Following the debate regarding the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and “on-call” workers in the social care sector (as discussed here), workers’ entitlement to the NMW for travel time is now hitting the headlines. A recent investigation has uncovered allegations that a company which provides home care services across the Midlands has failed to correctly pay […]

The Supreme Court’s Judgment in Pimlico Plumbers and another v Gary Smith could spell an end to gig-economy ‘jobs loophole’ being used to avoid worker status. The Supreme Court’s dismissal of Pimlico’s recent appeal has confirmed that their workers are in fact just that: not the self-employed contractors that their contracts with Pimlico sought to […]

In the recent landmark case of Bărbulescu v Romania, the European Court of Human Rights held that there was no violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (the right to respect for private and family life, the home and correspondence) when an employee had been dismissed for using the company’s internet […]

A recent landmark employment law ruling in the UK’s first ‘Caste discrimination’ case What is Caste? Caste systems involve the division of people into social groups. The idea of ‘caste’ is rooted in Hindu society and it is suggested that caste discrimination affects approximately 260 million people worldwide, the vast majority living in South Asia. […]

2014 was a big year in Employment Law as the Bear Scotland holiday pay case made the headlines at the close of the year. As we head into the third month of 2015, here are a few developments you may need to be aware of: Holiday Pay At the end of 2014 the EAT ruled […]

Two recent UK Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) decisions have highlighted just how important it is for: employers to have properly drafted electronic communications and social media policies in place; and for employees to read those policies carefully and properly understand them. Failure to have sufficient policies in place to deal with behaviour relating to use […]

Excitement and anticipation has arrived ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Tension is rising, players are ready to perform and fans are preparing to rejoice (or cry). However, the biggest sporting event in the world can pose as much as a problem for an employer as a penalty shootout can for the Three Lions. ‘World […]

In the UK around 12 million people are “under saving” for their retirement or not putting aside anywhere near the amount that they need in order to live comfortably in their later years. Pension schemes have always been available to employees, however the Government have realised that not enough is being done to encourage individuals […]

The Christmas party should be a great event at which colleagues can let their hair down and get together for a night of eating, drinking, singing and dancing that would rival David Brent himself. However, what happens if somebody goes too far? What is the employer’s liability in respect of a Christmas party faux pas? […]

The final battle between Lord Sugar and Stella English has left the Apprentice star ‘over the moon’ that she has not had to pay the £50,000 legal costs after losing the claim against Sugar for constructive dismissal. Following the case from the beginning, the 2010 winner claimed the show was a sham after resigning from […]

Those of you who read my blogs with enthusiasm will recall that I have been avidly following the case brought against Lord Sugar by his former “Apprentice”, Stella English. As I suggested previously, Lord Alan Sugar is pursuing the unsuccessful English for his legal costs of around £35,000, following her failed constructive dismissal case against […]

The Extremes of Whistleblowing Googling ‘Edward Snowden’ will reveal that the news pages are littered with stories and updates on the world’s most controversial whistleblower.  This whole affair has brought about significant debate regarding civil liberties in the US Recent UK Changes It must be purely coincidental that changes have just been introduced which could […]