Welcome to Employment Edit, our pick of the key employment law developments from the last couple of weeks:
- Collective redundancies – The recent decision to prosecute the Chief Executive of Sports Direct and three former directors of parcel delivery firm City Link serve as a stark reminder of the importance of following the correct procedures in redundancy situations. Please see our briefing on collective redundancies for more information.
- Whistleblowing – a grievance raised by an employee on a contractual matter that affects a group of employees may be sufficiently in the public interest to be a protected disclosure which entitles him to protection under the whistleblowing legislation. This decision by the EAT in Underwood v Wincanton plc may mean we see more cases falling within the whistleblowing protection where the worker reasonably believes that the disclosure is in the public interest even though it may appear to be an individual contractual dispute.
- Financial services - The PRA and FCA have introduced a new set of rules designed to bolster the culture of “speaking up” within financial services firms. The new rules are relevant to all firms in the financial services sector. Please see our briefing on the new rules on whistleblowing for more information.
- Zero hours contracts – the government has published guidance for employers to explain how zero hours contracts work, the difference between appropriate and inappropriate use of zero hours contracts and to give guidance on best practice and alternatives to zero hours contracts.
If you would like more information, or specific advice, please contact Roger Bull, or get in touch with your usual Burges Salmon contact.