A woman who was sexually harassed by a male colleague at work has been awarded £12,293 compensation by an industrial tribunal. Noeleen McAleenon says she was subjected to inappropriate contact and degrading comments about her sex life while working for Autism Initiatives NI. She complained to her employer then later resigned because she felt her
There has been a surge in the number of unfair dismissal claims as people try to avoid tribunal fees which come into effect in the summer. There were 15,300 claims in the third quarter of last year compared with 10,600 in the previous quarter – a rise of 44%. It’s thought the sudden increase is
Discrimination against mothers and pregnant women is still a major problem in the workplace, according to research by the charity, Working Families. It says 10% of the calls to its advice line are about maternity and employment issues. It believes this 10% is just the tip of the iceberg and that discrimination is still rife
Overview A Settlement Agreement is a legally binding contract that is used to settle employment disputes. They can also be called Termination Agreements or Compromise Agreements. In return for receiving a sum of money and/or benefits the employee or ex employee agrees not to pursue claims against the employer. A Settlement Agreement is designed to
We regularly advise employees on settlement and compromise agreements. This service is available from our Luton and Berkhamsted offices. Appointments can also be offered in Hemel Hempstead. Further information on our service and answers to some frequently asked questions can be found here.
The law offers employers some protection against libel claims arising out of references they provide for employees. This was illustrated in a recent case before the High Court. It involved a laboratory assistant, Mr Bol Thour, who had worked for the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead. He applied for a job at St Bart’s Hospital,
Employees who become ill during their holidays from work will be allowed to reclaim the time back at a later date, following a ruling by the European Court of Justice. The decision was made in a case brought by Spanish trade unions against a group of department stores. The Court said that the timing of
The national minimum wage for workers over the age of 21 is to increase by 11p to £6.19 an hour. That is a rise of 1.8%, which is lower than the rate of inflation but higher than the average increase in earnings, which rose by 1.4% in the year to January. The rate for 18
An insurance company has been awarded damages and granted an injunction against a group of employees who left to set up a rival business. The court found that the group had committed numerous breaches of their employment contracts and fiduciary duty. They enticed others to resign and also used confidential company information while still employees.
The changes to the regulations covering agency workers have now come into effect. It means that agency workers who fulfil the same role with a firm for 12 continuous weeks are entitled to the same basic employment conditions as employees. The regulations apply even if the person only works for a few hours each week.