What do we already know? We updated you in our July 2019 Newsletter Government reforms (1): Tackling Gender Inequality & Workplace Sexual Harassment Consultation that the Government Equalities Office (GEO) was consulting on sexual harassment in the workplace to see how the existing protections for workers could be strengthened. The consultation closed on 2 October…
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What do we already know? We updated you in our February 2019 Newsletter Case update (2): Equal pay – Comparators on the Court of Appeal’s decision in Brierley and others v ASDA Stores Ltd that the ASDA store worker claimants were entitled to compare themselves with depot workers in distribution centres. ASDA appealed to the…
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What do we already know? We updated you in our July and August Newsletters on the Government’s consultations in relation to sexual harassment in 2019 (see here and here).  We also updated you in our November Newsletter on the Government’s response to the Women and Equalities Committee’s (WESC’s) report on the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in discrimination…
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The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has issued up-to-date practical guidance (available here), which explains employers’ legal responsibilities and the practical steps they should take to prevent and respond to harassment and victimisation at work. The guidance also provides advice for workers to help them understand the law and their employer’s obligations to prevent…
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What do we already know? In June 2019, the Women and Equalities Select Committee (WESC) published its report on the use of confidentiality clauses, which are also known as Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), in discrimination and harassment cases. The WESC concluded that the imbalance of bargaining power between employers and employees is a key driver behind…
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What do we already know? Settlement agreements are often used to agree a settlement to a dispute with an employee, or bring an end to the employment relationship in an amicable way. An employee agrees to waive any claims against their employer in return for a compensation payment. In order for this waiver to be…
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What do we already know? We updated you in our August 2019 Newsletter (Government reforms (3): Response to Consultation on Confidentiality Clauses) that the Government has said that it will legislate to ensure that limitations on non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are set out clearly in written statements of employment particulars and in settlement agreements.  The Government…
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What do we already know? In our February 2019 Newsletter Government reforms (1): Family friendly – protection against redundancy we updated you that the Government had published a Consultation, Pregnancy and Maternity Discrimination: Consultation on extending redundancy protection for women and new parents.  The Consultation asked for views on what changes could be made to the current…
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What do we already know? We updated you in our March 2019 Newsletter Government reforms (2): Consultation on confidentiality clauses that the Government had published a Consultation asking for views on new measures to prevent the misuse of ‘NDAs’ – what we employment lawyers call confidentiality clauses – in situations of workplace harassment or discrimination. …
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1. Tackling Gender Inequality The Government Equalities Office (GEO) has published Gender equality at every stage: a roadmap for change (available here), which sets out the Government’s proposals to tackle key drivers of gender inequality. The key proposals to tackle gender inequality include: 1.1 Strengthening equality legislation A consultation on the effectiveness of workplace sexual…
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