News

Criminal record disclosure scheme infringes human rights, Supreme Court rules

Failed government appeals could lead to ‘crucial’ system reform preventing workers being ‘unnecessarily anchored to their past’  The way workers’ criminal records are disclosed to employers infringes their human rights, the Supreme Court has ruled. In particular, the court rejected as “disproportionate” the blanket rules requiring automatic disclosure of all convictions where a person has more than one, and the requirement that some childhood cautions… Read More »Criminal record disclosure scheme infringes human rights, Supreme Court rules

Ministry of Justice workers to stage two-day strike over pay

Cleaners, security guards and receptionists at department demand London living wage Cleaners, security guards and receptionists at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) are to stage a 48-hour strike to demand the London living wage. The action by outsourced workers has been coordinated by the United Voices of the World (UVW) trade union, members of which are overwhelmingly immigrants. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has… Read More »Ministry of Justice workers to stage two-day strike over pay

Robot era shouldn’t mean end to workers’ rights, says UN agency

ILO calls for living wage and union bargaining as automation threatens jobs. World leaders have been urged by an influential United Nations agency to sign up to a universal labour guarantee to bolster fundamental workers’ rights, including adequate living wages and collective bargaining through trade unions. Designed to address rapid changes in the workplace triggered by the rise of the robot economy and technological automation,… Read More »Robot era shouldn’t mean end to workers’ rights, says UN agency

Brexit, Brexit Brexit,

Two-thirds of EU workers considering leaving because of Brexit As MPs prepare to vote on whether to back May’s deal for leaving the EU, Prospect reveals that EU workers feel unwelcome in the UK Two-thirds (66%) of Prospect’s EU membership have considered leaving the UK as a result of Brexit, according to membership research. Reasons given included being worried about paperwork, being made to feel… Read More »Brexit, Brexit Brexit,

Shift in working patterns means more men are working part time

Shift in working patterns means more men are working part time Courtesy of The Independant https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/men-working-full-time-part-time-resolution-foundation-employment-economy-labour-force-money-a8158786.html ‘Britain’s real hollowing out problem has much more to do with the hours people are working than the rates of pay different jobs bring’ Big shifts in men’s working patterns over the last 20 years have seen increasing numbers working part time, a new study shows. Almost one in… Read More »Shift in working patterns means more men are working part time

Yes, Uber has lost its ludicrous appeal. But will its drivers get their rights?

Jason Moyer-Lee No company better epitomises the so-called “gig economy” than minicab firm Uber. All the key ingredients are there: the company uses an app, the drivers work flexibly – indeed, they can turn the app on and off at will – the drivers are paid per job, and the company denies them the employment rights to which they are legally entitled. Following the loss of… Read More »Yes, Uber has lost its ludicrous appeal. But will its drivers get their rights?

Future developments

Zero hours contracts: From 26 May 2015, under s.27A of the Employment Rights Act 1996, clauses in zero hours contracts that prohibit workers from working or performing services under another contract or arrangement or that prohibit workers from doing so without consent (ie exclusivity terms) are unenforceable Apprenticeships: On 14 June 2015, the Government announced its intention to protect the term “apprenticeship” in law. Penalty… Read More »Future developments

Statutory Redundancy Pay

The maximum number of years of employment that can be taken into account is 20. The maximum week’s pay that can be taken into account is £475 (from 6 April 2015). This figure increases in line with the Retail Prices Index (RPI) under the automatic indexation provisions of the Employment Relations Act 1999. As a consequence of s.22 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act… Read More »Statutory Redundancy Pay