Employment

Gender employment gap in Scotland fell by almost 2 per cent between 2009 and 2019

New statistics also show that disability employment gap for 2019 fell by almost 3 per cent from previous year

Employment case law round up

Northern Ireland Executive announces proposals for parental bereavement leave and pay

Workers who suffer the loss of a child will have a statutory entitlement to two weeks’ leave and, in most cases, a statutory payment, says Minister

Court of Appeal considers whether an Employment Tribunal made error of law in refusing disabled claimant’s adjournment request in order to seek further medical evidence

[2020] EWCA Civ 638

Lowest-paid employees are ‘bearing the brunt’ of coronavirus economic crisis, with almost a third having either been furloughed or lost jobs

New Resolution Foundation report on impacts of coronavirus on the labour market also finds nearly half of self-employed workers are not intending to take up government support scheme

Third of UK workforce are in ‘key worker’ occupations for purposes of accessing childcare during coronavirus lockdown

New ONS analysis also shows that 15 per cent of 'key workers' are at moderate risk from coronavirus because of health condition

Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland agrees 2020/2021 agricultural pay rates

New rates to take effect from 1 April 2020

TUC issues advice to employees on whether they have right to refuse to work because of safety concerns related to coronavirus

New information published in response to Prime Minister's announcement that workers who can’t work from home, and who don’t work in industries that are closed down, should return to work

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme should be extended for three months, with further extensions conditional on minimum pay and job quality standards, says think tank

New report urges government to ‘strike a balance’ between protecting workers and their incomes, supporting compliance with social distancing restrictions, and protecting viable businesses and the economy

Employment case law round up

Minimum wage underpayments affected more than 400,000 people in 2018/2019, says Low Pay Commission

Government has made progress in recent years, but more can still be done to protect the most vulnerable, says Commision chair

Government should introduce a separate Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for charities, say MPs

Select Committee says that is has heard evidence that undermines assurances given by the Secretary of State that charities can access many of the measures for businesses announced by the Chancellor

Employment Tribunal Presidents issue joint Practice Direction on documents that are electronically delivered and signed

New guidance confirms that documents delivered electronically will comply with Rules of Procedure if they bear a facsimile of judge’s signature or their typed name

Equality and Human Rights Commission warns employers of their continuing obligations to comply with equalities legislation during COVID-19 crisis

New guidance acknowledges that employers may need to make difficult decisions on ways of working during crisis, but this must not result in ‘rowing back’ on people’s rights

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme must not end ‘at a cliff-edge’, says TUC as it sets out recommendations to help UK transition out of lockdown

Job Guarantee Scheme for those who lose their jobs would help prevent the coronavirus pandemic being followed by a major unemployment crisis, says General Secretary

Court of Justice of European Union rules that Yodel delivery driver does not have ‘worker’ status under the Working Time Directive

C‑692/19

Court of Appeal considers whether Employment Tribunal correctly allowed late claim from disabled employee where his mistaken belief about the date of dismissal contributed to delay

[2019] EWCA Civ 2490