Click on the title to view one of our news updates Increases in Statutory Leave Entitlements Flexible Working – Amendment to the Definition of “Relative”. Unfair Dismissal – what about compensation? Recruitment – the cost of poor procedures Smoking Ban – Northern Ireland New EU Working Time Rules for Road Transport Workers Discrimination on the Grounds of Philosophical Belief New Points Based Immigration System set for 2008 Cancer Diagnosis leads to Unfair Dismissal Annual Leave – are you taking yours? Age – are you still discriminating? Cost of Absence continues to Rise Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 Part-Timers and Bank Holidays Rules on Company Vans Mobile Phone Update DTI update to guidance on Rolled-up Holiday Pay Agency Workers - consultation Dispute Resolution Regulations - consultation 2007 Budget Pregnant and Job-less Security Threats Homophobic Harassment could result in six figure payout Discrimination – can you afford it? High Court rules: UK harassment and maternity provisions do not comply with EU law Starmer Case Update 2007 National Minimum Wage Expired Disciplinary Warnings Are you Complying with Immigration Law? Statutory Dispute Resolution Procedures – New situations First Case of its Kind Macmillan breaches I&C Regulations Duty of Care and Stress Challenge to Retirement Age - update IT Risks of Mobile Workforce Refusing Part-time Work can be costly Record Payout in Harassment Case Flexible Working Unfair Dismissal of 7/7 Victim Managing Cancer Sacked by Fax Extra Holiday Entitlement - consultation Fleet issues: penalty for using mobile phones to increase Workplace Representatives - consultation Can you afford not to pay the National Minimum Wage? Alcohol at Work Legal Developments 2007 2007 – European Year of Equal Opportunities for All Significant Payout for Whistleblower Inconsistency In Outcome Pensions and Age Discrimination Challenge to Age Discrimination Legislation Sex Discrimination after Soaking Draft Pensions Bill Published Review of Road Transport Working Time Regulations Annual Increase in Award Limits Smoking Ban Date Announced Speed Limiters on Certain Vans Threat to dismiss leads to Constructive Dismissal Additional Paternity Leave & Pay? Gone and Forgotten! To Celebrate or not to Celebrate that is the Question Comment made at Christmas Party results in Discrimination Claim Disability and Redundancy Immigration Changes Working Time Opt-Out still in Flexible Working Regulations for Carers Immigration – changes to Highly Skilled Migrant Programme Statutory Dispute Resolution Procedures to be Reviewed Carpel Tunnel Syndrome ignored Disability Equality Duty Stress – still a real problem in the UK workplace Expensive Expenses Challenge to the Government Immigration Charging - Consultation Commissioners of Inland Revenue v Ainsworth 1 in 5 experience bullying or harassment at work Employees choosing to wear the veil Can we still put length of experience required in an advert for a position? Harassment, Harassment, Harassment Redundancy and Fair Processes Status of Enhanced Redundancy Terms Redundancies and Automatically Unfair Dismissal Cadman v Health and Safety Executive Tribunal Applications on the increase The Statutory Maternity Pay, Social Security (Maternity Allowance) and Social Security (Overlapping Benefits)(Amendment) Regulations 2006 The Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay (General) and the Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay (Weekly Rate)(Amendment) Regulations 2006 Changes to Collective Redundancy Notification HIV-positive Discrimination Claim NEW Ready Reckoner for calculating the number of weeks' pay due Quality Assurance Officer not Assured Take Your Rest Breaks says the EU Pension Regulations Deferred until December New Rules for Child Seats Death leads to unfair dismissal Windfall after Stair Fall Heart Attack Victim claims Unfair Dismissal National Minimum Wage - 1 October 2006 Sex Discrimination costs £145,000 Redundancy without Warning Arranged Marriage Leads to Claim Driving – Corporate Responsibility Two Cases of Discrimination due to sexual orientation Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Council loses disability claim Sick Pay for Disabled Employees Fire Safety Reform Whistleblower wins £15,000 £114,000 for Stressed HR Professional Data Protection – senior executives could go to jail £800,000 Compensation for Bullying Equal Treatment Directive The Importance of Working Time Regulations Poor handling of redundancies can be costly Temperatures Rising, Productivity Falling Corporate Manslaughter Consultation Alert - Draft Regulations – Smoking at Work Racist Comments don’t have to be directed at an individual £19,000 for Pregnancy Sacking Depression results in Disability Claim Fixed Term Contracts Six-figure payout expected Work and Families Act 2006 Commencement Order Challenge to the Age Discrimination Regulations Maternity and Parental Leave etc and Paternity and Adoption Leave (amendment) Regulations 2006 Work and Families Act Sick Pay Plans a “No-go” Public Holidays Sexual Harassment is all too common Lack of Adjustments means loss in Disability Case National Pension Reform Swearing and Lewd Emails in the Office Working Time Opt Out Company Drivers at Risk TUPE and Retirement Ages Racial Discrimination – Court of Appeal Bird-Flu – do we need to worry? Criminal Record Checks Sickness levels are falling but costs