Payroll Legislation Manager, Cybill Watkins, talks about the latest updates to the amendments of the Employment Rights Bill. On 4th February the House of Commons has produced an Amendment Paper of 25 pages of amendments to the Employment Right Bill. This bill is currently in the house of commons at report stage – which is the penultimate stage in the commons before going across to the Lords. These amendments will be presented and voted on to bring them into the bill. Key amendments to be…
This International Women’s Day, instead of simply celebrating success stories (though we’re proud to have countless incredible women within Moorepay), we’d like to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Although positive reflections are often necessary (necessary for supporting women and, to some extent, for self-care) they don’t often uncover the real challenges women are facing. And the challenges recently have been difficult, to say the least. After a year of witnessing the shocking systematic stripping back of women’s rights globally, including in…
Pregnant employee unfairly dismissed for morning sickness receives £93k In this case, the Employment Tribunal (ET) determined that the dismissal of a pregnant employee experiencing morning sickness was both discriminatory and automatically unfair. The case also explored the principles the ET should apply when interpreting ambiguous dismissal messages, particularly when they are sent via text. The law Under Section 18 of the Equality Act 2010 (EqA), discrimination occurs when an individual is treated unfavourably during the "protected period" of pregnancy, either due to the pregnancy…
Yes, no, or not quite sure? There have been many cases at Employment Tribunals recently where people have won their case due to being unfairly dismissed because of menopause symptoms. I say ‘people’ because menopause affects everyone whose assigned sex at birth was female, regardless of whether they now identify as female, male, non-binary, gender-fluid, or gender non-confirming. So, if the thought of ending up in an Employment Tribunal isn’t enough to make you shudder, what about your company reputation, staff retention and staff morale?…
Many of us like to think of ourselves as committed to supporting marginalised communities and believe we're the kind of people who stand up for what’s right. We may think of ourselves as progressive and "not homophobic" or "not racist" and think that that's enough to do meaningful good in the world. Of course, that’s a fantastic start. However, simply ‘not having bad views’ or ‘not doing harm against others’ doesn't do much to support members of the community who are subject to homophobia etc.…
This time seven years ago, we were all quaking as we awaited May’s implementation of the dreaded Europe-wide General Data Protection Regulation. Of course, we already had the UK 1998 Data Protection Act. But what panicked everyone was the complexity and massive penalties of GDPR. Unsurprising with a new maximum penalty of twenty million euro! The seven year itch? 2025 is ‘seven-year itch’ time for GDPR. We may have severed our ties with the European Union in 2020 but, in fact, we are still firmly…
A new year often brings new pressures – and for many employees, mental health struggles don’t reset on January 1st. With stress, anxiety, and burnout continuing to rise, how employers handle mental health-related absences in 2025 will shape workplace culture, retention, and long-term success. So, as we step further into the year ahead, how can HR and managers reset their approach and create a workplace that genuinely supports mental wellbeing? What to do when an employee reports a mental health-related absence Whether an employee calls…
We’re only in February, yet 2025 has started out with stark warning to employers. In January, hundreds of current and former McDonald’s employees joined forces to take legal action against the fast-food giant, citing widespread harassment across its UK franchises. The allegations, first exposed by the BBC, describe a “toxic culture” of sexual harassment, racism, bullying, and assault. This follows the 2023 Business and Trade Committee hearing, where McDonald’s UK CEO Alistair Macrow pledged to improve workplace conditions. However, just weeks ago, Macrow revealed that…
It's certainly been a busy year in employment law. With key legislative changes and the election of a new Labour government in July committed to transforming workers’ rights, 2025 is set to bring new challenges and opportunities for HR professionals. 2024 has seen rapid growth in the adoption of generative AI in HR and recruitment in the UK. Research shows that around 60% of medium to large UK businesses now use some form of AI for recruitment and workforce management. And, according to the CIPD…
In this article, we explore what probationary periods are, how long they should be, and why jobs have them. A probationary period is an extremely useful opportunity to ascertain whether or not a new employee is suitable for a role. This time at the outset of an employment contract is practical for both the employer and the employee, as it enables both parties to decide whether the employee will be taking a permanent position with the organisation. Probation periods meaning A probation period is an…
