Employment Law Update April 2011

2011 Budget - impact on employment

The Government published the 2011 Budget and accompanying ‘Plan for Growth’ last week. While many of the employment-related measures had already been announced, some were unexpected, including a commitment to review employers’ liability...

Additional Paternity Leave ("APL") and Pay

The Additional Paternity Leave Regulations 2010 allow fathers (and adoptive partners) the right to up to six months’ paternity leave which can be taken once the mother (or other adopter) has returned to work. The regulations came into force on 6 April...

Tribunal's reasoning ought to be read 'in the round'

In Fuller v London Borough of Brent the Court of Appeal (“CA”) has upheld a Tribunal’s decision that the Claimant was unfairly dismissed for gross misconduct. The Employment Appeals Tribunal (“EAT”), which had overturned the...

Harassment claim fails where not reasonable for Claimant to take offence

In Thomas Sanderson Blinds v English (No.2) the Employment Appeals Tribunal (“EAT”) upheld a Tribunal’s decision to reject a harassment claim, having taken into account evidence that the Claimant had previously engaged in similarly...

Q&A - Repealing the default retirement age

This month we focus on the new Regulations which have now been published abolishing the default retirement age (The Employment Equality (Repeal of Retirement Age Provision) Regulations 2011 (“the Regulations”)). We look at what they do and how...