are rising Is Alcohol the Answer? Sacked for Being Pregnant DTI Outlines Employment Strategy Changes to SSP Rules Cancer Patient Wins Unfair Dismissal Claim British Maternity Pay lowest in Western Europe Age Positive Week Holiday pay – the saga keeps rolling on Revised Code of Practice on the Definition of Disability Flexible Request from Fathers Disability Discrimination – don’t leave yourself open to a claim Grievances and Tribunal Claims Reason for Absence: “World Cup-itis” Consultation Alert - Consultation by the Health and Safety Executive SSP Proposals Violent Boss ordered to pay Compensation Statutory Sick Pay (General) Amendment Regulations 2006 come into force Poor Reference Justified Neglience Payout for Stressed Employee Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 Council loses Sex Discrimination Case Liability six years down the line Revision of Statutory Payments Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 2006 Budget Consultation - Collective Redundancies Code of Practice on Racial Equality in Employment “Rolled-Up” Holiday Pay White Applicant wins Race Discrimination Claim Iraq Reservist Goes to Court to get his civilian job back Three wins following DDA claims Bosses are Ignoring Driving Dangers Consultation - Extension of Paternity Leave Failure to Respond costs £49,000 Stressed Worker wins £65,000 after Unfair Dismissal Case £6,000 award because Company did not follow procedure New TUPE Regulations in force at last! Occupational and Personal Pension Scheme (Consultation of Employees) Regulations 2006 Induction Strategy could save you Money! Sexual Harassment costs £124,000 Work your proper hours day Draft Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations CEHR Update Change in pension rights for transsexuals? Anonymity of Complainants Smoking Ban for England Code of Practice Consultation Lack of Work Station Assessment leads to Discrimination Claim Sacked for being diabetic Successful claim after 2 weeks’ service Expired Disciplinary Warnings Working Time Regulations - update No smoking in Scotland Changes to Compensation Limits Part-time Lecturer wins compensation Data Protection and References To settle or not to settle Dismissing a ‘difficult’ employee What’s in your employees’ e-mail inbox? Working can seriously damage your health Statutory Grievance Procedure Tribunal preferred over maternity rights Legal Developments in the Year Ahead Minimum Wage Law still Flouted Snowed in? End of Holiday Year Out of Court Settlement for Norfolk Policeman End of Year Party – celebration or minefield? HomeWorkers – are you supprting them? Changes to Food Hygiene Laws We usually pay a bonus to staff in December, but this year we can’t afford it. What is our position? Information Commissioner’s Regulatory Action Strategy Two-Way Communication is Key Ainsworth v Inland Revenue £380,000 for racially abused prison officer Individual liability in sex discrimination case Code of Practice on Racial Equality in Employment Failure to consult amounts to disability discrimination Redundancy during maternity leave Compensation for redundant workers Vicarious Liability for negligence Whistleblower treated “appallingly” Disciplinary Hearings and Sickness Ban Bullying at Work Railway Worker wins Disability Case Civil Partnerships Act Timetable for Disability Rights Changes Do we have to give time off to employees for religious holidays? RSI not just an issue for office workers Michelle Langton – case update Whistleblower wins against Charity Total of £60,000 compensation for three cases of Harassment Timely Consultation is a Must Business Continuity and Contingency Planning Race Discrimination – still rife 19 years after the Race Discrimination Act Redundancy Rights for Fixed-Term Workers Work and Families Bill Introduced to the House of Commons Equal Pay for Cleaners Stress – it’s always in the news! Implementation of the Equal Treatment Directive - 1 October 2005 New Tribunal forms become Mandatory Employment Relations Act 2004 - remaining sections Sacked for being Pregnant Management of Health and Safety at Work and Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 Record Equal Pay Tribunal Opens European Health and Safety Week Pension Regulations - new changes from today Stress Update Equal Pay – can you afford to ignore it? Over £70,000 compensation and Reinstatement for sacked banker Employment Law is a Benefit to Business £50,000 compensation after two-year battle Pregnancy-related demotion costs Stand up, sit down, keep moving Sick Note Changes Ahead Procedural flaws cost £26,460 Over half road accidents involve a company vehicle Public Duties – what is sufficient? Delays could lead to Constructive Dismissal Grievance procedures must be followed Ignore Flexible Working Requests and Pay the Price No “margin for discretion” in flexible working requests £150,000 award in sex discrimination case When does a joke at work become harassment? Night working leads to Unfair Dismissal Tribunal Orders Management Training Height restrictions could be discriminatory Car Insurance – are your employees covered? Data Protection Employment Practices Code Published Use and Abuse of E-mail at Work Equal Pay Bills Law Firm loses Flexible Working Case BA Pilot and Sex Discrimination – an update New Immigration System - consultation Justifiable treatment of a disabled person Harassers to be made liable Pregnancy Discrimination is a real