The Supreme Court ruled that Ashers bakery’s refusal to make a cake with a slogan supporting same-sex marriage was not discriminatory. The high-profile dispute began in 2014 when the bakery refused to make a cake with the slogan “Support Gay Marriage”. The customer, gay rights activist Gareth Lee, sued the company for discrimination on the…
Promises that are relied upon to their detriment by those to whom they are made are enforceable by the courts. In one case that demonstrated this point, a daughter of a farmer who worked long hours for low pay on her family farm, after her father assured her that she would have her reward in…
Settlement agreements are typically offered to employees when their employer wants to terminate their contract. Often this is due to redundancy but can also be offered if an employer thinks they are performing badly or believes there is misconduct. Usually an employee is given money in return for certain conditions, including not bringing a claim…
Are so called ‘casual’ staff entitled to the panoply of rights afforded to ‘workers’ by the Employment Rights Act 1996? A tribunal grappled with that vital issue in a case concerning a pipe fitter who found a temporary job through a recruitment agency. The man began working on a building site after answering an advertisement…
In general, social media can be an effective way to keep in touch with friends and family, however, when using social media to discuss work, even the most innocent postings can potentially have major consequences. A recent case reported by the media highlights the story of a care worker who was dismissed from her job…
On 1st October 2017, a new debt collection pre-action protocol will come into effect in England and Wales. The protocol, the first of its kind specifically for debt claims, will apply to consumer debts disputes where a business is claiming debt repayment from an individual. Debts claimed by public bodies will also be covered, as…
The Government has been forced to scrap employment tribunal fees after a ruling by the Supreme Court in July, bringing an abrupt end to a policy that has been controversial since its introduction in 2013 under the Coalition Government. The case, brought by the Unite union as a judicial review, argued that setting fees of…
In general many senior employees know the intimate details of the companies they work for and their departure to a competing business can be a disaster, especially if they have worked at the company for a long time. In general many senior employees know the intimate details of the companies they work for and their…
As anyone who follows football will know, managerial sackings are a feature of the modern game. However, a recent employment tribunal decision involving a football club has demonstrated the importance of having effective company disciplinary processes. In the case, an assistant manager of a professional football club, who play in the lower leagues, was dismissed…
