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Legal Updates: Legal Updates 2020

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Gym employees win payout after ‘women can’t be managers’ comments

PersonnelToday reports two female gym employees who were subjected to derogatory comments about their sex by their superior – and were deterred from remaining at the company as a result – have been awarded more than £15,000 in compensation by an employment tribunal.

Article by: Makbool Javaid, Partner - Simons Muirhead & Burton | Published: 24 December 2020

£16.9 million Pinterest pay out in gender discrimination claims

HRReview reports that the social media app Pinterest has agreed to pay out £16.9 million after former Chief Operating Officer, Françoise Brougher, brought claims of gender discrimination against the company. 

Article by: Makbool Javaid, Partner - Simons Muirhead & Burton | Published: 23 December 2020

Amendment to ACAS Early Conciliation Rules

There is currently a considerable backlog of Employment Tribunal claims due to the pandemic so any attempt to come to a resolution using the ACAS Early Conciliation process should be taken seriously.

Article by: Makbool Javaid, Partner - Simons Muirhead & Burton | Published: 22 December 2020

Government should extend furlough scheme

An open letter from CIPD Chief Executive Peter Cheese to chancellor Rishi Sunak has called on the government to extend the furlough scheme beyond March as reported by People Management.

Article by: Makbool Javaid, Partner - Simons Muirhead & Burton | Published: 21 December 2020

Beware out of sight out of mind on homeworking employees

While most employees will be keen to hold on to their jobs in this period of economic uncertainty, there will always be those who see opportunity in times of challenge and could using the time and freedom to shape plans for their next role. Most employment contracts will include a “full time and attention” clause requiring the employee to focus on his/her job when on your payroll.

Article by: Makbool Javaid, Partner - Simons Muirhead & Burton | Published: 17 December 2020

Take steps to ensure that your virtual Christmas party doesn’t end in Court

While a normal office Christmas party seems a long way off, there is still an opportunity for employees to have a festive gathering to boost morale and combat the loneliness that can arise from working at home by holding a virtual Christmas party.

Article by: Makbool Javaid, Partner - Simons Muirhead & Burton | Published: 16 December 2020

dismissal dismissal

ET rules worker who found racially charged messages in work WhatsApp group was harassed

People Management reports that Watford Employment Tribunal has ruled that an operations clerk was the victim of harassment because of her sex, race and religious belief after finding explicit messages in a WhatsApp group used by her co-workers. The tribunal heard that Ms M. Abdi is a black woman of Somali origin, and she wears a hijab. She worked for the courier as an evening operations clerk from 6 November 2017 until her resignation on 1 September 2018.

Article by: Makbool Javaid, Partner - Simons Muirhead & Burton | Published: 14 December 2020