Expert Analysis

• The Importance Of A Proactive Approach To Workplace Safety

  

  Two recent Crown Court cases regarding gross negligence manslaughter highlight the costs of failing to prioritize safety at work, which should act as a catalyst for companies to review and update their health and safety policies, say lawyers at Fieldfisher.

• In-Office Policies May Be Solution To UK Skills Shortage

  

  Against the backdrop of the U.K. skills shortage, personal engagement with junior lawyers could boost employee commitment, engagement and retention, highlighting that physical presence in the office is valued and vital, says Michael Stokes at Harrison Clark.

• Why Workplace Menstruation And Menopause Support Matters

  

  The British Standards Institution's recent workplace standard on menstruation, menstrual health and menopause marks a new chapter in combating age- and gender-based employment inequalities, and employers play a huge role in facilitating inclusive workplaces to attract, retain and support women of all ages, says Kathleen Riach at Glasgow University.

• Leadership Development Recommendations For Employers

  

  There's a clear need for organizations to rethink the way they develop and implement leadership and development initiatives for employees, because better-equipped leaders will contribute to an overall improvement in organizational culture and business performance, says Louise Lawrence at Winckworth Sherwood.

• Pension Trustee Case Could Lead To Fossil Fuels Divestment

  

  While the recent Court of Appeal case McGaughey v. Universities Superannuation Scheme attempts to link fossil fuel investment by trustees to significant risk of financial detriment, it is concerning that two out of 470,000 scheme members could be permitted to bring a claim without ensuring that other members are represented, says Anna Metadjer at Kingsley Napley.

• Supporting Employees Dealing With Infertility and Baby Loss

  

  With employers facing potential loss of talent due to employees experiencing a lack of support on pregnancy and fertility issues — nearly one-quarter of employees have considered leaving their jobs for this reason, per a recent survey — companies should implement policies to help recognize and support their workers going through such life-changing events, says Helen Burgess at Gateley.

• AI Act Issues To Watch As EU Legislators Negotiate

  

  The EU is working to adopt the world's first comprehensive regulatory framework for artificial intelligence, but the AI Act proposals from the European Commission, Parliament and Council currently differ on law enforcement use of AI, classification of AI systems and related compliance obligations, say Alexander Roussanov and Lazarinka Naydenova at Arnold & Porter.

• EU Decision Adds To Growing Right Of Access Case Law

  

  The European Court of Justice recently confirmed in Pankki S the broad scope of the right to access under the General Data Protection Regulation, including data processed before the regulation came into operation, which may pose a burden in terms of cost and time for organizations with long-standing clients, say Thibaut D'hulst, Dariusz Kloza and Danica Fong at Van Bael & Bellis.

• Perks And Potential Legal Pitfalls Of Int'l Remote Working

  

  In a tight labor market, employers can entice prospective employees with international remote working, but should be aware of key immigration, data protection and tax issues, says Tim Hayes at BDB Pitmans.

• UK Tribunal Ruling Sheds Light On Workplace Speech Issues

  

  The U.K. Employment Appeal Tribunal's recent judgment in Higgs v. Farmor's School — concerning a Christian employee dismissed for allegedly anti-LGBT social media posts — highlights factors that employers should consider in tricky situations involving employees' speech, says Anna Bond at Lewis Silkin.

• Tackling Global Inflation Is A Challenge For Antitrust Agencies

  

  Recent events have put pressure on antitrust agencies to address the global cost-of-living crisis, but the relationship between competition and inflation is complex, and with competition agencies’ reluctance to act as price regulators, enforcement is unlikely to have a meaningful impact, say lawyers at Linklaters.

• Employment Tribunal Data Offers Workplace Practice Insights

  

  A breakdown of the Ministry of Justice's recent Employment Tribunal figures shows shifting trends among employees, and potential challenges and possible improvement areas for employers, and if the data continues to be published, it could play an essential part in clearing the fast-growing backlog of tribunal matters, says Gemma Clark at Wright Hassall.

• Unpacking The Rwanda Policy Appeal Decision

  

  The Court of Appeal recently declared the U.K. government's Rwanda policy unlawful in AAA v. Secretary of State, but given that this was only on the basis that Rwanda is not currently a safe third country, it is possible that the real risk of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights breaches will be obviated, says Alex Papasotiriou at Richmond Chambers.

• Opinion

  Why Menstrual Leave Policies May Be Counterproductive

  

  Efforts to introduce U.K. standards on leave for menstruation, which in practice has been narrowly applied, may be distracting focus from pay gap and family rights laws, and robust sick leave policies that may be more relevant to tackling gender equality in the workplace, say Sean Nesbitt and Sophie Davidson at Taylor Wessing.

• Opinion

  UK Noncompete Cap Will Not Grow Business As Intended

  

  The U.K. government's recent response to its 2020 consultation on restrictive covenants has not given any obvious consideration to the position of employers, as there is no evidence supporting its proposition that limiting noncompetes to three months will assist recruitment and help employees find new jobs at often higher pay, says David Whincup at Squire Patton.