The Women and Equalities Committee has launched a full inquiry into sexual harassment in the workplace and is now inviting submissions of written evidence. Following its one-off evidence session of 31 January on sexual harassment in the workplace, the new inquiry will consider in more depth some of the issues raised. As well as assessing the extent of the problem, who the perpetrators are and why it happens, the inquiry will focus on what should be done to tackle harassment more effectively. Issues it will look at include: action that th... Continue reading

From 5 March 2018 rules will change so that commercial drivers who drive tired will be fined for every time they've done it in the last 28 days. Drivers already have to follow rules on how many hours they can drive and the breaks they need to take. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) can fine drivers up to £300 if they’re caught breaking the rules. They can also be prosecuted or have their vehicle immobilised. At the moment, DVSA can only fine drivers for: offences committed that day; and ongoing offences, like manipulating... Continue reading

A recent case involving a transgender employee has highlighted the continuing challenges and discrimination that trans-staff face in the workplace, and the action employers should be taking to address these. A Tribunal has ruled that Alexandra De Souza, who worked at Primark as a retail assistant from September 2016 until February 2017, when she resigned, was subjected to gender reassignment discrimination by her employer, who told her she had a “man’s voice” and “smelled like a men’s toilet”. De Souza has been a transgender woman... Continue reading

The government has launched a crackdown on unpaid internships, sending more than 550 warning letters to companies, and setting up enforcement teams to tackle repeat offenders. The most recent government estimate is that there are 70,000 interns in the UK at any one time, and that over 40% of young people who have carried out an internship have done so unpaid. HM Revenue & Customs is expected to target sectors such as media, the performing arts and law and accountancy firms, which have a reputation for using unpaid interns. It will also issue... Continue reading

A recent incident involving an air ambulance and a health and safety conscious employee has hit the headlines. According to BBC reports, a Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance called out to a patient in Leamington Spa was asked to move by a building site worker because it was a health and safety risk. The pilot had landed in a cordoned-off area of the site and was told by a saleswoman for Persimmon Homes “It's just not possible, you can't park it there, it's a health and safety risk”. Neil Williams, from Persimmon Homes, comme... Continue reading