High Court finds Local Authority’s housing policy to be discriminatory against women and girls escaping violence in successful judicial review challenge – Garden Court Chambers

‘The High Court has held that part of Westminster City Council’s Housing Allocation Scheme is unlawful, as it indirectly discriminates against women and girls who need to move borough to escape violence.’

Full Story

Garden Court Chambers, 10th April 2024

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

High Court finds Westminster housing policy indirectly discriminatory towards women needing to move to escape violence – Local Government Lawyer

‘A claimant has won a judicial review challenge in the High Court over Westminster City Council’s decision to refuse to agree to her request for a “reciprocal transfer” into accommodation in its area.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 9th April 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Yorkshire woman wins discrimination case after boss called her ‘emotional and tearful’ – The Guardian

‘Describing a pregnant woman as “very emotional and tearful” in the workplace amounted to discrimination, a tribunal has ruled.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 3rd April 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Migrant Work, Gender and the Hostile Environment: A Human Rights Analysis – Industrial Law Journal

‘This article addresses work-related and gendered harms of the “hostile environment”, a set of measures implemented through the Immigration Acts of 2014 and 2016, which aims to make life in the UK impossible for irregular migrants. The hostile environment criminalises work without legal status, facilitates data sharing between public bodies and immigration enforcement, and restricts access services and benefits. The article examines factors that can make women susceptible to irregularity and exposure to hostile environment measures, and distinctive forms of gendered harm such as workplace sexual harassment. It argues that the detrimental impacts of the hostile environment contravene international and regional human rights obligations. Barring certain migrants from access to the labour market may violate the socio-economic right to work and/ or the right to private and family life, while a lack of access to legal remedy or labour inspection fuelled can violate migrants’ right to decent work and undermine protections against forced labour. The UK’s recent ratification of the Council of Europe’s “Istanbul Convention” and ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment at work signifies a renewed commitment to safeguarding women regardless of migration status, but the universalistic potential of these instruments is undermined by the hostile environment’s continued operation.’

Full Story

Industrial Law Journal, March 2024

Source: academic.oup.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.’

Full Story

Counsel, 19th February 2024

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Union reports MoD to watchdog over handling of sexual abuse allegations – The Guardian

‘The Ministry of Defence has been reported to the equalities watchdog after claims from female civil servants that it has failed adequately to address allegations of sexual harassment and assault. The union Prospect wrote to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) asking for an investigation into whether the MoD was failing in its public sector equalities duty in relation to discrimination, harassment and victimisation. The EHRC will now have to decide whether to take action.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th January 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Police officer forced to strip down to her underwear wins £800,000 in discrimination case – The Independent

Posted January 11th, 2024 in compensation, employment tribunals, harassment, news, police, sex discrimination by sally

‘A former firearms officer who was forced to strip down to her underwear during training has won over £800,000 in a sex discrimination case against West Midlands Police.’

Full Story

The Independent, 10th January 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK’s human-rights watchdog at risk of UN downgrade – The Guardian

‘Britain’s equality watchdog could lose its right to participate at the UN human rights council as a result of complaints about its independence and record on transgender rights.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 28th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Equal pay: recent challenges – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 28th, 2023 in equal pay, local government, news, sex discrimination by tracey

‘When it comes to job evaluation schemes and equal pay claims, where does the risk lie and what can be done to mitigate it? Sarah Lamont and Charlotte Rose explain.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 28th November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Sixty women at MoD complain of widespread ‘toxic’ and ‘hostile’ behaviour – The Guardian

‘Sixty senior women at the UK’s Ministry of Defence have described a “hostile” and “toxic” culture at the department in a letter that alleges sexual assault, harassment and abuse by male colleagues.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 16th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Rebecca Kalam: Officer ‘vindicated’ after sex discrimination win – BBC News

‘A firearms officer awarded £30,000 after she was stripped down to her underwear during a training exercise said she felt “vindicated” by the decision.’

Full Story

BBC News, 8th November 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Men start earning more than women at the Bar from day one – Legal Futures

Posted November 2nd, 2023 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, remuneration, sex discrimination, statistics, women by sally

‘Earnings diverge between male and female barristers in every practice area from the start of their careers – when the differential is 17% – and peak at 11-15 years’ call, new research has found.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 2nd November 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Let’s talk menopause – what employers need to know – Mills & Reeve

Posted October 18th, 2023 in employment, equality, menopause, news, sex discrimination, women by sally

‘Because we should, in 2023, all be comfortable talking openly about the menopause. Often seen as a private matter, or “a women’s issue”, menopause is still widely ignored in too many workplaces. It matters.’

Full Story

Mills & Reeve, 18th October 2023

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

Worker sent home for wearing ‘short dress’ wins sex harassment case – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 6th, 2023 in employment, employment tribunals, equality, harassment, news, sex discrimination, women by michael

‘Levinna Ola said she felt “traumatised, embarrassed and degraded” by comments made by her bosses at NHS pharmacy about her outfits.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 5th October 2023

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

High Court rejects appeal from “I like what I see” solicitor – Legal Futures

‘The High Court has rejected an appeal against a £20,000 fine imposed on a male law firm owner who said “mmm, I like what I see” to a young woman applying for a paralegal position.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 3rd October 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Woman alleging menopause discrimination to be heard by employment tribunal in legal first – The Independent

‘The case of a woman who was allegedly discriminated against due to suffering menopause symptoms will be heard by an employment tribunal this week in a legal first.’

Full Story

The Independent, 2nd October 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK regulators’ diversity plans for finance industry – OUT-LAW.com

‘Plans by the UK’s two financial regulators to consider non-financial misconduct such as sexual harassment as grounds for regulatory action could pose difficult questions for firms, an expert has said.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 28th September 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Suella Braverman asks if UN refugee rules are fit for modern age – BBC News

‘Politicians need to question if the UN’s 1951 Refugee Convention is “fit for our modern age”, Suella Braverman is expected to say in a speech.’

Full Story

BBC News, 26th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sheffield council faces mass equal pay claim over ‘scandalous’ pay grades – The Guardian

‘Sheffield city council is to become the latest local authority to face a mass equal pay claim from women who have been underpaid by up to £11,000 a year, the GMB union has said.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Met police admit overusing powers to strip-search children after IOPC inquiry – The Guardian

‘Scotland Yard has admitted overusing its power to strip-search children after four of its officers were told they would face disciplinary proceedings over allegations that their search of a 15-year-old black schoolgirl known as Child Q was inappropriate and amounted to discrimination owing to her race and sex.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th September 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com