Our September 2022 employment law newsletter is out now!

Welcome to September's employment law newsletter

The world of employment has not sat still in the last month: our news section advertises encouraging results for the 4-day week trial currently conducted in the UK; a consultation on the tax status of remote and hybrid workers; a new CIPD report on Employer Focus on Working Parents; the government's launch of the Scale-up visa scheme, and the opening of a consultation on process for public sector exit payments.

Analysis is provided by our group as follows:

Sarah Clarke considers how employers can minimise the risks associated with work events involving alcohol.

Jo Laxton provides an analysis of the Presidents of the Employment Tribunals' updated guidance on hearing evidence from witnesses who are abroad.

Matthew Curtis reviews Cygnet Behavioural Health Ltd v Britton [2022] EAT 18, which takes a hard line on extensions of time in unfair dismissal cases.

Sarah Clarke analyses Kumari v Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust [2022] EAT 132  in which the EAT held that it was permissible to rely on the weak merits of a claim when considering whether to extend time.

World's largest 4-day week trial - how is it going?

Atom Bank - the largest business and only bank to take part in the 4-day week trial - releases its first set of data on the trial, claiming a 92% jump in productivity and on track for its first annual profit this year.

Consultation launched into the tax status of remote and hybrid workers

The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) is conducting a review on the emerging trends and tax implications of hybrid and distance working, which could impact on where remote workers decide to work, as well as how companies handle employees’ requests for working abroad.

CIPD launch their report on Employer Focus on Working Parents

The CIPD’s survey of 2,000 senior decision-makers in the UK on parental leave and pay and childcare policies reports that almost half (46%) of organisations would support extending statutory paternity leave and pay.

Government announces new Scale-up visa 

UK businesses experiencing impressive success will be eligible to sponsor talented individuals, from scientists and engineers to architects and programmers, to support their growth and contribute to boosting the UK’s economy.

Consultation on process for public sector exit payments now open

The Government has opened a consultation exercise to garner input on an administrative approvals process designed to create scrutiny and afford assurance in relation to certain public sector exit decisions. An article by Jo Laxton.

The merit of claims and time extensions

Sarah Clarke analyses Kumari v Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust [2022] EAT 132 in which the EAT held that it was permissible to rely on the weak merits of a claim when considering whether to extend time.

A hard line on extensions of time in unfair dismissal cases

Matthew Curtis reviews Cygnet Behavioural Health Ltd v Britton [2022] EAT 18, a case in which the EAT focused on what the claimant had been able to do during the limitation period when finding that it would have been reasonably practicable for him to present his claim in time.

Updated guidance on hearing evidence from individuals who are abroad

Jo Laxton provides an analysis of the Presidents of the Employment Tribunals' updated guidance on hearing evidence from witnesses who are abroad.

Work events involving alcohol: the risks and how to minimise them

With the festive season fast approaching Sarah Clarke reviews how employers can mitigate against possible vicarious liability for the acts of their employees during out of work events (while everybody still having a good time!).

Meet the team

3PB’s employment law group offers expert advisory and advocacy services to private and public sector employers across all areas of employment law including unfair dismissal, discrimination, equal pay, industrial disputes, executive contracts, wrongful dismissals, restrictive covenants, whistleblowing, TUPE, injunctions, pensions disputes and disciplinary proceedings.