Good morning, Everyone,

Welcome back to this week’s MMD! In the podcast Sam and Nils discuss positive action in discrimination cases and working visas.  Daniel’s video focuses on key amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, which will introduce stricter penalties for businesses breaching immigration or employment law. In the news, we explore the decision by Metropolitan Police staff to strike over a controversial office attendance policy, sparking debate on flexible working practices.

THE MMD PODCAST

Episode 49:  Positive Action

In this week’s podcast Sam and Nils discuss working visas and positive action in discrimination maters including how they affect the recruitment process and what you need to know to ensure you comply with the appropriate Regulations.

Listen to the episode:  https://bit.ly/3ZUvaxS

Listen on YouTube: https://bit.ly/4gf8O01

THE MEDIA HUB

Changes to Visa Sponsorship Announced

The Employment Rights Bill will be amended to introduce greater penalties for business who commit immigration offences or who fail to comply with employment law requirements. Such penalties include a longer ban on sponsoring migrant workers and on applying for a new license to be granted. It is also proposed that employers will be prohibited from clawing back any sums paid out in connection with a visa application.

Watch the video:  https://youtu.be/Wy2jdSpLGus

Met Police Vote to Strike Against Return to the Office

The Metropolitan Police staff have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action against a policy which require staff to work from the office for three to five days per week. 

The Met Police policy proposed that employees attend their workplace between 60 and 100% of the time (depending on the location). Met Police employees took action against the proposed change, marking the first time, according to the Union, that the Met Police’s workforce has voted for industrial action.

The PCS union represented the Met Police staff, with 85% of the voting members voting in favour of industrial action. The Union reported that the result reflected the “depth of feeling” of the staff, claiming that the policy would disproportionately affect part-time workers, women, and disabled employees.

Whilst the PCS union reported that their members were “desk-based civilians who work from home just as productively as if they were in the office, but without the stress and cost of a daily commute”, the Met Police spokesperson responded by highlighting that PCS members were not just desk-based staff, but also staff working on the front lines.

However, whilst the Force has expressed disappointment over the strike action and has recognised that the move will raise concerns about their ability to serve London, it has released a statement assuring the public that it has contingencies in place to keep communities safe.

This strike action comes amidst controversy around flexible working, with return to work mandates being enforced by high-profile Companies such as Amazon, whilst the new Labour Government has proposed to make flexible working the ‘default’ as part of their Employment Rights Bill.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Our seminars and events have finished for 2024. Keep an eye on our website for the release of our 2025 Seminar Programme coming soon!

 https://www.chadwicklawrence.co.uk/seminars/business-services-seminars/

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS SESSIONS

Through our relationship with Tailored Learning Solutions who provide mental health first aid courses in our business, we are now able to announce that we are running multiple courses at our Wakefield office including the following:

• 23 and 24 April 2025
• 25 and 26 June 2025
• 24 and 25 September 2025

The details of these sessions can be found at the Tailored Learning Solutions website: https://www.tailoredlearningsolutions.co.uk/book-online?category=all-services

If you would like further information and details of the cost for these events, please email carolgledhill@chadlaw.co.uk