Employment

‘Working Together Review: Progressive Workplace Policies in Scotland’

New independent report, published by Scottish Government, outlines range of recommendations to improve workplace relations and productivity, including legislation to ensure worker representation on the board of every public sector body.

Employment case law round up

Paternity and Adoption Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2014

New regulations that, amongst other measures, remove the 26 week qualification period for entitlement to adoption leave; ensure that a parent is not entitled to take paternity leave in relation to a child once he or she has taken any shared parental leave for the same child; provide protection for employees who suffer detriment or dismissal in relation to time off for antenatal or adoption appointments; and amend the right to return following paternity or adoption leave to take account of the forthcoming shared parental leave regulations.

Elsevier Ltd v Munro

[2014] EWHC 2648 (QB)

Drysdale v The Department of Transport (The Maritime And Coastguard Agency)

[2014] EWCA Civ 1083

Law Society of Scotland calls for urgent review of employment tribunal fees

Fees, introduced a year ago, represent 'a major barrier to access to justice', says Law Society.

Agricultural Sector (Wales) Act 2014 gains Royal Assent

New Act aims to safeguard agricultural workers following the government's abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales.

Khan v Royal Mail Group Ltd & Ors

[2014] EWCA Civ 1082

Hounga v Allen & Anor

[2014] UKSC 47

Sunrise Brokers LLP v Rodgers

[2014] EWHC 2633 (QB)

Daniel v Secretary of State for the Department of Health

[2014] EWHC 2578 (QB)

Employment case law round up

7 in 10 potentially successful Employment Tribunals not pursued after introduction of fees

New Citizens Advice research highlights that, with the government having introduced fees of up to £1,200 to access the Employment Tribunal on 29 July last year, in the six months from October 2013 to March 2014 there was a 73% drop in claims on the same period the previous year.

Government announces Health and Work Service supplier

Service - designed to help employees and employers to manage sickness absence - will be launched in late 2014 with a phased roll-out coming to a close by the end of May 2015.

Childcare options for those on unstable hours likely to be of poorer quality, says Citizens Advice

Whilst the rise in self-employment and jobs with irregular hours means working parents will increasingly depend on flexible childcare, research shows that those childcare providers most likely to offer variable hours have poorer Ofsted ratings and so will be of lower quality.

Government consults on National Minimum Wage regulations

Views sought on whether the draft National Minimum Wage consolidation regulations are clear and workable.

Remploy Employment Services to be privatised

'As part of the government’s long-term economic plan we are helping businesses up and down the country to become more confident about employing people with disabilities and giving Remploy Employment Services independence from government will allow even more disabled people to build their careers', says DWP Minister.