Ombudsman criticises council for “significant failings” under Equality Act that exacerbated poor mental health of resident – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Housing Ombudsman has found severe maladministration for Tandridge District Council after the local authority “did not abide by its duties under the Equality Act or its own safeguarding policy”, leading to the exacerbation of a resident’s poor mental health.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judicial review proceedings issued against NHS trust over lack of consultation on mental health services redesign – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust is facing a judicial review challenge from a claimant who alleges the trust failed to involve or consult service users on plans to redesign its community mental health services.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 1st June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Hospital ‘racially discriminated’ against engineer – BBC News

‘An NHS hospital trust racially discriminated against an engineer when he was suspended over a health and safety breach, an employment tribunal ruled.’

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BBC News, 25th May 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law firms and preventing sexual harassment in the workplace – Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog

‘Sexual harassment in the workplace has attracted growing concern globally over the past five years. The House of Commons Women and Equalities Select Committee (WESC) inquiry in July 2018 triggered a parliamentary debate around the need for stricter duties for employers to prevent unwanted sexual behaviour at work. In parallel, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has prioritised tackling sexual misconduct in law firms and recent changes to its Codes of Conduct emphasise the expectation on firms to foster a culture of zero tolerance to counter-inclusive behaviours, including sexual misconduct.’

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Kingsley Napley Employment Law Blog, 23rd May 2023

Source: www.kingsleynapley.co.uk

Is “ethnocentric nationalism” protected by s.10 of the Equality Act?: Cave – Law & Religion UK

‘In Mr A Cave v The Open University [2023] UKET 3313198/2020, the OU received internal and external complaints in June 2020 about what was claimed to be racist material that Mr Cave had posted on Twitter and on a YouTube channel he had set up entitled “Renew Britannia” [6].’

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Law & Religion UK, 22nd May 2023

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Council defeats High Court challenge to enforcement notice – Local Government lawyer

Posted May 4th, 2023 in enforcement notices, equality, local government, news, planning by tracey

‘Luton Borough Council has defeated a developer’s challenge to a planning enforcement notice in the High Court.’

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Local Government lawyer, 4th May 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Millwall fan receives football banning order for homophobic slurs towards Bournemouth fans – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted May 3rd, 2023 in equality, homosexuality, news, sexual orientation discrimination, sport by tracey

‘A so-called football fan has been banned from football matches and fined for homophobic abuse of Bournemouth fans.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 28th April 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Changing the narrative on neurodiversity: smoothing out the bumps in the road – Local Government Lawyer

‘Libby Hubbard looks at a recent Employment Appeal Tribunal case that considered whether a staff member’s behaviour and his disability were linked.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th April 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Paralegal wins claims for disability discrimination and harassment – Legal Futures

‘A paralegal at a London law firm was unfairly dismissed over unpaid wages, subjected to disability discrimination and harassed on the basis of her sex, an employment tribunal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 26th April 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barrister fails in appeal over discrimination claim against chambers – Legal Futures

‘An employment tribunal (ET) did not show bias in dismissing a claim brought by a black barrister against his chambers, an appeal tribunal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 24th April 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘My boss said my miscarriage was the best thing that could happen to me – then I was sacked’ – The Independent

Posted April 24th, 2023 in bullying, employment, equality, harassment, news, pregnancy, unfair dismissal, victims by tracey

‘New research shows that one in four women going through fertility treatment say they were subjected to unfair treatment in the workplace.’

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The Independent, 24th April 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

What counts as sexual harassment at work? – BBC News

Posted April 19th, 2023 in employment, equality, harassment, news, sexual offences by sally

‘The business lobby group the CBI is in turmoil as allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against some of its employees.’

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BBC News, 19th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Misogyny rife in RAF boys’ club, sex assault victim says – BBC News

‘The RAF is a “boys’ club” where sexual harassment, misogyny and homophobia are rife, says a female ex-corporal who was sexually assaulted while serving.’

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BBC News, 14th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Met officers who shared WhatsApp messages mocking Harvey Price found guilty of gross misconduct – The Independent

‘Eight serving and former Metropolitan Police officers have been found guilty of “gross misconduct” over a “discriminatory and offensive” WhatsApp group, which contained messages mocking Katie Price’s disabled son.’

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The Independent, 13th April 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tribunals remain “open to the difficult” … but perhaps not the persistently uncooperative – 3PB

‘The claimant worked as a Customer Assistant for the respondent from 8 September 2008 until he was dismissed on 5 September 2018. The respondent asserted that the claimant was dismissed because, during a shopping trip in his own time, the claimant had an altercation with a store manager. He was also alleged to have been abusive to a shopper and refused to sign his training record.’

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3PB, March 2023

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Employers must review progress on race and ethnicity commitments – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 12th, 2023 in diversity, employment, equality, news by sally

‘Employers across the UK must ensure that the focus on improving racial equality in their workforces does not wane.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 11th April 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

What would changing the Equality Act mean for trans people and single-sex spaces? – The Guardian

Posted April 6th, 2023 in amendments, equality, gender, news, transgender persons by michael

‘As [ministers] prepare to press ahead with a lengthy and convoluted process, we examine what the reforms would mean for trans people and those advocating for sex-based rights, as well as the motivations behind the move.’

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The Guardian, 5th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Law change could aid single-sex spaces – watchdog – BBC News

Posted April 6th, 2023 in amendments, equality, gender, news, transgender persons by michael

‘Ministers will consider advice from the human rights watchdog about amending a legal definition of sex – which would make it easier to exclude transgender people from some groups or services.’

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BBC News, 5th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Associative indirect discrimination: a new class of claimant in discrimination law – 12 King’s Bench Walk Employment and Discrimination Blog

‘Employment practitioners will be aware of the significance of the European Court of Justice’s judgment in Coleman v Attridge. Prior to that decision, discrimination claims relating to disability (and age, sex and gender reassignment) could only be brought by a claimant who himself had the relevant protected characteristic.’

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12 King’s Bench Walk Employment and Discrimination Blog, 13th March 2023

Source: 12kbwemploymentlaw.wordpress.com

Two-thirds of UK workers with long Covid have faced unfair treatment, says report – The Guardian

‘UK ministers should act to ensure long Covid sufferers receive the support they need from employers, with as many as two-thirds claiming they have been unfairly treated at work, a report argues.’

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The Guardian, 27th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com