News 16 - 22 July 2021

Here is the news. 

This week we have a large volume of information to get through and saturation of Covid related articles in light of 19 July being ‘freedom day’. We're also as usual going to look at the most important cases fresh from the employment tribunal service this week. 

First, to COVID & ‘freedom day’.  Despite the reality of our situation, with daily COVID cases running at over 40,000 cases a day and the BMA today calling for an ‘urgent rethink’ by the government, ~ Boris ploughed ahead with his long awaited, ‘freedom day’ on 19 July and rolled back COVID restrictions almost in entirety.(1)  Here is the official government guidance for office working from 19 July 2021.(2) We have guidance relating to self-isolation & COVID in the Education sector.(3)  We have an article which looks at the possibility of a more equal workplace culture upon our return to the office.(4) This article looks at ‘home space loans’ and the future of flexible working.(5)   

The first COVID cases are coming through the Employment Tribunals and what are the employment judges telling us, largely that common sense and honesty is still sacrosanct?(6)  In further case law decisions we have a case where participating in strike action was deemed an assertion of Article 11 European Convention on Human Rights.(7)  Another case looked at whether the imposition of contractual hours amounted to indirect sex discrimination.(8) The Court of Appeal has decided that Deliveroo drivers do not have an employment relationship in a blow to the rights of workers in the gig economy.(9)   

Onto the rest of this weeks news.  We have a summer Employment update.(10)   We have an article looking at a collapse in gender pay gap reporting in the Construction industry.(11)   Two article from the TUC highlight continued discrimination faced by LGBT workers,(12) and disabled women.(13) On a more positive note, the TUC welcomes the government policy change on sexual harassment in the workplace,(14)  and a related article looks at the positive changes to workplace investigations in relation to sexual harassment cases, which is slowly emerging.(15)  

Our last bundle is what’s left.  We have an important article in relation to the government announcement that it will create a single enforcement body for employment rights.(16)  As the summers get hotter, each year, every year for the last 15 successive years, climate collapse increasingly seeps into everyday life.  The TUC has called for employers to keep their staff safe as temperature become dangerously hot.(17) In a complimentary report the TUC looks at the benefits of a green economy.(18) This week we conclude with an article about the importance of laziness.(19)   After all its industrial capitalism that got us all in this mess in the first place.

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For employment law advice or if you are affected or want information and support by any of the issues in this article please give us a call.  

Tel: 0333 772 0611