be facing. Read more >
Webinar: Employment Law Update – 15 March 2021
Watch our webinar, where we provided an update on the latest employment law developments in the UK. You can access the full recording here >
