Northern Ireland legislators should "proceed with caution" to ensure that any new legislation tackling discrimination and inequality in the workplace builds on the success of the fair employment laws introduced three decades ago, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has said. The watchdog to
Employment
Judicial mediation will be offered in cases brought before Northern Ireland's Industrial Tribunals and Fair Employment Tribunal in a bid to speed up resolutions. A form of alternative dispute resolution, judicial mediation involves an employment judge acting as an impartial mediator and helping the
The High Court has held that the parents of a child who was awaiting a decision on his international protection status did not have the right to work in the State while the application was being processed. It was said that the child had the right to access the labour market and that this could be ef
An increase in the limits for payments and awards to workers in employment rights cases in Northern Ireland will take effect next month. From 6 April 2023, the limit on the compensatory award for unfair dismissal will rise from £94,063 to £105,915, while the maximum amount of "a week&rsq
A woman who complained of sexual harassment and victimisation after a staff Christmas party has been awarded £18,857 by the Industrial Tribunal. Shirley Lyons, who worked as a designer/sales consultant with Starplan in Portadown from June 2013 until April 2018, was supported by the Equality Co
Northern Ireland’s High Court has allowed a judicial review application brought by a serving police constable seeking to prevent a disciplinary hearing into allegations of gross misconduct. The court found that judicial review here was appropriate, despite the fact that there were alternative
Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal has reduced an award made by an Industrial Tribunal in a sexual harassment claim by nearly £20,000. The court found that the award was excessive given the short nature of the employment, the lack of evidence relied on by the tribunal, and examples of &l
Northern Ireland's Court of Appeal has ruled that the Industrial Tribunal was correct in using special measures to protect a schoolgirl who made a claim of sexual harassment against her former employer. Alona Forose launched a sexual harassment and discrimination case with support from the Equality
Controversial legislation requiring trade unions in certain public services to ensure a minimum level of service during strike action has moved closer to becoming law. The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, which will affect the likes of rail, ambulance and fire service workers, was approved in
A grey-haired banker who complained about being nicknamed “Christine Lagarde” has failed in a £4.6 million discrimination claim after a judge ruled that jokes about grey hair were “part of the irritation of day-to-day office life”. Elisabeth Maugars joined the London of
Just 26 people lost their lives in work-related incidents in Ireland in 2022, the lowest figure recorded by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) since its establishment more than three decades ago. The provisional figure for 2022 represents a decline of more than 30 per cent from 38 in 2021, agains
Nearly €1 million has been paid out to workers because of Ireland's failure to properly implement an EU directive on workers' rights, according to reports.
A new statutory entitlement to employer-paid sick leave has come into effect with the beginning of the new year. Workers are now entitled to up to three days' employer-paid sick leave in a year, paid at 70 per cent of gross salary up to a cap of €110 per day.
A new construction safety licensing authority will be established under legislation approved by ministers. The draft Construction Safety Licensing Bill 2022, which is due to be published, will provide for the establishment of a licensing authority to oversee a new licensing model for those skilled a
A single application procedure for employment permits and immigration permissions is set to be introduced. At present, a person from outside the European Economic Area who is seeking to work in Ireland has to first make an application to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for a work