News and Knowledge

Bus driver with Crohn’s disease awarded £28k after toilet row

A bus driver with Crohn’s disease has been awarded more than £28,000 in compensation after his employer failed to give him sufficient toilet breaks.   An employment tribunal found that Midland Red (South), which trades as Stagecoach in the West Midlands, failed to make reasonable adjustments for the driver who was suffering from the medical…

Almost 10% of NHS staff experience discrimination from managers, survey says

Concerns have emerged after the 2023 NHS staff survey revealed that members of staff have suffered from discrimination, health issues and feeling unwell as a result of stress at work.   The findings of the annual survey were published last week after 1.4 million NHS staff members were invited to participate. This year, 707,460 people…

New Paternity Leave rules for dads to come into effect

New paternity leave rules will come into force from next month to give new dads more flexibility and a slight pay rise, the government has announced.   The changes will mean that new fathers can take their statutory two-week leave in separate one-week chunks, instead of having to take it as two consecutive weeks, as…

Pregnant chef wins £18k payout after boss made her lift heavy pans

A female chef has won an £18,000 payout after suffering from pregnancy discrimination at work.   Emma Delpinto worked at award-winning Farmhouse Kitchen Huntleys, when she fell pregnant last year, after suffering from a miscarriage the year before. But although she had informed her male boss, Martin Yates she was pregnant, he made her carry…

Employment Tribunal compensation to increase from April

Employees may be entitled to more compensation at employment tribunals from April as the government has announced an increase in limits.   Employment tribunals take place when a dispute has taken place between an employee and an employer, usually regarding redundancies, unfair dismissals and equal pay. Employment Tribunals are the judicial body with responsibility for…

Only a third of autistic people employed due to workplace barriers

Only three in ten autistic people are employed, as ‘ambiguous interview questions’ and applications are keeping them out of work, figures suggest.   The concerning numbers have come to light after the Buckland Review of Autism Employment was published today. The report looks at the current employment landscape for people with autism, as well as…

People in their 20s more likely to be off work due to health than those in their 40s – Study

A new study has found that people in their early 20s are more likely to not work due to poor health than those in their 40s.   The report, published by Resolution Foundation shows that the figures are “radically different” from the past, where the older you got, the more likely you were to not…

Legal rights for women going through the menopause explained

Women going through menopause will have more protections at work from today as the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published new guidance for employers.   The new guidance states that employers could be sued if they do not make “reasonable adjustments”  at work for women going through menopause, if their symptoms amount to being…

LGBT veteran sacked for sexuality in ‘last battle’ for compensation

A navy veteran who was sacked for his sexuality fears he might die before he receives his compensation from the UK government.   Joe Ousalice, 73, was one of the thousands who were affected by a ban on LGBT people working in the armed forces which lasted up until 2000. Last year the prime minister…

Union calls for ban on ‘precarious’ zero-hour contracts

A trade union is calling for a ban on zero-hour contracts as workers are often “stuck” with insecure and low-pay jobs.   The call for the ban comes after figures from Labour’s Market Overview’s latest 2024 report estimate the levels of employment across the UK. The Trade Union Congress said employers are “parking workers on…