HR Articles

Procurement law has featured heavily in the news this week after it was widely reported that the incumbent British supplier had lost the contract for producing the iconic, blue, post-Brexit British passport, which is to be awarded to a French company.

The Tier 2 visa cap has been reached for the fourth month in a row resulting in sponsors being unable to employ workers under the Tier 2 General category from overseas. UKVI data shows that the minimum points required to be successful was 56 – a stark contrast to the usual 21. Many businesses have been trying to secure Restricted CoS since December.

In SoS BEIS v Parry and The Trustees of the Williams Jones’s School Foundation, the Court of Appeal (overturning the EAT’s decision) confirmed that even if a claim form has no particulars attached, in some circumstances a Respondent can still respond to the claim.

In the wake of various high profile sexual harassment stories in both the UK and the US, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have taken several steps to improve the situation for employees in the UK. This has led to them publishing a report in March this year entitled “Turning the tables: ending sexual harassment at work”.

Further to our previous blog on the tribunals issuing a response to the Vento band consultation for cases presented from 11 September 2017, the Presidents of the Employment Tribunals in England, Wales and Scotland have now issued updated joint guidance increasing the Vento bands used to calculate awards for injury to feelings (most commonly seen in discrimination and whistleblowing claims).

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published its interim report on its assessment of the UK labour market after the UK leaves the EU. Whilst the final report is expected to be published in September, the interim report summarises over 400 responses from businesses, industry bodies and government departments.

Childcare voucher schemes were due to close to new entrants on 5th April this year, however, the Government has now announced plans to keep this open for a further 6 months.

In Pets at Home Ltd v MacKenzie, the EAT held that if a breach of contract has been affirmed by an employee, a further breach by the employer cannot revive the earlier breach.

New fees for immigration and nationality are to come into effect on 6 April 2018. The changes include increases to Tier 2 work visa fees, indefinite leave to remain and naturalisation applications.

The news surrounding Facebook and Cambridge Analytica sends a clear warning to organisations holding and processing personal data - tighten up your data processing and let individuals know what you will be doing with their data!