Employment Notes

UK: no right to privacy for WhatsApp messages showing serious breach of professional standards

UK: dismissal for publishing professional opinions online was unfair notwithstanding breach of confidentiality

UK: right to privacy in relation to personal emails and WhatsApp messages

UK: Supreme Court rules in the 'gay cake' case

In the much-publicised judgment in Lee v Ashers Baking Co Ltd, the Supreme Court has ruled that it was not unlawful direct discrimination on the grounds …

UK: Reasonable expectation of privacy may not always apply to private communications

Employers may be able to rely on an employee's private phone communications to justify discipline or dismissal in some cases, as employees will not …

UK: New resources on human rights, terminal illness, database of tribunal decisions

The EHRC has published guidance for board directors on business and human rights. The TUC has launched a Dying to Work campaign, seeking better …

EU: ECJ privacy ruling not a green light for employer snooping despite media headlines

A recent ruling of the European Court of Human Rights should be viewed as a reminder to employers to exercise caution before monitoring their employees' …

USA: Recent developments in US legislation on modern slavery

The recent introduction of the Federal Business Supply Chain Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Bill (H.R. 4842) on 11 June 2014 (the “Bill”) is the …

European Commission publishes employment and recruitment sector guide: Corporate responsibility to respect human rights

The European Commission has published guidance for the employment and recruitment sector on meeting the corporate responsibility to respect human rights …

UK: New resources - March 2013

New publications guidance for small businesses on the Equality Act, and a guide to business and human rights (covering issues such as the right to …

UK: Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill: amendments to whistleblowing, financial penalties on employers, dismissal for political opinion/affiliation

The Government has proposed, and the House of Lords approved, a number of amendments to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill:   The …

Political belief/affiliation: UK law in breach of human rights

UK law may need to be amended to protect employees from dismissal because of their political beliefs or affiliation. The European Court of Human Rights …