Be Aware UK

News and views from DLA Piper's Employment team

Employment

Lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in England: implications for the workplace

/ Employment

The Prime Minister has today set out the Government’s plans for “living with COVID-19” in England which will see many restrictions dropped this week.  A Living with COVID-19 document has also been published which expands upon the announcement made by the Prime Minister. What is changing? The main changes announced today include the following – […]

Lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in England: implications for the workplace Read More »

Discover your organisation’s D&I rating with our new D&I index

/ , , , / Employment

In 2022, diversity and inclusion (D&I) is a top priority for most organisations which recognise its importance as a key component of an effective environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework. With this in mind, DLA Piper’s Employment group is pleased to launch a 15 minute D&I index. Our index will assist your organisation to identify

Discover your organisation’s D&I rating with our new D&I index Read More »

Employee wellbeing: Life events – Are you an employer of choice?

/ , , , , , , / Employment

The business case for employers reviewing their strategy on employee support DLA Piper’s Employment team is publishing a series of articles exploring the business case for employers reviewing their current approach to important life events which impact on employees in the workplace. In this first article of the series, we consider the overarching rationale for

Employee wellbeing: Life events – Are you an employer of choice? Read More »

USDAW union granted injunction against Tesco to prevent ‘fire and rehire’

/ , , , , / Employment

The High Court has granted an injunction preventing Tesco from using so-called ‘fire and re-hire’ to implement changes to terms and conditions for some of its workforce. Tesco recognises USDAW for collective bargaining purposes for staff below the grade of Team Manager at certain of its distribution sites. Between 2007 and 2009 Tesco implemented a

USDAW union granted injunction against Tesco to prevent ‘fire and rehire’ Read More »

No limit to carry over for unpaid as well as untaken holiday for workers denied right to paid holiday: Smith v Pimlico Plumbers (2)

/ , , / Employment

The Court of Appeal has handed down its second judgment in Mr Smith’s long-running litigation against Pimlico Plumbers, in a decision which has significant implications for holiday pay. This decision considerably raises the stakes for businesses facing worker status disputes. Mr Smith worked as a plumber for Pimlico Plumbers (Pimlico) for nearly 6 years. During

No limit to carry over for unpaid as well as untaken holiday for workers denied right to paid holiday: Smith v Pimlico Plumbers (2) Read More »

COVID-19: Fair dismissal of care home worker for refusing vaccine

/ Employment

A Leeds Employment Tribunal has held that a care home assistant disobeyed a lawful management instruction by refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and, in consequence, was fairly dismissed. Facts The employer operated a nursing home providing residential care to dementia sufferers.     In December 2020,  the Government began the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines to

COVID-19: Fair dismissal of care home worker for refusing vaccine Read More »

COVID-19: Government announces end of work from home guidance and mandatory face coverings

/ , , / Employment

Boris Johnson has announced that England is to return to Plan A next week, marking the end of the current Plan B restrictions. This means that from Thursday 27 January 2022: Wearing of face masks in the current designated indoor settings and on public transport will no longer be a mandatory legal obligation. Instead, wearing

COVID-19: Government announces end of work from home guidance and mandatory face coverings Read More »

Government imposes ‘Plan B’ COVID restrictions in England

/ / Coronavirus, COVID-19, Employment

The Government has announced that it is introducing further COVID-19 restrictions for England broadly in line with the ‘Plan B’ announced in the Autumn/Winter Plan on 15 September. Under the new restrictions: From Monday 13 December office workers will be asked to work from home where possible; Face coverings will become mandatory in most indoor

Government imposes ‘Plan B’ COVID restrictions in England Read More »

COVID-19: Government implements Plan B-lite with new measures which impact on employers

/ , , , , , , , / Coronavirus, COVID-19, Employment

In an unexpected turn of events, the government has announced that it will be bringing in new COVID-19 restrictions for England this week. The news follows significant concerns over the emergence of a new coronavirus variant.  The government has confirmed, however, that it will not yet be moving fully to its COVID-19 Plan B –

COVID-19: Government implements Plan B-lite with new measures which impact on employers Read More »

Supreme Court: employer’s direct pay offer to employees was unlawful inducement when collective bargaining process not completed

/ , , / Employment

Employers who recognise a trade union for collective bargaining purposes should take note of last week’s Supreme Court decision in Kostal UK Ltd v Dunkley which will have to be considered where collective bargaining negotiations over pay awards or other contractual variations reach a stalemate. Background The Supreme Court’s decision is the final instalment in

Supreme Court: employer’s direct pay offer to employees was unlawful inducement when collective bargaining process not completed Read More »

Government outlines its proposals for Plan B mandatory COVID certification

/ Employment

In its COVID Autumn and Winter Plan (see our Be Aware of 15 September 2021), the government committed to providing more detail about its proposals for mandatory COVID certification in England in certain designated settings. This forms part of its Plan B for tackling the pandemic and would only take effect in the event that

Government outlines its proposals for Plan B mandatory COVID certification Read More »

Information Commissioner’s call for views on employment practices: a survey for employers

/ / Employment, Reform

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is calling for views on data protection and employment practices to help them shape their upcoming guidance products which will see existing guidance replaced with “a new, more user-friendly online resource with topic-specific areas”. DLA Piper’s employment group will be submitting a response to the ICO’s call for views and

Information Commissioner’s call for views on employment practices: a survey for employers Read More »

Government launches consultation on extension of right to request flexible working

/ Employment

The Government has today published its heavily-trailed consultation Making Flexible Working the Default on new proposals to make the right to request flexible working a day 1 entitlement, as well as its response to consultation on a new right to unpaid carer’s leave. Currently the statutory right to request flexible working only applies to employees

Government launches consultation on extension of right to request flexible working Read More »

The COVID-19 Autumn and Winter Plan: Key points for employers

/ , , , , , , / Coronavirus, COVID-19, Employment

The UK government has outlined its COVID-19 response for autumn and winter for England and stated that the main line of defence to the coronavirus pandemic is now vaccination rather than lockdown.  The government’s response includes both a Plan A – the intended approach which will be taken through autumn and winter – and a

The COVID-19 Autumn and Winter Plan: Key points for employers Read More »