News

In Swansea City and County Council v Abraham [2025] EAT 93, the Employment Appeal Tribunal dismissed an appeal against an employment judge’s refusal to recuse herself from a case management hearing in an equal pay multiple claim. The respondent local authority argued that the judge’s previous role as a solicitor supervising equal pay litigation against … Read more

In Leicester City Council v Parmar [2025] EWCA Civ 952, the Court of Appeal upheld a tribunal’s decision that a Council had discriminated against an employee because of race. The employee alleged that she was subjected to false allegations, transferred from her role, and placed under disciplinary investigation, only for that investigation to conclude with … Read more

In JP v Spelthorne Borough Council [2025] EAT 127, the Employment Appeal Tribunal upheld a tribunal’s decision that an employee was not disabled during the relevant period, despite the tribunal not first setting out the precise allegations of discrimination. The case focuses on section 6 of the Equality Act 2010, which defines disability for the purpose … Read more

General Updates  Safeguarding and Staff Responsibilities  Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)  Safer Recruitment  Allegations Against Staff  Child-on-Child Abuse  Host Families and Exchange Visits  Future Considerations Link to the latest guidance: Keeping children safe in education – GOV.UK

BackgroundOn 7th July 2025, the Department for Education published a draft version of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025. This version has been released for information and consultation purposes and is not yet statutory. The final version is expected later this summer and will come into force on 1st September 2025. Schools and colleges are encouraged … Read more

Yes, is the simple answer. There is a common misconception that a Local Authority Maintained School must use the local authority as their HR provider.  Schools are told they must do this because the local authority are ultimately the employer and have a final say in any decision to dismiss. This is not the case. … Read more

In Hindmarch v North-East Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust [2025] EAT 87, the Employment Appeal Tribunal upheld a tribunal’s decision that an employer had not failed to make reasonable adjustments when it declined to provide a higher-grade face mask to a non-emergency ambulance driver with severe anxiety about COVID-19. The case centres on Sections 20(3) and 20(5) of … Read more

In Hendy Group Ltd v Kennedy [2024] EAT 106, the Tribunal found that Hendy Group had unfairly dismissed an employee during a redundancy situation after failing to make adequate efforts to support redeployment. The case centres on Section 98(4) of the Employment Rights Act 1996, which requires employers to act reasonably in treating redundancy as sufficient grounds for … Read more

Background Mr. Miller, the claimant, was employed as a pest control technician. He developed multiple sclerosis, which eventually made it impossible for him to continue in his field-based role, even with adjustments. Rentokil placed him on paid leave and explored alternative roles. Key Issue Mr. Miller applied for a service administrator role—a more junior, office-based … Read more

In a recent decision, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) clarified the role of externally appointed HR consultants in employment-related procedures. The tribunal initially decided that it was not arguable that two HR consultants, one appointed to investigate grievances and the other to conduct a disciplinary hearing, were acting as the employer’s agents during these functions. … Read more