What does the recent news on the burkini say about discrimination law in the UK?

The controversial new French law on the burkini has definitely raised a few eyebrows. The burkini debate has got us wondering what this could mean for discrimination law in employment? Photographs have emerged of a woman being ordered by four police officers armed with pepper spray and batons to remove her clothing in the South of France. The woman – identified as Siam – was ordered to strip off following the implementation of the controversial ‘burkini ban’. She was warned about the new beach dress code and fined €11 because she was not wearing ‘an outfit respecting good morals and…

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Myths of sexual harassment at work

There are certain myths in relation to sexual harassment, for example, banter is not sexual harassment and sexual harassment can only be committed by a man. Are these myths reality? Find out more here: Myth 1 – ‘Banter’ is not sexual harassment Time and time again employment lawyers hear as a defence to a sexual harassment claim that it was ‘banter’. Employment tribunals however reject the idea that a claim for sexual harassment can be defended on the basis that ‘it was only banter’. In the case of Driskel v Peninsula Business Services, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) upheld a…

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Gender Pay Gap – Ready to share?

S78 of the Equality Act 2010 will come into force on 22nd August 2016. This section calls for Regulations to be made which require employers with more than 250 employees to publish details about the differences in pay between men and women. Employers will need to publish reports from April 2018. The gender pay gap Regulations were due to come into force on 1st October 2016, however, a final version of the Regulations is yet to be published. As a result, it is now understood that the Regulations may not come into force until April 2017. Due to this delay…

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Drugs at work

Sometimes employees may be asked to take a random drug test by their employers. This is usually done for health and safety reasons, if your job involves dealing which machinery, looking after venerable people etc. Drug testing policy   An employer may only drug test an employee if there is a drug testing policy in place and the employee is aware and agrees to this. You may find this policy in your contract or staff handbook. A drug testing policy may be introduced after you have been working for your employer for a while. In such a case you will…

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Employment Law changes in 2016

Brexit is not the only change to affect us in 2016. Employers will begin to feel the impact of employment law reforms made by the first Conservative Government in many years where controversial decisions have been made affecting a number of areas. Here are eight things all employers should know in 2016: 1. Gender pay reporting begins For the very first time, large employers will have to publish details of their gender pay gap. Regulations introduced in March 2016 require organisations with 250 or more employees to report details about the difference in pay between men and women. This also…

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