Employment Snapshot: October 2024
Thursday 31st October 2024
Welcome to the Employment Team’s latest update
October has been quite a month with the budget, the Employment Rights Bill and the introduction of the positive duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment.
Whilst you grapple with the increase in Employer NI and in minimum wage, what else is out there?
This month we cover:
- The newly-published 23/24 Annual Employment Tribunal Award statistics;
- Neurodiversity – A recent case where a Neurodiverse teacher was awarded £850,000;
- Menopause Awareness Month – How to support your colleagues going through menopause;
- Avoiding disability discrimination in the workplace; and,
- What should an employer consider before making an employee on maternity leave redundant?
Scroll down to read more…
Annual employment tribunal award statistics published
There are a number of statistics published on the annual employment tribunal figures.
Neurodiverse teacher awarded £850,000
In the case of Wright v Cardinal Newman Catholic School, an autistic teacher has been awarded £850,000 in compensation for unfair dismissal, victimisation and discrimination arising from disability.
Menopause Awareness Month – Are you providing adequate support to your employees?
The new Employment Rights Bill includes a provision whereby employers with 250 or more employees must develop equality action plans that evidence steps they are taking to ensure gender equality within their workplace. As part of this, it specifically refers to the inclusion of support for employees going through menopause.
Avoiding disability discrimination in the workplace
Recent research shows that despite such legal obligations placed upon employers, 40% of disabled employees are not receiving the required reasonable adjustments; that figure rises to 59% for those who have not disclosed their disability to their employer.
What should an employer consider before making an employee on maternity leave redundant?
As well as under the Equality Act, there are less well known protections for women on maternity leave and individuals on parental leave which are found in the Maternity and Parental Leave etc. Regulations 1999 (MAPLE).
For more information on the topics, or any other general HR and employment matters, speak to a member of our team.
