Suitability, disability discrimination and dogs – temporary accommodation – Nearly Legal

‘AB & Anor, R (On the Application Of) v Westminster City Council (2024) EWHC 266 (Admin). This was a judicial review of both the suitability of accommodation provided to a homeless couple, and also of Westminster’s policy of sourcing temporary accommodation, which was claimed to indirectly discriminate against disabled people.’

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Nearly Legal, 17th March 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

‘Emoji trial’: Black man acquitted of hate crime charges over use of raccoon emoji in politician row – The Independent

Posted March 8th, 2024 in equality, hate crime, news, racism by sally

‘A Black man has been acquitted of hate crime charges after sending a raccoon emoji to a prospective Conservative MP on social media in a case that fuelled mounting concerns that anti-racist legislation is now being weaponised against ethnic minority groups.’

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The Independent, 8th March 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Reasonable Adjustments and Recording Tribunal Proceedings: Bella v Barclays Execution Services Ltd & Ors [2024] EAT 16 – Parklane Plowden Chambers

‘The Claimant/Appellant applied to the Employment Tribunal to be allowed to record a three-day preliminary hearing. The Employment Judge declined to grant the application as he was not satisfied with the evidence in support or that there was any significant disadvantage to the Appellant. In reaching his decision, the Judge did not refer to the guidance provided on this question in Heal v University of Oxford [2020] ICR 1294. Although the guidance in Heal is not mandatory, is in important in considering an application to record proceedings and by not referring to it, the Judge then failed to take into account factors material to the assessment of the Appellant’s application. The Judge should therefore have granted the application and it was right to make a declaration that the decision not to do so was unlawful.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 27th February 2024

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Is There a Place for Law to Regulate Menopause in the Workplace?”- by Eugenia Caracciolo di Torella and Pascale Lorber – UK Labour Law Blog

‘Questions are being raised about the role of the law in dealing with issues associated with the menopause in the workplace following the recent publication by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) of the Guidance on the Menopause for Employers. The Guidance refers to the possibility of using discrimination law, in particular the disability provisions, to help women request adjustments in the workplace, and claim harassment if they are subject to unwelcome comments or behaviours because of the symptoms they are experiencing. This blog considers how the current legal framework needs some rethinking and adaptation given the number of workers affected by the menopause and the types of issues that have been raised in the workplace as a result.’

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UK Labour Law Blog, 8th March 2024

Source: uklabourlawblog.com

“All the world’s a stage” – or perhaps not: Omooba – Law& Religion UK

‘In Omooba v Michael Garrett Associates Ltd (t/a Global Artists) & Anor [2024] EAT 30, Ms Seyi Omooba, an actor, was cast as Celie in a stage production of The Color Purple. Celie is regarded as an iconic lesbian role and the announcement that Ms Omooba was to play it led to a social media storm about an earlier Facebook post in which she had expressed her belief that homosexuality was a sin. As a result, her contracts with the theatre (the second respondent) and her agency (the first respondent) were terminated.’

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Law & Religion UK, 7th March 2024

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Landlords behaving badly corner – racial discrimination and harassment – Nearly Legal

‘Hickmet and Cheerz Express Limited v Dragos (Luton County Court, 19 January 2024). Ms Dragos was the assured shorthold tenant of Cheerz Express, with the tenancy beginning 1 June 2017. A depot of £1,100 was paid. The tenancy became a statutory periodic on 1 June 2018. A further fixed term tenancy began on 1 August 2018, then another statutory periodic on 1 August 2019. A notice seeking possession on grounds 8, 10 and 11 was served in November 2021, and a possession claim was issued in March 2022. Oddly, this was in the name of Mr Hickmet, who was the sole director of Cheerz Express Ltd, with Cheerz being added to the claim at a later stage. Mr Hickmet maintained up to trial that he had a “tenancy by estoppel”. This might be considered an early indicator that things weren’t going to go well for the landlord…’

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Nearly Legal, 3rd March 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Navigating menopause in the workplace: A guide for employers – Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog

‘Yesterday [22 February], the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published new guidance on an employer’s legal obligations towards employees who experience menopause and perimenopause..

