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This is our selection of recent developments which we think will impact on HR practice.
New compensation limits for tribunal awards and other statutory minimum payments will apply from early April 2023.
The new limits for unfair dismissal awards and redundancy pay are:
These new limits will apply where the effective date of termination falls on or after 6 April 2023.
Other statutory rate increases include:
In addition, Vento bands for injury to feelings awards will increase for claims presented on or after 6 April 2023. The new rates are:
Rates and thresholds for employers 2023 to 2024
The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2023
Vento bands increases for 2023
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) agreed with an employment tribunal’s decision that an employee’s aggressive conduct didn’t arise from his disabilities.
Mr McQueen is neurodiverse, having dyslexia and symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome, as well as left-sided hearing loss which caused him some difficulties with his interactions in the workplace. It was accepted that these conditions amounted to a disability under the Equality Act.
He was involved in altercations with colleagues which led to him having a “meltdown” and becoming “loud and angry”. Advice was sought from occupational health and changes were made to Mr McQueen’s way of working. He was also the subject of two disciplinary proceedings.
Subsequently, Mr McQueen brought claims including for unfavourable treatment because of something arising in consequence of a disability. The tribunal found that his behaviour resulted from him having a short temper and resenting being told what to do, rather than because of his disability.
This case is very fact specific, and employers should exercise caution before relying on this decision in the context of managing disabled employees with neurodiverse conditions.
Before assessing whether an employee’s impairment or disability is a factor in their conduct at work, as happened in this case, the employer should seek occupational health advice.
The circumstances are also a reminder that when investigating an employee for an out-of-character act of misconduct it is worth considering whether the cause may be a disability, even if undiagnosed. Most Equality Act claims are judged by what is known by the time of any subsequent tribunal claim when medical reports may have been obtained.
McQueen v General Optical Council
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) entered into a legal agreement with IKEA UK to help improve its policies and practices regarding sexual harassment.
The EHRC intervened in February 2022 after a former IKEA employee raised a complaint about how their sexual harassment and assault allegations were dealt with by IKEA UK.
Under the terms of the agreement, reported by the EHRC in March 2023, IKEA UK has committed to reviewing the way it deals with sexual harassment and meeting its responsibilities under the Equality Act. IKEA has also agreed to:
The EHRC will monitor IKEA’s compliance with the agreement to ensure the actions are completed within the agreed timescales. It can use its legal powers to enforce the action plan.
The agreement is likely to last until August 2025.
In February 2023, McDonald's UK signed a similar agreement with the EHRC in response to concerns about the handling of multiple sexual harassment complaints by staff at its UK restaurants.
Having a positive workplace culture will help drive a zero-tolerance approach to harassment, bullying and other unwanted workplace behaviours. Being able to demonstrate that any complaints will be treated incredibly seriously and investigated fully also helps to drive that culture. See our flyer for information on how Clyde & Co can offer support with dealing with harassment in the workplace.
IKEA UK signs legal agreement with EHRC
McDonald’s signs legal agreement with EHRC
The Parker Review Committee has published an updated report on improving ethnic diversity across UK businesses.
The Parker Review was set up in 2015 to encourage UK businesses to take on individuals from ethnic minorities to enhance opportunities for ethnic minority groups as well as the performance of UK businesses.
The Parker Review 2023: Improving the Ethnic Diversity of UK Business includes the results of its latest survey on the ethnic diversity of companies’ boards. The report says that, as at 31 December 2022:
The Parker Review notes that companies should seek to encourage as many of their employees as possible to self-declare their ethnicity to enable data to drive decision-making.
The government has launched a review of the current whistleblowing framework.
The review of the whistleblowing framework follows an announcement in March 2021 that this would take place after data was published by whistleblowing advice service Protect which showed that one in four COVID-19 whistleblowers who contacted its advice line were dismissed.
The review will seek evidence from whistleblowers, employers, key charities and regulators on the effectiveness of the current regime in meeting its original objectives of: providing a route for workers to make disclosures, protecting those who do so and supporting wider cultural change to recognise the benefits of whistleblowing.
The research will focus on:
The review will also examine evidence on the definition of ‘worker’ for whistleblowing purposes.
The review will inform government policies on the development and improvement of the existing whistleblowing regime and is expected to conclude in autumn 2023.
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