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The importance of anti-racism in the workplace
19 January 2021In this article Seema Mitra explores the importance of anti-racism in the workplace.
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Tackling bullying and harassment in a remote working environment: Carolyn Soakell writes for People Management
Press
18 January 2021Inappropriate behaviour that may be obvious in the office may not be as visible when staff are at home, which can make victims feel nervous about speaking out.
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The impact of furlough on gender pay gap reporting: Tom Heys writes for workingmums
Press
18 January 2021This year’s gender pay gap figures could be much lower than previous years, but this will be on account of the impact of furlough rather than businesses taking more meaningful action on gender inequality.
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Gender pay gap may be skewed by furloughing: Tom Heys comments for The Times
Press
04 January 2021Furloughed workers will be excluded from mandatory gender pay gap reporting next year, which could distort pay disparities between men and women.
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Rethinking our definition of bullying and harassment: Lucy Hendley writes for The Law Society Gazette
Press
23 December 2020The way we look at behaviour and management styles in the workplace has shifted in recent years. Some members of our profession will remember a time where it wasn’t considered an issue to shout at a trainee for their poor research memo or criticise a junior lawyer in public. We all knew the partners we had to keep on the good side of and the ones to avoid wherever possible.
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Long Covid – what implications does it have for employers?
01 December 2020This article explores the growing phenomenon of “Long Covid” – the continuation of serious symptoms and effects for a significant period after a person’s initial Covid-19 infection and illness. Is disability discrimination law likely to apply in this context and how should employers approach this issue?
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The gender pay gap: Tom Heys and Rachel Ward comment in a briefing paper for the House of Commons
Press
20 November 2020This briefing paper provides statistics on the size of the gender pay gap in the UK, looks at some of the reasons why the gender pay gap arises and discusses the duty on large employers to report on the size of the gender pay gap in their workforce.
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Counting the cost – Court of Appeal rules that budget considerations can justify indirect discrimination
12 November 2020If an employer has a policy which is indirectly discriminatory and the employer’s aim is no more than saving money, the Court of Appeal has ruled that this cannot justify the discrimination. However, needing to balance the books can potentially be a valid justification for indirect discrimination.
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What’s going on with gender pay gap reporting?
11 November 2020The obligation on employers with 250 or more employees to report their last set of gender pay gap statistics was suspended on account of Covid-19, but they now face difficult challenges in preparing the next round of reporting.
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Face coverings and the workplace
01 October 2020This article sets out our updated analysis of the current rules regarding face coverings at work and some of the practical issues that arise for employers.
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Employment law and nonbinary people - what employers need to know
15 September 2020In this article, we discuss the current position under the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and the Equality Act 2010 and suggest some practical steps employers can take to support employees of all genders.
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Positive action speaks louder than words - five principles for employers
02 September 2020This article explores the legal limits of positive action in the workplace, including the situations where it is permissible to give preferences on gender or ethnicity grounds to make up for historic lack of opportunity, and what employers can and cannot do to improve diversity in their shortlists or hiring slates.
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Flexible working post Covid-19 - sea change or nothing new?
13 August 2020The coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdown has caused millions to work from home for the first time - an experience likely to cause a surge in requests for flexible working arrangements once most employees are asked to return to the workplace. This article considers the legal position and the practicalities for employers in dealing with flexible working requests.
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Could Black Lives Matter speed up the introduction of ethnicity pay reporting? Rachel Ward and Tom Heys write for People Management
Press
14 July 2020Rachel Ward and Tom Heys explore whether the renewed pressure to remove societal injustice faced by BAME people could finally mean clarity on this area of legislation.
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Race discrimination complaints in the workplace and how to address them
11 June 2020With Black Lives Matter protests taking place across the UK and around the world, many businesses have been publicly stating their commitment to equality and the BLM movement. But what happens when the experience of current or former BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) employees is alleged not to live up to that standard?
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Ethnicity pay gap reporting – will the government now act?
11 June 2020The tragic and brutal killing of George Floyd has led to widespread outrage and Black Lives Matter protests across the globe. Governments are facing pressure to remove societal injustice faced by BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) people. Could this mean we will finally get clarity in the UK on ethnicity pay reporting?
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Ramadan, coronavirus and the lockdown – how employers can support their staff
22 April 2020Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of 23 April 2020 and will last for 30 days, which means that some or all of it will be taking place under the continued lockdown imposed on account of the coronavirus situation. What issues do employers need to be aware of during Ramadan?
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Employer not liable for sexual assaults committed by independent contractor
06 April 2020The Supreme Court has ruled that Barclays Bank was not vicariously liable for sexual assaults committed by an individual engaged by it as an independent contractor, as the relationship between the organisation and the contractor was not akin to an employment relationship.
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Significant new guidance on harassment from the EHRC
22 January 2020The Equality and Human Rights Commission (“EHRC”) has published substantial new guidance on sexual harassment and harassment at work, containing detailed recommendations on steps employers should consider taking to prevent and deal with such behaviour.