Insights & News
Search for Insights & News
-
AI in the workplace: mind the regulatory gap?
27 April 2023The world of work looks set to be revolutionised by AI technology, with recent research suggesting that up to 300 million full time jobs globally could become automated. Yet strong voices of caution are sounding about the pace of change. Are legislatures stepping up to fill the regulatory gap? And what are the considerations for employers looking to step in and codify employees’ use of new technology themselves?
-
Toxic workplaces hit the headlines: a warning to employers to take steps to prevent and tackle workplace misconduct
27 April 2023Organisational culture continues to experience considerable scrutiny following the findings of bullying by Dominic Raab and the recent allegations of misconduct and sexual harassment at the CBI. Although Raab was critical of where the Tolley Report set the bar in making these adverse findings, his response is at odds with evolving standards of workplace behaviour. What are these standards, and what can employers do to avoid a toxic culture?
-
Lewis Silkin has advised 365 Retail Markets LLC on its acquisition of Kafoodle
Deal
21 April 2023Lewis Silkin has advised leading provider of self-service commerce technology to the foodservice industry – 365 Retail Markets LLC, based in Michigan (USA), on its acquisition of Kafoodle, a UK based food technology company that specialises in menu and kitchen management, nutritional data, and allergy compliance.
-
Lewis Silkin has advised Next 15 Group Plc’s Palladium Group Limited on the acquisition of onefourzero
21 April 2023Lewis Silkin has advised its long-standing client, Next 15 Group plc, on the acquisition by Palladium Group of onefourzero, the international digital and commercial M&A consulting firm.
-
Lewis Silkin has advised Norstella on disposal of Clinerion to form a strategic partnership with TriNetX
Deal
21 April 2023Lewis Silkin has advised leading pharmaceutical solutions provider Norstella on the formation of its strategic partnership with TriNetX, the global healthcare network driving real world research, which included the sale of Clinerion.
-
Consultation launched on significant reforms to European Works Councils
20 April 2023The European Commission has published a first-stage consultation of the European social partners (BusinessEurope on the employer side and the European Trade Union Confederation on the employee side) on a proposed revision of the European Works Council Directive. Whilst the consultation process remains at an early stage, the reforms being contemplated would have profound implications for all businesses with a European Works Council as the aim is to strengthen social dialogue.
-
Ethnicity pay gap reporting guidance published
20 April 2023As part of its Inclusive Britain strategy, the government has finally published guidance for employers who wish to report and address their ethnicity pay gaps.
-
New ACAS guidance on mental health and reasonable adjustments
20 April 2023The duty to make reasonable adjustments is a concept familiar to most employers. But new ACAS guidance shines a light on reasonable adjustments for mental health specifically. This publication includes detailed resources to support both employers and employees when handling reasonable adjustments for mental health at work.
-
New requirement to report hybrid or remote working patterns for sponsored employees
17 April 2023In new guidance, the Home Office has confirmed that hybrid and remote working locations must be reported for sponsored workers. Sponsors should review the work location information recorded for all sponsored workers and consider making updates on the Sponsor Management System as appropriate.
-
Gender pay gap reporting 2022 – our analysis of the latest results
17 April 2023What do the latest set of gender pay gap reporting figures tell us? Employers had until 4 April 2023 to report their statistics for 2022. We’ve analysed the data to discover the trends.
-
EHRC letter on sex and the Equality Act
14 April 2023The Equality and Human Rights Commission has written a letter to Kemi Badenoch (the Minister for Women and Equalities) on the definition of “sex” in the Equality Act 2010.
-
Oliver Fairhurst named The Times' ‘Lawyer of the Week’ following the high-profile court case against John Lewis over a Christmas advert
Press
13 April 2023Oliver Fairhurst, a partner at Lewis Silkin, successfully defended a claim brought by author Fay Evans who claimed that fire-breathing dragon Edgar featured in the 2019 John Lewis Christmas advertisement, had copied one of her books. The High Court ruled that there was no evidence that the team from the retailer and advertising agency DDB had been aware of her work, and ordered that Evans publicise that her claim had failed.
-
CMA launches consultation on its draft environmental sustainability guidance
12 April 2023The CMA is consulting on its draft guidance on the application of the Chapter 1 prohibition in the Competition Act 1998 (which prohibits agreements between businesses that restrict competition in the UK) to environmental sustainability agreements.
-
Key considerations for clawing back immigration fees from employees
12 April 2023Businesses increasingly look to protect their investment in sponsored workers with “clawback” agreements, seeking to recoup immigration fees from the employee if employment terminates. With sponsorship on the rise post-Brexit, businesses are asking questions about how to create an effective clawback agreement.
-
Ali Vaziri comments on the concerns about the growing abilities of chatbots for The Guardian
09 April 2023Concerns are growing about the privacy risks of using AI chatbots, including OpenAI's GPT-4.
-
Tom Heys comments for Bloomberg on Gender Pay Gap reporting figures
Press
05 April 2023Tom Heys has commented in an article for Bloomsburg discussing gender pay gap reporting and the most recent set of statistics published by employers.
-
Síobhra Rush comments on the Work Life Balance 2022 bill coming into effect in Ireland for The Irish Times
Press
05 April 2023The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 has passed through all stages in the Dáil and has been signed into law by President Michael D Higgins, set to be in effect in weeks.
-
Neurodiversity and discrimination examined in the Employment Appeal Tribunal
04 April 2023The EAT upheld an employment tribunal’s decision that a neurodivergent claimant had not been discriminated against because of something arising in consequence of his disability. But, whilst unsuccessful in his primary claim, the claimant still received an award of over £20,000 for victimisation. We explore the practical and legal issues that arose during his employment and how employers could better support neurodivergent employees.
-
Immigration restrictions on employment in the UK and consequences of breach
04 April 2023The Home Office has capability to scrutinise whether individuals with limited immigration permission are complying with any immigration conditions that restrict or prohibit employment in the UK. In this article, we look at this issue with a focus on how employment is defined, methods of detection, consequences of breach and how to minimise risk.
-
Lewis Silkin announces partner promotions for 2023
Press Release
03 April 2023Four promoted from across the firm’s specialist practice groups.