News & knowledge

On 26 October 2024, important changes to the law on sexual harassment in the workplace will take effect. Here’s what employers need to know.

The pros and cons of a four-day working week are a hot topic.   Proponents shout that it raises productivity (by increasing focus and more efficient workload management) and improves work-life balance (higher job satisfaction and less stress, sickness etc).  Naysayers point to struggles to maintain customer service, meet deadlines and an increase in recruitment and […]

After a few years where there has not been much to report on the employment front, April 2024 marks the start of some activity which employers should be aware of. We have picked out the key points below. Changes at a glance: From 1 April… From 6 April… Acas has a new draft code of […]

Before you press send on a management email about an employee, stop and think to yourself, would I be happy for the employee to read this?  Data subject access requests (known as DSARs or SARs) are frequently the first course of action for disgruntled employees contemplating grievances or employment tribunal proceedings.    As an employer, it […]

Luke joined Murrell Associates in November 2022 having previously worked for Nalders for 7 years, where he specialised in both corporate and employment law. Luke qualified as a Solicitor in September 2019 having completed a Law Degree, the Legal Practice Certificate and Professional Skills Course at the University of the West of England in Bristol.

(By an employment lawyer returning to work following maternity leave). I know my rights (of course I do), and I’ve done this before, but still the prospect of returning to work following a year of maternity leave filled me with apprehension.

In Smith v Pimlico Plumbers Limited, the Court of Appeal ruled that Smith, a worker who was previously wrongly classified as self-employed by Pimlico Plumbers, was entitled to holiday pay for the whole time he was engaged by the company. It is an important judgment for organisations which engage self-employed contractors on a long-term basis.

Age Discrimination. So held the Employment Tribunals in David Robson v Clarke’s Mechanical Limited. The Tribunal concluded that R had been subject to direct age discrimination due to R having to endure the nickname of “Half-Dead Dave.” The case was principally about unfair redundancy, however the Tribunal found that R’s age was the effective cause of his selection.

Despite running into some 75 pages the judgment in Cowie v Vesuvius & Ors makes for interesting reading, especially as direct age discrimination cases tend to be few and far between. The use of words like “old fossil” has brought it to the attention of some national newspapers.

Penryn-based copywriting agency Radix Communications is now owned by its employees, after setting up an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).

What’s the appeal, why are they useful and what are the risks?

Many people have very different views. Some people are keen to express their views; others would prefer to keep their politics private.