The Supreme Court’s ruling last July that the introduction of fees into the Employment Tribunal system in 2013 was unlawful led to the tumultuous phase we are currently going through. The introduction of the fees had caused there to be a dramatic – and for some traumatic – fall in the number of claims. That meant, for example, that the number of claims alleging sex discrimination fell by some 85%. On average, claims fell across the board by about 65%. Small claims virtually disappeared as they were rendered completely uneconomic by the n... Continue reading

Minister for Women and Equalities, Amber Rudd, has announced a £1.5m fund to support people back into work after time out caring. The fund, which was launched on Monday 5 March, will offer grants to projects which help people to return to work in the private sector. These projects could help returners update their skills, provide other training, or support businesses to increase employment opportunities for returners. The fund will prioritise projects that focus on small and medium enterprises, employers outside London, and projects that sup... Continue reading

A new review by British Safety Council and Robertson Cooper brings together the latest evidence into how work is likely to change in the future, what the probable impact will be on people's physical and mental wellbeing, and what employers, trade unions, educators and government should do now to prepare for the future. The report, ‘Future risk: Impact of work on health, safety and wellbeing’, proposes that the following risks will become more prevalent in the future: Increasing pace of innovation, work insecurity and drive for efficienc... Continue reading

The government has commissioned research into what steps employers have taken to remove barriers to workplace progression for ethnic minorities. The results of the new research will be used to assess progress made by employers on recommendations in the independent McGregor-Smith Review into black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) participation and progression in the workplace. The review found that the economy could benefit from a £24bn-a-year boost if BAME people had the same opportunities as their white colleagues. The review also called o... Continue reading

Businesses need time to adjust to new migration rules, CBI Director-General Carolyn Fairbairn has said, speaking at a CBI event in Cambridge on productivity. Following official figures confirming fewer EU workers coming to the UK, Fairbairn said a “substantial transition period to a new migration system” will be needed. She urged the UK government to provide “clarity and certainty over migration policy – now and in the future” to maintain investment in the UK. She also encouraged the government to guarantee EU citizens’ rights e... Continue reading