Filling the void: the Brexit effect on employment law – OUP Blog

‘Having been cast as unnecessary “red tape”, a burden on business, inflexible, uncompetitive and inefficient, it is widely assumed that a sizeable number of domestic employment laws derived from European Law will be in the firing line in the event of a Brexit. In a well-publicised written opinion produced for the TUC, the leading labour law barrister, Michael Ford QC, has provided some support for this assumption. He noted the vulnerability of these EU-derived employment rights and labour laws, and divided and categorised them according to whether a future UK government would be likely to repeal, dilute or preserve them. In this blog, I will probe what might fill any void created by the removal of employment rights rooted in EU law. Surprisingly, the common law would appear to have as significant a role to play as domestic legislation in this context. The potential involvement of the common law is somewhat paradoxical, particularly in light of its perceived ‘undemocratic’ credentials, it being a source of law crafted incrementally by unelected judges.’

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OUP Blog, 7th June 2016

Source: www.blog.oup.com

Record low UK crime rate is ‘only benefiting the wealthy’, new survey shows – The Independent

Posted June 7th, 2016 in crime, equality, news by tracey

‘New research suggests people living in well off areas have been the main beneficiaries of Britain’s falling crime rate – while those living in poorer parts of the country have seen far smaller reductions.’

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The Independent, 6th June 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

White lawyers three times more likely to be appointed as recorders – The Guardian

Posted June 3rd, 2016 in diversity, equality, judiciary, news, statistics by sally

‘White applicants are three times more likely to be appointed as recorders than lawyers from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, according to the Bar Council.’

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The Guardian, 2nd June 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Senior EU lawyer backs workplace ban on Muslim headscarves – The Guardian

‘Companies should be free to ban Muslim women from wearing headscarves at work if they have a general policy barring all religious and political symbols, a senior EU lawyer has said.’

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The Guardian, 31st May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bereavement damages: Unmarried Chorley woman’s legal fight – BBC News

‘A woman is taking the government to court for breaching her human rights in denying her bereavement damages after her partner died.’

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BBC News, 22nd May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Aspects of the Tribunal’s decision in the Beis Aharon Trust case relating to religious rights – Education Law Blog

Posted May 20th, 2016 in education, equality, human rights, Judaism, news, school children, standards by tracey

‘For those, like me, who keep a close eye on the development of the law on religious rights and freedoms, the decision of the First-Tier Tribunal in Beis Aharon Trust v Secretary of State for Education is certainly eye-catching.’

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Education Law Blog, 19th May 2016

Source: www.education11kbw.com

BSB echoes Bar Council concerns on equality and access to justice – The Bar Council

‘The Chairman of the Bar Council, Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC has signalled agreement with the Bar Standards Board’s (BSB) concern for equality and diversity in the profession. As the independent regulator reported in its recently published Risk Outlook yesterday, the Bar Council also welcomed the focus on access to justice and on ensuring that consumers’ needs are properly met following the prolonged period of cuts to our system of justice.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 18th May 2016

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

BSB’s Strategic Plan and Risk Outlook launch provokes lively debate – Bar Standards Board

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) officially launched its Strategic Plan 2016-19 and Risk Outlook last month at a function in central London, to an audience of barristers, representative bodies of the Bar, legal consumer organisations and diversity groups.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 17th May 2016

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

UK has one of worst records for gender equality at work – report – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2016 in employment, equality, gender, news, remuneration, sex discrimination, statistics by tracey

‘Researchers rank Britain 11th out of 18 countries, including US, France and Spain, for factors such as pay and board level representation.’

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The Guardian, 18th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Almost half of solicitors in England and Wales are women, study shows – The Guardian

Posted May 17th, 2016 in costs, diversity, equality, law firms, news, statistics, women by sally

‘Almost half of all solicitors in England and Wales are women and almost a fifth are from non-white backgrounds, according to the latest figures.’

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The Guardian, 17th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Dying pensioners admitted to hospital against their will, CQC report finds – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 9th, 2016 in consent, equality, health, hospitals, news, quality assurance, standards, statistics by sally

‘Dying elderly people are being admitted to hospital against their will and end of life care is not good enough, a Care Quality Commission study has found.’

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Daily Telegraph, 8th May 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Israel boycott ban: Local councils face legal action at High Court over boycott on Israeli goods made in West Bank – The Independent

‘Local councils are facing legal action at the High Court today over their decisions to impose boycotts on Israeli goods produced in “illegal” Israeli settlements in the West Bank.’

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The Independent, 4th May 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Equality watchdog warns junior doctors’ contract is potentially illegal – The Guardian

‘The new contract ministers plan to force on NHS junior doctors discriminates against female medics and is potentially illegal, Britain’s equality watchdog has told the government.’

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The Guardian, 28th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Allocation schemes and unlawful discrimination – LAG Housing Law

‘Sam Madge-Wyld looks at challenges to housing allocation schemes.’

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LAG Housing Law, 26th April 2016

Source: www.laghousinglaw.com

You’ve lost that loving Ealing (Sorry) – Nearly Legal

‘Ealing’s allocation policy has already had lawfulness problems, compounded by Ealing’s unlawful refusal to do anything about that unlawfulness. But this judicial review of the policy was on a different basis and confirms a whole fresh ground of unlawfulness.’

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Nearly Legal, 27th April 2016

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Leading employment judges call for law banning ‘fattism’ in workplace – The Independent

Posted April 25th, 2016 in disabled persons, employment, equality, news, obesity, statistics by sally

‘A leading judge has claimed that overweight workers could soon have the power to tackle “fattist” discrimination in the workplace by suing colleagues who make inappropriate comments about body size.’

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The Independent, 25th April 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Equality Act and Regulators – Which Forum? – Littleton Chambers

Posted April 14th, 2016 in appeals, courts, doctors, employment tribunals, equality, news, tribunals by sally

‘Dr Michalak’s name may be familiar to you. She was the doctor who brought a claim against her NHS employer (‘the Trust’) for sex and race discrimination, amongst other matters. Not only did the litigation reveal eye-watering events, it resulted in an eye-watering award of compensation (close to £4.5m) from the Leeds Employment Tribunal (‘ET’). The ET found that there had been a sustained campaign of unlawful conduct by various individuals against Dr Michalak culminating in a sham dismissal and causing post-traumatic stress disorder in Dr Michalak (Michalak v Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust and Others [2011] ET 1810815/2008).’

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Littleton Chambers, 24th March 2016

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Call for chambers rent rebates so male barristers can share parental leave – Legal Futures

Posted April 12th, 2016 in barristers, equality, news, paternity leave, rent by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board is to investigate whether male barristers with new-born children should be entitled to a form of shared parental leave (SPL), with the Bar Council calling for provisions which would give them a rent rebate from their chambers while not working.’

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Legal Futures, 12th April 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Equality claims and health regulators – Availability of JR does not oust jurisdiction of ET – UK Human Rights Blog

‘Michalak v The General Medical Council & Ors [2016] EWCA Civ 172: This important case deals with the remedies available to individuals who claim to have suffered from discrimination, victimization, harassment or detriment in the treatment they have received from a “qualifications body” under s.53 of the Equality Act 2010 viz. any authority or body which can confer a relevant qualification (e.g. the GMC, ACCA etc.). It also clarifies the understanding of the place of judicial review in the context of internal and statutory appeals in cases of alleged discrimination contrary to the Equality Act 2010.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 11th April 2016

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Lord chief justice intervenes in case of judge suing MoJ for race discrimination – The Guardian

‘The lord chief justice has personally intervened in the case of a judge who is suing the government for racial discrimination.’

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The Guardian, 7th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk