Annual Increase in Compensation Limits

The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2022 has been laid before parliament. This year’s core compensation limit increases are:- a week’s pay (basic award / redundancy payment) – £571 (from £544) maximum compensatory award – £93,878...

Employment Status

Was a cricket club groundsman, operating through his own business, a worker, thereby entitling him to holiday pay? No, decided the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) in the case of Waters v The Mote Cricket Club. The Mote Cricket Club has two cricket pitches on grounds...

Employment Law Changes Coming Up for 2022

The annual National Living Wage and Minimum Wage changes are due to come into effect from 1st April 2022 – you can check the relevant gov.uk website for further details and amounts. Statutory Sick Pay will increase to £99.35 per week from 6th April 2022....

Jubilee Bank Holiday

Employers will need to be aware of, and prepare for, an extra bank holiday in 2022 to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, taking place on Friday 3rd June 2022. In addition, the late May bank holiday will also be moving to Thursday 2nd June. Employers and...

Confidentiality Clauses in Settlement Agreements

Settlement agreements usually include a confidentiality clause requiring an employee to keep the existence and terms of a settlement confidential. Including such a clause should, in theory, prevent reputational damage and discourage other employees from making claims...

Tax and Settlement Agreements

When a Settlement Agreement is entered into an employee can agree to waive their rights to bring a legal claim in return for a sum of compensation. Generally, up to £30,000 paid as compensation under a Settlement Agreement can be paid tax free.  But not all payments...

Vicarious Liability

Can an employer be held vicariously liable for the actions of its employees when engaging in horseplay? Possibly, but not on the facts of this case, held the Court of Appeal in Chell v Tarmac Cement And Lime Ltd. The Claimant was employed by Roltec Engineering Ltd as...

Grievances and Dismissal

Was a dismissal for gross misconduct relating to the raising of vexatious grievances which the Claimant refused to either pursue or withdraw, fair? Yes, held the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) in the recent case of Hope v British Medical Association. The Claimant...

Protected Conversations for Settlement Agreements

Employers and employees can now (under Section 111A of the Employment Rights Act 1996) have a protected “off the record” conversation provided the purpose is to explore the possibility of a potential settlement agreement. This means that, subject to some...