A new report from the Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP), Pregnant Then Screwed and Women in Data, on the societal and economic impact of paternity leave has found that increasing paid paternity leave to six weeks could reduce the gender pay gap and help to equalise men and women’s participation in the labour market. The […]
EAT ruling that negative comments did not constitute harassment
In a recent case heard at the Employment Appeal Tribunal, the Appellate Judge ruled that negative comments made by work colleagues about a disabled MGV driver did not constitute harassment because he was unaware of them. Mr Greasley-Adams claimed that his colleagues at Royal Mail Group were harassing him because of his disability. However, […]
David Harris speaks on BBC Radio about the future for Wilko employees
After its announcement that it has taken “the difficult decision” to “enter administration”, Wilko’s 12,500 employees are now faced with possible redundancy if the administrators are unable to find a buyer for the high street retailer. In his discussion with Kirsten O’Brian on BBC Radio Berkshire, Managing Partner, David Harris explains the way forward for […]
When To Contact A Employment Lawyer
Employment solicitors provide invaluable advice and representation to both employers and employees facing workplace legal issues. Their involvement can make a substantial difference in the resolution of such matters. But when is the right time to contact an employment solicitor in Reading? This article provides insights into scenarios where the expertise of an employment solicitor […]
How Much Do Employment Solicitors Cost?
Understanding the cost of legal services is crucial when planning to hire an employment solicitor. The fees associated with legal proceedings can often seem daunting, but knowing what to expect can help alleviate some of that concern. This article provides an overview of the average costs associated with hiring an employment solicitor in the UK. […]
What Do Employment Solicitors Do
Employment solicitors are crucial figures within the vast world of labour and employment law. These professionals guide both employers and employees through the complexities of the employment legal framework. Let’s take a look at the roles of employment solicitors, the legal protections they help to enforce, their responsibilities, qualifications required, and earnings. What Does Employment […]
Can An Employee Be Dismissed Under Two Years Service?
Yes, an employee can be dismissed under two years of service. However, the reasons for dismissal must be fair and lawful under UK employment law. The dismissal should not be discriminatory or in breach of an employment contract. In addition, if the dismissal is linked to the making of a protected disclosure (whistleblowing) this may […]
David Harris discusses the teachers strike on BBC Berkshire
The Teachers strikes in February will mean school closures but can you take time off work and do you get paid? David Harris discusses this issue on today’s BBC Berkshire Breakfast Show. Listen here: Employment Law Advice · David Harris Discusses the Teachers Strike on BBC Berkshire Feel free to contact us for any legal […]
Neurodiversity in the workplace
It is estimated that neurodiversity affects between 10 and 20 percent of the global population. Neurodivergent people generally tend to perceive their surroundings and process information differently from neurotypical people. Since they often possess unique abilities, employers are looking to harness the skills and talents that they can bring to the workplace. In relation to […]
What employers need to know about industrial action
National Rail and London Underground employees recently participated in the largest strikes since 1989. Their reasons for taking part in industrial action are related to pay, working conditions and intended job cuts. It appears that strike action is also becoming increasingly common in the private sector as we are receiving calls for advice from companies […]
David P Harris discusses the latest updates from Rishi Sunak with Andrew Peach on BBC Radio Berkshire
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment […]
How to avoid gender pay discrimination
On International Women’s Day, the Minister for Women, Baroness Stedman-Scott, announced an equal pay transparency pilot scheme by publishing salaries on all job adverts. Studies have shown that not asking interviewees about their previous salary at the interview stage ensures that unequal pay between men and women does not become further entrenched when they start […]
David Harris speaks on BBC Radio about forced pay cuts for home based workers
David Harris speaks to Phil Kennedy on BBC Radio Berkshire about a recent news report that a London law firm is allowing staff to work from home in exchange for a reduction in salary. David discusses the legal rights that employers might have to implement this type of policy and whether home base workers would […]
David Harris speaks on BBC Radio about the Government’s attempts to discourage home working
Listen to David Harris speaking to Bill Buckley on BBC Radio Berkshire about the Government’s recent announcement that civil servants must return to working in the office to “ensure that buildings are running at full capacity”. During the conversation, David discusses the legal rights that employees have to request flexible working arrangements. He also points […]
David Harris speaks on BBC Radio about the latest Covid rule changes
Listen to Managing Partner, David Harris, speaking to Andrew Peach on BBC Radio Berkshire about the end of government regulations relating to Covid. From this Thursday, it will be up to employers and employees to make their own judgments about whether or not to remain at home if they have Covid. Click on the link […]
Working with Long COVID
It is nearly two years since the first COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom and for many people, working with Long COVID has become an unfortunate daily reality. What is Long COVID? Long COVID is the name given to a condition in which the effects of COVID-19 continue for a prolonged period. It can affect […]
David Harris speaks on BBC Radio about vaccination requirements in some workplaces
David Harris speaks to Andrew Peach on BBC Radio Berkshire about the increasing number of companies that are requiring their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and how this affects the rights of workers from an employment law perspective. You can listen to the interview here: Employment Law Advice · David Harris speaks on BBC […]
What you need to know about protected conversations
What is a protected conversation? The Employment Rights Act 1996 provides legal protection which allows an employer, in certain circumstances, to approach employees to have a conversation regarding how their exit from the business might be managed. An employer may choose to take this approach to avoid going through a formal disciplinary or performance management […]
David Harris discusses the Government’s ‘work from home’ announcement on BBC Radio Berkshire with Phil Kennedy
Managing Partner David Harris discusses the Government’s recent ‘work from home’ announcement on the BBC Berkshire Drive Time show yesterday evening. Listen to the interview here: David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment law matters. He is a frequent […]
David Harris speaks on BBC Radio about employee rights during the petrol crisis
Managing Partner, David Harris, speaks to Andrew Peach on BBC Radio Berkshire about the rights of employees who are unable to perform their roles because of the current petrol crisis. David confirms that in most cases, it is the responsibility of employees to get to work by whatever means possible, but there are some exceptions. […]
David Harris discusses Flexible Working with Phil Kennedy on BBC Radio
For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form. You can arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment law matters. He is […]
Mental Health at Work – What Employers need to know
Attitudes towards mental health are changing and employers need to be aware of the importance of taking the mental health concerns of their employees seriously. Annual statistics from the Health and Safety Executive show that between 2019 and 2020, an estimated 17.9 million working days were lost because of absences due to work-related stress, anxiety, […]
How fair to employees is firing and rehiring?
It goes without saying that the unparalleled impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has placed enormous financial pressure on countless companies throughout the UK. Faced with these challenges, a large number of employers have changed the terms and conditions of their employees’ contracts, possibly in an effort to benefit from the furlough scheme or to keep […]
Recent UK National Minimum Wage and statutory pay increases
It is likely that the Covid-19 pandemic will permanently alter the way we do business, with many companies opting to implement a work from home policy that will continue beyond the pandemic.
Religion and belief in the workplace
It is likely that the Covid-19 pandemic will permanently alter the way we do business, with many companies opting to implement a work from home policy that will continue beyond the pandemic.
Should interim relief be available in discrimination cases?
It is likely that the Covid-19 pandemic will permanently alter the way we do business, with many companies opting to implement a work from home policy that will continue beyond the pandemic.
David Harris speaks on the Breakfast Show about vaccine passports
You can listen to the interview here: For further information, you can call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising […]
Implementing a work from home policy for employees
It is likely that the Covid-19 pandemic will permanently alter the way we do business, with many companies opting to implement a work from home policy that will continue beyond the pandemic.
“No Jab no Job” Listen to David P Harris speaking about this on BBC Radio Berkshire
Listen to the interview here: If you need more information about this, call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete the Contact Form on our website to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience […]
David P Harris speaks on BBC Radio Berkshire about the increase during the lockdown of dismissals for underperformance so that employers can avoid redundancy payments
Listen to the interview here: If you need legal advice regarding a similar situation, call us on0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor. The first consultation is without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 […]
David P Harris discusses the rights of UK employees to work from home on BBC Radio Berkshire with Phil Kennedy
Listen to the interview here: If you are an employee needing legal advice about your right to work from home during the lockdown, call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised […]
UK Government considers reforms that could affect non-compete clauses in employment contracts
At the end of 2020, the UK Government launched a consultation aimed at reforming non-compete clauses that place restrictions on ex-employees after the termination of their employment contracts. The consultation (which is due to close in February 2021) is driven by the need to “unleash innovation, create the conditions for new jobs and increase competition,” […]
David P Harris speaks to Phil Kennedy on BBC Berkshire about the rights of working parents facing redundancy
David Harris speaks to Phil Kennedy on BBC Radio Berkshire about redundancy rights during the pandemic and the impact, in particular, on working parents. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment law matters. He is a frequent contributor to […]
Can employers dismiss employees who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine?
The COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available to the entire UK population but not everyone wants to be vaccinated. Employers should consider very carefully how they will approach a vaccination policy for their employees. The COVID-19 vaccination programme in the UK is now well underway. With the vaccine being offered first to the most vulnerable […]
David P Harris speaks to Phil Kennedy on BBC Berkshire about the potential impact of the recently announced national lockdown
David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment law matters. He is a frequent contributor to BBC Radio Berkshire and People Management Magazine. David has represented individual and corporate clients in the employment tribunal as well as the High Court […]
Could employers dismiss employees fairly based on reputational risk?
Earlier this month, in K v L, the Employment Appeal Tribunal found that a school was not entitled to dismiss K, a teacher of 20 years, on grounds of reputation risk after K was charged but not prosecuted for possessing indecent images of children. The Employment Appeal Tribunal’s view that it would not have been […]
COVID-19: UK Government guidance on business operations and working from home
With the end of the national lockdown and the introduction of the tier system that started on 2 December 2020, the UK Government has reiterated that employees in England who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter. [In Scotland employees should only go to work if it is essential for them […]
New Tribunal Procedure Rules
A new statutory instrument was brought before parliament on 17 September 2020 to amend the tribunal procedural rules. The rules were changed to make the following allowances: More flexibility to be permitted over virtual hearings due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As Covid-19 has created a significant backlog of problems in the Employment Tribunal, if certain […]
Disability Discrimination Update
The EAT in Sullivan v Bury Street Capital Ltd UKEAT/0317/19/BA recently held that an employee who suffered from paranoid delusions was not disabled because although these had a substantial adverse effect, they were not long-term or likely to recur. The Employment Tribunal rejected the Claimant’s evidence and found that his condition did not have a […]
David P Harris discusses the latest updates from Rishi Sunak with Andrew Peach on BBC Radio Berkshire
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment […]
David P Harris discusses the latest update from Rishi Sunak on BBC Radio Berkshire with Phil Kennedy
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment […]
Calculation of CJRS grants: disclosure of mistakes to HMRC
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme comes to an end at the end of October. Whilst the scheme has been widely welcomed by employers, it is not without its complexities, not least as guidance on the application of the scheme and the calculation of grants has been updated on a frequent basis. Given the changes in […]
David P Harris discusses the latest expansion to the Job Support Scheme on BBC Radio Berkshire with Phil Kennedy
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment […]
David P Harris discusses the latest Government updates on BBC Radio Berkshire with Bill Buckley
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment […]
Test and trace scheme: considerations for employers
The NHS Test and Trace service are intended to form a central part of the government’s coronavirus recovery strategy, with those who have tested positive for COVID-19 asked to register via the NHS Test and Trace website and identify any individuals that they have recently been in close contact with. The intention is that contact […]
Coronavirus: managing return to work for shielding UK employees
Now that shielding has come to an end in the UK, employees who were previously in this position are reporting feelings of anxiety. At the same time, as the seasons change and schools return across the UK, there is a sense that businesses will also be starting to return to ‘normal’ with more employers taking […]
David P Harris discusses the announcement of the ‘Jobs Support Scheme’ on BBC Radio Berkshire
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment […]
David P Harris discusses the changes to the furlough scheme from the 1 September on BBC Radio Berkshire
For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment law matters. He is a […]
Changes to Employment Tribunal Fees
Over the last decade, we have seen the employment tribunal fee regime completely overhauled. Most recently all fees were scrapped and no fee is currently required to submit a claim. However, recent information has shown that this may still change. In July 2013 the government made the decision to introduce fees for bringing a claim […]
The right to refuse work?
Some of the most common queries received in recent weeks have related to whether employers are able to force employees to return to work and, conversely, whether employees can refuse to return to work. Prior to the current pandemic queries of this nature were virtually unheard of; in the majority of cases, an employer is […]