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Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog, 23rd February 2024

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

Equalities regulator issues advice for employers on menopause and Equality Act – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has issued guidance on menopause in the workplace, setting out employers’ legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th February 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Students think they need connections to progress legal career – Legal Futures

Posted February 28th, 2024 in diversity, equality, law firms, mental health, news, solicitors, statistics, universities by sally

‘A significant number of students think nepotism and connections are important to progress in the law, according to research which found that this did indeed help some get jobs.’

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Legal Futures, 28th February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Employers must make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for women going through menopause – The Guardian

Posted February 22nd, 2024 in employment, equality, health, menopause, news, women by sally

‘Employers could be sued for disability discrimination if they fail to make “reasonable adjustments” for women going through menopause under new guidance issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on Thursday, amid concern over the number of women leaving their jobs due to symptoms.’

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The Guardian, 22nd February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Black women at the Bar: challenges faced and a fairer future – Counsel

‘Bibi Badejo reports from a packed Inns of Court Women’s Alliance event examining the experiences of Black women barristers and imparting crucial advice for Black women navigating the legal profession.’

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Counsel, 19th February 2024

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

ASB and disqualification from the housing register – Nearly Legal

‘Willott, R (On the Application Of) v Eastbourne Borough Council (2024) EWHC 113 (Admin). A judicial review of Eastbourne’s allocation policy and of Eastbourne’s decision to exclude Ms Willott from joining the housing register on grounds of “serious anti social behaviour.”’

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Nearly Legal, 18th February 2024

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Good Law Project issues letter before action against Secretary of State over “arbitrary” new Voter ID rules – Local Government Lawyer

‘Campaign organisation Good Law Project has sent a letter before action to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, regarding his response to a report by the Electoral Commission on the impact of the voter ID requirements.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th February 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Home Office plans new protest offences and anti-Zionism is a protected belief – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The Home Office has announced its intention to create new offences relating to actions taken by attendees at protests. The plans include making it an offence to possess flares or pyrotechnics at a protest, to wear a face covering at a protest, and to climb on war memorials. The changes will be added as amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill. The Home Office has emphasised that the new rules are not a blanket ban on face coverings, and only apply where the protester’s intention is to conceal their identity.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 12th February 2024

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Shahrar Ali wins ‘gender critical’ court battle against Green Party – BBC News

‘The Green Party discriminated against former deputy leader Dr Shahrar Ali during a row over his gender critical beliefs, a court has ruled.’

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BBC News, 9th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Anti-Zionism as a protected belief: Miller – Law & Religion UK

‘In Dr David Miller v University of Bristol [2024] ET 1400780/2022, the claimant was appointed Professor of Political Sociology at the University from 1 September 2018. In 2019 there were complaints about his conduct, including what was said to be his use of antisemitic language. The Community Security Trust charity said that a lecture he had given had been a “false, vile, anti-Semitic slur”. As part of the internal complaints procedure the University appointed an independent barrister to investigate; the overall conclusion of the resulting report, delivered on 4 December 2020, was that there was no formal case to answer in connection with any of the matters investigated.’

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Law & Religion UK, 7th February 2024

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Growing AI litigation risk requires business response – OUT-LAW.com

‘The risk businesses face from litigation is changing as artificial intelligence (AI) tools become more popular. Businesses need to recognise this and consider the different kinds of risks associated with AI technology and how they might give rise to liability.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 5th February 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Outsourcing the problem: equal pay and local authority trading companies – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 6th, 2024 in contract of employment, equal pay, equality, local government, news by tracey

‘Doug Mullen looks at the complex issues around equal pay that arise with local authority trading companies.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 2nd February 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Bristol University academic unfairly dismissed for anti-Zionist views – BBC News

‘An academic experienced discrimination when he was sacked from his university for comments he made about Israel, a tribunal has ruled.’

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BBC News, 6th February 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Women sit next to abusers at music industry parties’ MPs warn – BBC News

Posted January 30th, 2024 in equality, harassment, news, reports, select committees, sexual offences by tracey

‘The music industry is still a “boys’ club” where sexual harassment and abuse are common, MPs warned in a report. The Women and Equalities Committee said musicians have to sit beside sexual abusers at parties and events, due to a “culture of silence”.’

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BBC News, 30th January 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk