News - 11-18 August 2022

Hello and welcome to this week’s round-up of the news.

We start this week with the dangers of banter in the workplace.(1)   Shoosmith’s quarterly caselaw round-up can be found here.(2)   Although we are experiencing a ‘cost of living crisis’ Personnel Today reports that top earners pay increased by 10% whilst the lowest paid increased by a tenth of that at just 1%.(3)   We have further caselaw on freedom of speech.(4)  The Supreme Court has made a landmark ruling on annual leave and zero hours workers entitlement.(5)   City AM reports that 3 in 4 workers polled by them want hybrid working as a means to address the cost of living crisis.(6)   Despite last years ruling against Uber, their numbers of workers have continued to rise yielding profits in this years second quarter up 31%.(7)  

 The TUC pay monitor is calling for a pay rise.(8)  They also comment on the estimate that fuel prices will cost the equivalent of two month’s wages by next year.(9)   In the face of catastrophic economic decline we have an article which looks at the government’s response - curtail the powers of trade unions and incentivise non-union action.(10)    We look at the rise of the concept of ‘quiet quitting’ which has been championed on TikTok of all places.(11)   We look at what is on the horizon in the world of inclusion & diversity.(12)   We conclude this week with an article about a report on menopause by the Women & Equalities Committee.(13)