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Employer’s refusal of ‘word-light’ test for dyslexic candidate was unreasonable

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…

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UK firms commit to diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) despite US backlash

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…

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Employees using own Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools at work without permission

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…

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Could comments about a colleague’s accent constitute unlawful racial harassment even if not motivated by race?

Yes they could, said the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) in Miss E Carozzi v (1) University of Hertfordshire (2) Ms A Lucas: [2024] EAT 169 – GOV.UK What happened? The University of Hertfordshire employed Ms Carozzi as a Marketing, Engagement and Partnerships Manager.  It twice extended her six-month probation period.  Ms Carozzi had not completed…

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Can you still fire and rehire?

Yes. For now. After several high-profile cases, the practice of fire and rehire has recently received widespread negative press coverage. These include the dismissal of almost 800 employees by P&O Ferries in 2022 to be replaced by lower-paid agency staff, and a case where Tesco (unsuccessfully) sought to use the practice to overturn preferential pay…

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Unfairly dismissed for swearing owing to a toxic workplace with widespread ‘banter’

In Ogden v Booker Limited, an employment tribunal held that dismissing an employee for gross misconduct was unfair owing to, among other things, a lawless workplace culture where managers failed to enforce dignity at work standards. What happened? Mr Ogden joined Booker Limited (Booker) as a driver/trainer in 2016. On 4th August 2023, a female…

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