As specialists in employment law, we have day to day experience in all employment related matters. We would like to share some of our insights in the articles on this page.

News and comment from the team

Fighting Workplace Harassment; Legal Avenues for UK Employees

Under the Equality Act 2010 (EqA), harassment is a type of discrimination and is therefore unlawful in the UK. Unfortunately, this does not mean that workplace harassment does not exist, but if you do experience harassment at work then you can take action. Workplace harassment can be deeply unsettling, affecting not just an employee’s professional life but also their mental well-being. If

Gathering Strong Evidence for a Workplace Discrimination Case

Workplace discrimination is not merely an ethical issue but also a legal one. In the UK, the key piece of legislation that addresses discrimination at work is The Equality Act 2010 (EqA). This act protects individuals from discrimination based on a range of ‘protected characteristics’, including; age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race and nationality

Identifying, Reporting & Resolving Race Discrimination in the Workplace

Race discrimination remains an issue in many workplaces in the United Kingdom. Not only does it impact things like productivity and morale among employees, but it can have a significant impact on the lives of those being discriminated against. Recognising, addressing and eliminating race discrimination is therefore crucial to creating an inclusive work environment where employees feel valued, resp

Whistleblowing Protection in the UK; Know Your Rights as an Employee

Whistleblowing is the act of reporting wrongdoing within an organisation. To encourage transparency and accountability, in the United Kingdom, whistleblowers are protected by law. It is important for all employees to understand their rights should they find themselves in a situation where they need to raise concerns and ‘blow the whistle’. Below we have put together some general advice for

What Is A Pool For Comparison In Discrimination Claims?

When experiencing discrimination at work, employees may be able to bring a claim to the Employment Tribunal (ET) under the Equality Act 2010 (EqA). This key piece of legislation makes suffering unfavourable treatment due to having a protected characteristic unlawful and all employees are protected by the EqA. Gender is a protected characteristic and the EqA protects against sex discriminat

Difference Between A Continuing Act Of Discrimination & A One-Off Act With Continuing Consequences

Discrimination in the workplace is not uncommon and many employees will suffer unfavourable treatment due to them having a protected characteristic. Thankfully, the Equality Act 2010 (EqA), protects against discrimination at work and this key piece of legislation recognises several different forms of discrimination, including; direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment and victimis

Pregnant HR Assistant Wins Claim After Being Refused Pay Rise

Lots of employees do not realise that the Equality Act 2010 (EqA) lists ‘pregnancy and maternity’ as a protected characteristic. This key piece of legislation protects employees who are discriminated against in the workplace due to being pregnant or going on maternity leave and Section 18 of the EqA states; (2)A person (A) discriminates against a woman if, in the protected period in relatio

Gender Equality at Work; Addressing Discrimination in the Workplace

The Importance Of Complying With The Acas Code Of Practice

Many people are unaware that both employers and employees need to comply with the Acas Code of Practice when handling any discipline or grievance issues. Should you make a relevant claim to the Employment Tribunal, for example, and your employer has failed to follow a fair procedure in line with the Acas Code it could impact the compensatory award you are provided. If you have never heard

Can Discrimination Arise From A Disability If An Employer Does Not Have Knowledge Of The Disability?

There are several different types of discrimination in the workplace, including; direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation, all of which are unlawful under the Equality Act 2010 (EqA). In the case of disability discrimination, discriminatory behaviour can also include; not making reasonable adjustments in the workplace and unfavourable treatment as a result of so

Who Is Responsible For Discrimination In The Workplace?

A recent employment law case has brought to light just how important anti-harassment and diversity training is in the workplace. The case of Allay (UK) Ltd v Mr S Gehlen was concluded that the training that had been provided to the perpetrator of race harassment, and a number of other employees, including two managers who failed to report matters to HR, had become stale and required refreshing. &

Understanding Harassment In The Workplace

Under section 26 of The Equality Act 2010 (EqA), harassment in the workplace as a result of a protected characteristic is made unlawful and this important piece of legislation states; (1) A person (A) harasses another (B) if— (a) A engages in unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic, and (b) the conduct has the purpose or effect of— (

Race Discrimination Claims In Sport

The Equality Act 2010 (“EqA”), the definition of ‘race’ is quite wide so it includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins. The EqA makes it unlawful for employees of any kind to be discriminated against due to their race. Claims are pursued in an Employment Tribunal. Unfortunately, racism and racial inequalities still exist in a range of different industry sectors, and new ca

Race Discrimination in the Workplace

It is unlawful to discriminate against a worker in the workplace. Direct race discrimination occurs when a worker is treated less favourably because of their race. The definition of ‘race’ covers colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins. What protection do employees have against racial discrimination? The Equality Act 2010 (“EqA”), is the key piece of legislation relating

What is Disability Discrimination In The Workplace?

Although discrimination in the workplace on the basis of disability is unlawful in the UK, it can still occur and unfortunately, it is not as uncommon as people may assume for disabled people to be discriminated against whilst at work. Thankfully, The Equality Act 2010 provides protection to employees, contract workers and apprentices alike in this regard and should you be the victim of discrimina

Pregnant Marketing Director Wins Discrimination Claim

Mrs Shipp, who was a Marketing Director at CitySprint, was awarded £30,000 by the Employment Tribunal after winning her maternity and sex discrimination claim. During her pregnancy, Mrs Shipp’s male colleagues made a number of unwanted comments that generated a humiliating and degrading environment for her, such as; questions about whether her pregnancy was planned and jokes about how much

Establishing Whether Bullying And Harassment Has Taken Place At Work

Unfortunately, both bullying and harassment are more common in the workplace than people assume and many employees experienced unwelcome behaviour that is insulting, offensive, malicious and intimidating in nature. Thankfully, if you are experiencing this type of behaviour in the workplace, then you are entitled to take action and it is likely that you will be protected by The Equality Act 2010 (T

Bank Employee Wins Claim Of Sex Discrimination

A female investment banker working for Barclays took a claim of sex discrimination to the Employment Tribunal against her manager. The judge upheld Ms Lacatus’s claim and there will be another hearing to decide how much compensation she will receive. In February 2018, Ms Lacatus’s manager, Mr Kinghorn, used the word ‘bird’ to refer to female colleagues on several occasions in the wor

An Easy To Understand Guide To Workplace Race Discrimination Claims

Unfortunately, race discrimination in the workplace is a very prevalent issue, but it is something that no one should be subjected to. All employees should be aware that if they have experienced race discrimination whilst they are at work then they are protected by The Equality Act 2010 (The EA). This key piece of legislation is a combination of former statutes that have been designed to prevent t

Senior Employee Awarded £2.5m By Employment Tribunal For Unfair Dismissal And Disability Harassment

Mr Barrow was sacked after 36 years working for multinational construction company Kellogg, Brown & Root (KBR). After several hearings, the London South Employment Tribunal concluded that his dismissal had been unfair, that he was treated unfavourably and had suffered disability-related harassment. The tribunal ordered KBR to pay Mr Barrow £2,567,831.96, including £7,500 for aggravated damages

What The Furlough Scheme Ending Will Mean For Tribunal Claims

It is fair to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has been incredibly difficult financially for both businesses and their employees. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, also commonly referred to as the furlough scheme, has been incredibly beneficial, helping to ensure that businesses have been able to pay their employees a wage, even if they are not currently operating as they usually would.

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