In law, there are three main categories of employment status – employees, workers and the genuinely self-employed. Your employment status determines what rights you have. Volunteers usually fall outside these 3 categories because they don’t get paid. However, recent case law shows that the position can become more complicated where volunteers receive payments beyond basic… [Read More]
Trans rights? NHS Trust liable for discrimination
Recent case law has clarified how the Equality Act 2010 (EA 2010) applies to sex and gender reassignment in the workplace. Following the Supreme Court decision in For Women Scotland, the legal definition of “sex” under the EA 2010 is biological sex. This means that, for EA 2010 purposes, a trans woman is legally male,… [Read More]
What happens when monitoring staff goes too far?
As monitoring technologies become more sophisticated, regulators are increasingly willing to crack down on employers who infringe on employee privacy. The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has made clear that workplace surveillance must be necessary, proportionate, transparent, and grounded in a lawful basis. Fall short, and the consequences can be serious — ranging from regulatory… [Read More]
Non-attendance at work due to bad weather
What happens in your workplace when bad weather hits? Many employers are torn between concern for the safety and wellbeing of their employees, while also worrying about their business and productivity. Here are some frequently asked questions and our answers to them: Do employees have to attend work in bad weather? Yes. Employees are obliged… [Read More]
Employment Rights Act 2025 – Prep for April
The first major implementation milestone for Employment Rights Act 2025 is coming on 6th April 2025. For those of you who don’t have time to read the 289 pages, here’s our summary for employers of what needs to be actioned now: However, the eligibility rules for statutory paternity pay remain the same (i.e. it will… [Read More]
