Employment

The Supreme Court has confirmed that that a five-point test applies in respect of identifying whether contracts are ‘contracts of service’ or ‘contracts for service’. Delivering judgment for the Supreme Court, Mr Justice Brian Murray cautioned that the judgment did not bind a

The UK Supreme Court this month rejected an appeal challenging a decision which found that police officers and staff in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) were historically underpaid holiday pay since 1998, up to a total value of £30 million. Delivering the judgment, Lord Kitchin an

Almost two-thirds of Irish workplaces have had to conduct an investigation in the last year, according to a survey by Mason Hayes & Curran. The business law firm surveyed 280 employers from both the public and private sectors during a recent employment law webinar which provided practical tips a

Belfast-based GDPR consultancy Briefed has backed calls for governments across the UK and Ireland to introduce statutory leave for employees who have experienced a baby loss. Briefed — a UK-wide company founded and led by three Northern Ireland barristers — is supporting the campaign led

Yesterday's UK Supreme Court ruling on underpayments to PSNI officers and staff will have significant implications for employers in Northern Ireland, lawyers at Lewis Silkin have said. Thousands of PSNI officers are set to receive up to £30 million in backdated holiday pay after judges ruled t

Employment lawyers Orla Sheils and Sarah Havlin are among four new board members appointed to Northern Ireland's Labour Relations Agency (LRA). The LRA is a non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for the Economy, offering impartial advice to both employees and employers. It has re

Thousands of PSNI officers are set to receive up to £30 million in backdated holiday pay after the UK Supreme Court this morning ruled that the force must rectify underpayments dating back to 1998. Belfast firms McCartan Turkington Breen (MTB) and Edwards & Co Solicitors represented separa

New guidance for organisations whose employees are exposed to sensitive content in the course of their work, such as images of graphic violence or sexual abuse, has been published by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and the State Claims Agency (SCA). The new document has been drawn up in respon

An employment regulation order for the security industry has been signed following the lifting of a High Court injunction last month. The order, which will see the minimum rate of pay for some 16,000 workers in the sector increase from €11.65 to €12.90 per hour, was originally set to be co

Nearly 500 employment equality complaints were received by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in the first half of 2023, with disability, gender and race making up the bulk of complaints. Figures published by the WRC show that it received 466 employment equality complaints and 222 equal status

Barry Crushell considers the recent case of an employee dismissed by their employer over a social media post. As of 2023, it is estimated that 4.89 billion people worldwide use social media. Statistics show that on average, internet users spend 151 minutes a day on social networks. Currently, TikTok

The BBC incurred more than £450,000 in legal costs following actions brought by former Newsline presenter Donna Traynor and Spotlight journalist Lena Ferguson, it has emerged. Ms Traynor contended that she had suffered unlawful discrimination on grounds of age, gender and disability, while Ms

Victims of domestic violence will receive their full pay for five days under the domestic violence leave scheme set to be introduced later this year, the government has announced. Domestic violence leave will be formally introduced in the autumn with the publication of regulations setting out the ra

An extension of breastfeeding break rights has been highlighted by the government to mark World Breastfeeding Week. The entitlement to breastfeeding breaks under the Maternity Protection Acts was extended from six months to two years from 3 July 2023 through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous P

Northern Ireland’s High Court has determined that a decision of the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland to refuse an application for retirement was unlawful. The court rejected the claim that this refusal was done in the public interest, due to the fact that the officer i