Insights & News
Search for Insights & News
-
New visitor rules benefit business visitors to the UK
15 February 2024Since 31 January 2024, the Immigration Rules for visitors have been liberalised to allow a wider range of activities for business visitors, including in the areas of intra-corporate activities, remote working, providing legal services and carrying out research. The Permitted Paid Engagement visitor route has been expanded and incorporated into the standard visitor route, meaning these visitors can stay for up to six months.
-
What’s happening in UK employment law in 2024: timeline
15 February 2024With a raft of upcoming legislative changes, there’s a lot to keep on top of in 2024. We’ve produced a timeline to help keep track of what’s ahead.
-
Professor’s ‘anti-Zionist’ beliefs were protected
13 February 2024Despite finding that a professor at the University of Bristol’s comments on Zionism merited disciplinary action against him, the Employment Tribunal concluded that dismissal was too severe a sanction and had been influenced by his beliefs concerning Zionism, which were protected under the Equality Act 2010. Dr Miller had therefore been discriminated against because of his anti-Zionist beliefs.
-
What is an Employee Ownership Trust and how does it work?
Podcast
13 February 2024Kathy Granby and Matthew Rowbotham from our Tax, Rewards and Incentives team discuss the increasing popularity of moving to employee ownership, with a focus on Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs).
-
Ads & Brands Law Digest: January 2024
12 February 2024Welcome to the latest edition of our Digest, covering legal and regulatory developments from the last few weeks relevant to advertising, marketing, and brand-owning businesses. As usual, for each item we provide a succinct summary accompanied by a link to the full text of the relevant official source or our own report.
-
In-House Employment Lawyers Coffee Break: Episode 4 - Workforce consultation in the EAT and redundancy protection legislation
Podcast
12 February 2024Listen here for the latest developments and essential practical takeaways (short enough to fit into a 10-minute coffee break!). Lawyers from our IHELC team will discuss key developments in employment law with our usual pragmatism and insight, a touch of humour and a sharp focus on the in-house lawyer’s perspective.
-
Five top tips for using biometric data in the workplace
08 February 2024As we become more accustomed to using our faces or fingerprints to unlock devices in our everyday life, it’s not surprising that UK employers are considering using biometric systems in the workplace. However, employers need to address the significant challenges involved with using biometric data.
-
Gender identity data in the workplace
08 February 2024Safeguarding all personal data not only upholds data subjects’ rights but also cements trust and good employee relations. Special category data must be treated with more protection because it is sensitive, but information about gender does not automatically fall into this category and in many cases will fall into a data-lacuna. A recent case reminds us that employers nonetheless need to take great care with gender identity data.
-
Apprenticeships: jurisdictional variations
08 February 2024It’s National Apprenticeship Week and, continuing our focus on hiring apprentices, we consider how the requirements for apprenticeships vary across the United Kingdom, and highlight key considerations for employers operating across different jurisdictions when hiring apprentices.
-
Labour plans changes to discrimination law
06 February 2024The Labour party has set out new proposals to change discrimination law, including the idea of extending equal pay claims to cover ethnicity and disability. This is likely to make employment claims much more complex and costly, and much slower to resolve. Here’s our take.
-
Court backs decisions regarding cancellation of nickel trades
06 February 2024Towards the end of 2023, the Administrative Court handed down a judgment in R (on the application of Elliott Associates LP and others) v The London Metal Exchange and LME Clear Limited [2023] EWHC 2969 (Admin), rejecting a challenge to decisions made regarding the cancellation of nickel trades in a “disorderly market” in March 2022 and associated claims for damages. We consider key aspects of the decision and implications for the market.
-
What will change for VSPs under the Online Safety Act 2023?
05 February 2024The Online Safety Act 2023 (OSA) received Royal Assent in October 2023. Video sharing platforms (VSPs) have however been subject to a specific regime which has been in force since November 2020. That regime remains in place for now, but it will be replaced (in due course) by the OSA. What do these regimes require and what will happen to the video sharing regime as the OSA takes effect?
-
UK Migration Advisory Committee to advise on new Immigration Salary List
01 February 2024The Home Office has asked the Migration Advisory Committee to conduct a ‘rapid review’ of which occupations should be initially included on the Immigration Salary List (ISL). This list will replace the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) for the Skilled Worker route from April 2024. Employers experiencing skills shortages should consider submitting evidence to the full ISL review, which is expected to be commissioned shortly.
-
Ten top tips for employing an apprentice
01 February 2024With National Apprenticeship Week coming up next week, it’s a good time to think about hiring apprentices. Many organisations are looking to recruit for their September intake in order to make good use of their Apprenticeship Levy funds. Here are our ten top tips for employing an apprentice.
-
Pay Transparency Directive: new employee rights to pay information
01 February 2024The impact of the new Pay Transparency Directive extends beyond gender pay gap reporting. Alongside requiring employers to report gender pay disparities, it also grants employees new rights to information about pay. Employers need to start preparing for much greater openness.
-
Employment Tribunal fees: the government strikes back
01 February 2024The government has published a consultation proposing to reintroduce ‘modest’ fees in the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal.
-
The Future of Work Hub’s 2024 report: ‘Strategic priorities shaping the workforce and HR agenda in 2024 and beyond’ is here!
31 January 2024The world of work is undergoing profound and extensive disruption. Large-scale trends are transforming work, workforces and workplaces. The legacy of the pandemic has combined with a tense economic and social landscape, presenting businesses with significant challenges. How can businesses best navigate this increasingly complex environment? And, if you are in HR or have people responsibilities, what are the key strategic issues and areas of priority action for 2024 and beyond?
-
How does a leap year impact national minimum wage?
31 January 2024This is a leap year and, with 29 February falling on a Thursday, employers need to watch out for a possible breach of national minimum wage requirements.
-
Home Office announces timeline for immigration reforms
30 January 2024The Home Office has issued a new statement outlining the launch dates for major reforms to the Skilled Worker and Partner routes. This, along with other recent announcements confirms a packed timeline of immigration reforms due to be made over the next year.
-
Processing delays as changes loom
29 January 2024The Home Office is struggling to cope with a surge of demand for immigration application-related services ahead of an increase in the Immigration Health Surcharge and upcoming changes to the Skilled Worker and Partner routes.