issue New Rules regarding Age Discrimination out for consultation Whistleblower wins six-figure sum Is a UK Compensation Culture a Myth or Not? 17 workers win against global company Posthumous award for Deaf worker Metropolitan Police face bill of £90,000 Supporting Staff with Cancer Workplace Theft – is it an issue for you? What is the maximum temperature in which we can require employees to work? Unfair Dismissal win for Cancer Sufferer Guilty Plea after Shredder Death Sex Discrimination Settlement Equal Opportunities Commission supports Flexible Working Case Carlcucci Case Update Early Intervention is Key TUPE reform delayed to 2006 Control of Major Accident Hazards (Amendment) Regulations 2005 Survey Reveals Work-Life Balance Impact on Staff Retention Fathers want to be at home Back in the News Asylum and Nationality Bill Private Member’s Bill to introduce legal aid for tribunal cases £41,000 for former Train Driver Smoke-Free Workplaces and Public Places - consultation opens The Future of Disabled People’s Rights Did you know? Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 Consultation on Pension Changes Can I tell my employees what they can or cannot wear? Violence at Work New Mum wins £76,000 Child Pornography at work Equal Pay in NHS Trust Teacher loses sex discrimination case Home Working can be good and bad Redundancy fears increasing £41,000 compensation in sexual harassment case Convent School Teacher wins payout for being “too old” Holiday – what’s that? Working Time Opt Out Update Legionella Trial Update Homophobic Language prohibited Name-Calling leads to Constructive Dismissal Out of Court Settlement after Equal Pay Claim Tribunal Rejects Sex Discrimination Case What is the situation regarding paying of bonuses when an employee is on Maternity Leave? Confirmation on Length of Parental Leave Worldwide work-related absence and deaths on the increase Safe System of Work is a must The Queen’s Speech UK Workers are “Desk Skivers” Property Developers face £100,000 fine £900,000 fine for Shell Expro Working Time and Opting Out The Cost of Losing Too Much Business Regulation? Sickness Absence and Lateness – an update Norfolk School Cleared of Race Discrimination Discrimination Win for Transsexual Employee Guilty, but only fined £3,000 Shift Working – bad for your health? Legionella Trial Horror at Scrap Yard Change to Inland Revenue’s Name Unanimous decision in Unfair Dismissal Case Compensation Claim after Sex Discrimination Case Dual Contracts BA loses sex discrimination case brought by pilot Racism in the Heart of England International Workers’ Memorial Day Absence Statistics make frightening reading Tread carefully when considering withholding Sick Pay Stress – it’s still being ignored Flexible Working Disability Discrimination Bill Work at Height Regulations Failure to take basic Health and Safety measures costs £140,000 Employee Communication is Key Employment Tribunals - statistics Elections on 5 May 2005 Unfair Dismissal Victory for Hacker Brussels overrules UK tax Law Responsibilities for Health and Safety cannot be left to others Over £42,500 for driver whose breaks were cut Occupational pension rights during paternity and adoption leave Working Time Opt Out Update £90,000 fines and over £43,100 costs for breaching Health and Safety law Immigration Fees increase “Taking Care” is not enough Payout for stressed Railwayman Out of Court settlement in Six-Figures Accident Causes Amputation Manslaughter sentence for manager Health and Safety Regulations - consultation Equality Bill Published Corporate Manslaughter Bill Annual Leave Enforcement Stalking at Work Directors’ Duties for Health and Safety DTI Consults on TUPE New Contracting Out Regulations - Consultation Disability Discrimination – good intentions are not enough European Court of Justice Ruling – redundancy and collective bargaining New Regulations for Calculating SMP £650,000 fines after death at sugar factory DTI Consultation on Industrial Action Code of Practice Proposals to Update the Sex Discrimination Act Civil Partnership Act 2004 Statutory Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Pay Dispute Resolution Regulations Transfer of Employment (Pension Protection) Regulations Vicarious Liability for conduct of employee Implementation of the Employment Relations Act 2004 Working at Height Regulations 2004 Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (Amendment) Regulations 2004 Postponement of Employment Tribunal Forms Disability Discrimination and Dismissal – the Price to Pay £30,000 fine after scaffolding death Private Members Bill introduced aiming to impose positive safety duties on company directors Temperatures at work £180,000 award for employees not consulted over redundancies Postman wins case and is reinstated Stress and work-life balance Health and Safety – Four cases show that you can’t afford to ignore it First Sexual Orientation Case a Winner £8,000 payout for redundant Mum What are the rules on renewing an employee’s fixed term contract? Redundancy and Consultation Landmark ruling under the religious discrimination legislation Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 - first claim Data Protection Code of Practice Part Four - Medical Information Don’t fall foul of the law on Data Protection Health and Safety hits in the news again Employment Relations Act 2004 - further provisions Legal Developments in the Year Ahead