5 Employment Law decisions to look out for in 2017

Here are 5 significant employment law decisions expected in 2017, dealing with employment status, holiday pay and more. Employment Status Aslam and others v Uber BV and others (Employment Appeals Tribunal) This was one of the most talked about tribunal case in 2016. The employment tribunal decided that Uber drivers are workers rather than self-employed. This means that they entitled to all protections offered to an employee such as recieving the national minimum wage and paid annual leave. The issue is now expected to go to the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT). There are similar claims pending against the likes of…

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How prepared is your organisation for Christmas in the workplace: 5 common employer queries

Try not to end the year on a bad note. Workplace Christmas parties may bring up issues of conduct and discrimination. Us employment lawyers come back to work with several files on our desk with employers seeking advice on this matter. As well as the above, holiday and overtime issues tend to arise around this time. Here are the top 5 common employer queries during this festive time: What should employers do to prepare for the festive season? Managers should familiarise themselves with their employer’s policy on work-related social events. Furthermore, it is advisable for employers to consider issuing a statement…

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10 interesting points that you might not know about settlement agreements

Below is an example of some points which are often overlooked by employers and employees with regards to settlement agreements. Settlement agreements used to be called compromise agreements In July 2013, the name compromise agreement was changed to settlement agreement. The reason for the change was because:- “[settlement agreement] more accurately describes their content and will help to avoid any party refusing to sign an agreement on the grounds that they do not want to be seen as ‘compromising’. We also believe that ‘settlement agreement’ is a more widely understood term, being used in the treatment of contract claims.” A…

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Tips for Employers: How to manage workers with serious medical conditions

ACAS has issued new guidance which provides assistance to employers and HR who manage staff with serious long-term or life-threatening illnesses. Macmillan Cancer Support has estimated in 2013 that by 2020 47% of the population would be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their life. As employees are continuing to work for a longer period of their lives, the issue will no doubt affect many employers. It is important that employers and HR understand the law when it comes to serious medical conditions and it is also important that they can manage staff who suffer serious illnesses such as…

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Can you dismiss an employee over a Donald Trump type video?

In light of the recent news of Donald Trump winning the US presidency, could an employer fairly dismiss an employee who makes offensive remarks which are recorded, similar to the recent video showing Donald Trump making offensive remarks about women? Readers may recall the video that recently came to light which records Donald Trump making offensive remarks about women back in 2005. However, if he were employed by a company, would they be legally entitled to dismiss him? One of the main things it would boil down to would be how senior is the employee in the company? Senior members…

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