The courts are often called upon to sanction treatment for patients whose ability to make...
October saw several legal developments that employers should be aware of including:
New National Minimum Wage
- £6.70 for workers aged 21 and over.
- £5.30 for workers aged between 18 and 20.
- £3.87 for workers under 18 but above the compulsory school age who are not apprentices.
- £3.30 for apprentices.
This is not to be confused with the National Living Wage (NLW) which was announced in the July budget. The NLW is due to come into force next April for workers aged 25 and over and will set a minimum rate of £7.20 an hour.
Right to wear Turbans in the Workplace
From 1 October 2015 Sikhs will have the right to wear a turban rather than a safety helmet in almost all workplaces across Britain without the threat of disciplinary action. Until now, the exemption has only applied to construction sites.
Tribunal power to make Recommendations in Discrimination claims
Following a successful claim for discrimination, the Equality Act allowed a Tribunal to make recommendations to reduce the adverse effects of discrimination not only on the individual claimant, but also to reduce the effects of discrimination for the wider workforce. This could include for example a recommendation that the employer introduce an equal opportunities policy or retrains staff. In practice Tribunals rarely used this discretion and from 1 October, the Tribunal will only be able to make recommendations for the benefit of the individual claimant.