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Understanding Protected Characteristics in UK Employment Law

Understanding Protected Characteristics in UK Employment Law

The primary purpose of employment law is to provide a framework that promotes fairness and equality to provide a safe, inclusive, legally compliant workplace for employees. The Equality Act 2010 outlines the protected characteristics which form a key part of this framework to protect employees from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Here we explain what the protected characteristics under UK employment law are, why they matter, and how businesses can ensure compliance to promote equality and prevent discrimination in the workplace.

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11th August 2025
maternity discrimination

New mum who claimed she was ‘laughed at’ for wanting her job back wins maternity discrimination case

An award-winning saleswoman claimed she was ‘laughed at’ by her new boss when she asked to return to her role after maternity leave. The claimant worked for Manchester based Bright HR in the web sales department and lost her job while on maternity leave in 2022. She claimed she was earning around £65,000 before taking maternity leave, and on her return was offered a role paying around £24,000. The tribunal heard that in May 2002, the claimant attended the company’s

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5th August 2025
What to Include in an Employee Handbook

What to include in an Employee Handbook: HR Essentials for 2025

Whilst not an absolute legal requirement, a well-structured employee handbook plays a critical role in building a compliant and productive workplace. It should outline key policies, standards and procedures, and provide consistent and accessible guidance for employees. Although an employee handbook should be tailored to the employer’s particular business and requirements, the following is a list of sections which should definitely feature: Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures Clear procedures should be included for handling disciplinary issues and grievances which comply with

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30th July 2025
bridging the soft skills gap

Making the jump from education to work – A growing challenge for employers!

Employers are encountering a surprising problem – a lack of essential soft skills in young workers, which is having a negative impact on workforce dynamics and productivity. Many school and college leavers are under-prepared for the journey from education to the workplace, and in particular for the significant change in approach and behaviour that is expected. Employers sometimes assume young workers understand office etiquette, whether it’s knowing how to communicate with colleagues, manage their time effectively, or handle sensitive topics like

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24th July 2025
wooden gavel and books

The Employment Rights Bill roadmap explained – Key points employers need to know

The government’s ‘Plan to Make Work Pay’ introduced wide-ranging changes to employment law in a bid to tackle low pay and working conditions and enhance employment rights. The Employment Rights Bill (ERB) includes key reforms such as extending protection from unfair dismissal from day one of employment, changes to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and a ban on fire and re-hire practices. On 1 July 2025, the government published a roadmap outlining the planned timeline for consultations, amendments, and enforcement of

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17th July 2025
fair redundancy alternative roles

Fair redundancy dismissal requires genuine consideration of alternative roles

Mr Kennedy, a car sales training manager had 30 years’ experience in the motor industry and had worked for Hendy Group Ltd since 2013. During the 2020 COVID pandemic, a redundancy situation arose within the training team. Mr Kennedy accepted both the redundancy situation and his selection was fair, but his concern was with how the redundancy process was conducted. Mr Kennedy claimed that he was unfairly dismissed as his employer failed to properly consider alternative employment within the company. The steps

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8th July 2025
Employment contract

What should an employment contract include in 2025?

Explore the must-have elements of an employment contract for UK businesses in 2025. This guide breaks down the latest legal requirements and best practices to help you draft clear, compliant contracts that protect your business. What is an employment contract? An employment contract is a contractual relationship between employer and employee outlining the terms and conditions of employment, such as salary, working hours etc, and becomes effective when an employee accepts the job offer. Why do employment contracts matter? Employment

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2nd July 2025
Person using a laptop with digital document and folder icons displayed in a virtual interface.

Are you HR Compliant? A Quick Guide for SME Owners

This article provides an overview of HR compliance in the UK for small and medium-sized businesses. It covers key legal requirements and practical steps to ensure your business meets all essential employment regulations, helping you to avoid costly mistakes and protect your company. What is HR compliance? HR compliance means complying with statutory and contractual requirements with respect to engaging employee, workers or other staff. The objective of HR compliance is to minimise regulatory and legal risks. Failure to do

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23rd June 2025
security manager called slave

Security manager called ‘slave’ by colleague awarded £361k

A security manager of African descent who was referred to by a white colleague as his ‘slave’ has been awarded £361,000, at an employment tribunal. In April 2022, the claimant resigned from Vigilant Security after raising grievances alleging he was subject to continuous bullying and racism. The tribunal heard that Vigilant Security had a ‘striking imbalance’ between racial profiles as guards were mainly from ethnic minority groups and managers were largely white. The Operations Director for Vigilant Security told the

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5th June 2025
nhs worker compared to darth vader

NHS worker strikes back after being compared to Darth Vader

A London NHS blood donation worker has been awarded almost £30,000 in compensation after being compared to Star Wars villain Darth Vader. Lorna Rooke began working for the NHS Blood and Transplant service (NHSBT) as a training and practice supervisor in 2003 and claimed the incident was one of the reasons for her resignation in 2021. Members of Ms Rooke’s team completed a Star Wars themed Myers-Briggs personality test in August 2021, with the results characterising each worker as a

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28th May 2025
Unfair dismissal

Lidl employee unfairly dismissed for not having a degree!

A Lidl employee was found to be unfairly dismissed when he was ‘marked down’ for not having a degree or qualification during a redundancy process. Wayne Norman worked as a senior construction consultant for the supermarket chain in Doncaster for almost 23 years before being made redundant in March 2023, aged 63 years old. Mr Norman was first informed of the proposed redundancies during a meeting in January 2023 when he discovered he was among three construction consultants up for

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19th May 2025
employment tribunal case backlog

Employment Tribunal backlog soars by 23%

Statistics published by HM Courts and Tribunals Service indicate that the backlog of open Employment Tribunal cases reached 49,800 in December 2024, a 23% increase on 39,000 cases from the previous year. This backlog means there are approximately 450,000 individuals, across single and multiple claims, who are waiting for their cases to be resolved. Data from the Ministry of Justice reveals that the average wait time for a single claim of unfair dismissal or discrimination at the Employment Tribunal is

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14th May 2025
Person marking digital checklists on a laptop with a notebook on the desk.

New Right to Work checks explained! Are you compliant?

Under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, there is a legal requirement for UK employers to check that a job applicant has the legal right to work (RTW) before employment begins, regardless of nationality. Completing due diligence before an employee starts their employment will mitigate the risk of a civil penalty and provide a statutory excuse which can prevent significant penalties if it is later found that an employee is working illegally. Earlier this year, the Home Office introduced

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28th April 2025
Symbol representing gender equality with male and female icons and an equals sign.

Closing the gender pay gap with free childcare!

The government is making its biggest ever investment into early years by doubling the amount invested to over £8 billion next year, helping working parents back into work and boosting household finances. From September 2025, eligible working parents will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare for children from 9 months old up to school age, exceeding the current 15-hour entitlement for 2-year-olds. Working families utilising the full 30 hours a week free childcare could save an average

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24th April 2025
Close-up of a baby holding an adult's finger.

The Right to Neonatal Care Leave and Pay: Guidance for Employers

The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 received Royal Assent on 24 May 2023 and came into force on 6 April 2025. This new statutory entitlement will give thousands of eligible parents with children in neonatal care the right to additional leave and pay. This article provides guidance for employers to understand these changes. What is neonatal care? Neonatal care refers to the care a newborn baby receives if they are born prematurely, have a low birth weight or

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15th April 2025