The Supreme Court has ruled that ‘man’, ‘woman’, and ‘sex’ under the Equality Act 2010 (EqA 2010) refer to biological sex, not acquired gender. The legal meaning of sex is now firmly anchored to biology, not gender recognition certificates. The ruling will reshape how businesses approach equality, recruitment, and single-sex services. Background The case arose…
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In a key decision for contractors and employers, Mantides v His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Upper Tribunal (UT) clarified how IR35 applies to healthcare professionals working via personal service companies. Do you think a flexible contract alone protects against IR35? Think again. The UT’s ruling shows that personal service and control still tip…
[ READ MORE ] from A wake-up call for employers on IR35 compliance
The government has taken a significant step towards introducing mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers in Great Britain. A consultation is now open, closing on 10th June 2025, on proposals that mirror the familiar gender pay gap reporting system but with critical new complexities. Who will be affected? The new requirements…
[ READ MORE ] from Mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting: what do you need to know?
Building a truly inclusive workplace means understanding the diverse ways our brains work. How can you support your neurodivergent employees and strengthen your business in the process? What is neurodiversity? You are familiar with the term ‘neurodiversity’, but understanding it and creating a truly neuro-inclusive workplace are very different. Neurodiversity is the natural variation in…
[ READ MORE ] from Beyond compliance: building a neuro-inclusive workplace that works
What happened? Ofsted dismissed Mr Hewston, one of its school inspectors, for gross misconduct after a single incident in which he brushed rainwater off the head of a Year 8 pupil who had come in soaking from a PE lesson in the rain. He lightly touched the top of his shoulder and asked if he…
Thousands of working families with babies in neonatal care will be entitled to additional time off as a day one right. What do you need to know? Right to Neonatal Care Leave Employees can take up to 12 weeks of neonatal care leave if their child, born on or after 6th April 2025, requires medical…
What happened? Mr Johnston, a dyslexic candidate, applied for a permanent role as an assistant statistician with the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) in August 2020. Despite having successfully performed the role for over two years as a temporary agency worker, he faced difficulty with the recruitment process owing to a numeracy test…
[ READ MORE ] from Employer’s refusal of ‘word-light’ test for dyslexic candidate was unreasonable
A tribunal has ruled that the current two-year backstop on claims for unlawful deductions from wages is unlawful. Where does this leave underpaid holiday pay claims? Two-year backstop In 2015, the Deduction from Wages (Limitation) Regulations 2014 came into force, placing a two-year backstop on most unlawful deductions from wages claims, including those related to…
You have decided to hire a self-employed contractor to work on a project. What should you consider? Employment status Even if both parties intend that the contractor is self-employed, neither employment tribunals nor His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) may see it that way, as the reality of the relationship will outweigh what you have…
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Yes, but you generally cannot force employees to return to the office if they have valid concerns, such as health issues or caregiving responsibilities, unless you can demonstrate a legitimate business need. Use honey rather than vinegar by addressing those legitimate worries as an integral part of your return-to-work plan. You have a problem. You…
[ READ MORE ] from Can you make people return to the office?
In recent weeks, US companies have dominated headlines by scaling back their DEI initiatives. The Trump administration has DEI in the firing line, with the US president blaming a plane crash in Washington DC on ‘diversity hires’ in air traffic control. A survey by Culture Amp, an employee experience platform, has found that UK firms…
[ READ MORE ] from UK firms commit to diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) despite US backlash
According to a survey by Software AG, employees are increasingly using their own AI tools without permission from their employer’s IT departments, known as ‘shadow AI’. Many employees cite the lack of AI tools provided by their employers or the desire for more flexibility in their choice of tools. For some, it is quicker and…
[ READ MORE ] from Employees using own Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools at work without permission
