A number of exciting updates in this week’s MMD. On the podcast we discuss a case involving frozen assets, as well as sex discrimination during the recruitment process.

In addition, Daniel has prepared a video on the requirement of external witnesses attending grievance hearing, while we have more updates following the King’s Speech and the likely impact on Employment Law.

THE MMD PODCAST

Episode 36:  Frozen

Join Sam and Nils this week as they discuss a case involving frozen assets and an Employment Tribunal case of sex discrimination with a defence of a recruitment freeze.

https://spoti.fi/4cVMkQ4

THE MEDIA HUB

Going Public

In this video, we discuss the reasonableness of an employee’s request for external witnesses to be interviewed as part of a grievance investigation. There are practical, legal and reputational issues associated with the request which need to be considered in each case

https://youtu.be/Po4y510LsKQ?si=tDzIxlGI624Ue-SD

King’s Speech 2024: what does it mean for employment law?

The King’s Speech held last week announced two bills on employment law, an Employment Rights Bill and a draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill.

Employment Rights Bill

The Employment Rights Bill is going to be introduced by 12 October 2024 and will include new laws needed to implement Labour’s New Deal for Working People, including:

• day 1 employment rights, including rights not to be unfairly dismissed (though employers will be able to operate probationary periods);
• ban on ‘exploitative’ zero-hours contracts, ensuring workers have rights to a contract reflecting average hours worked and more security over shift scheduling;
• restrictions on ‘fire and re-hire’ and ‘fire and replace’;
• making flexible working the default from day 1;
• establishing a new state enforcement agency, called the Fair Work Agency; and
• new rights for unions to access workplaces and other union-friendly reforms.

Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill

Alongside the Employment Rights Bill, Labour also plans a draft bill to:

• extend the equal pay regime so that it covers race and disability as well as sex; and

• introduce mandatory ethnicity and disability pay reporting for employers with at least 250 people.

Before being signed into the law, both Bills will need to be approved by both houses of Parliament which will take several months, meaning it is highly unlikely that either Bill will take effect until late next year.

JOIN US FOR OUR 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:

Mental Health First Aid (2 day course)

• 25/26th Sept

Mental Health First Aid – Refresher (1/2 day workshop)

• 27th September

Suicide First Aid – Understanding Suicide Intervention (1 day workshop)

• 28th November

Mental Health for Managers Workshop (1 day workshop)

• 14th October

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