Employment Law Review
Thompsons’ Employment Law Review is recognised as an authoritative source of comment and discussion from our trade union law specialists. Available to read here, and also via a weekly email bulletin, the Employment Law Review offers considerable insight into the latest issues affecting trade unions and their members.
Latest Issues
Weekly Issue 891
- EAT: Disability s15 “Something” & Disciplinary Process
- EAT clarifies whistleblowing: s103A vs s47B detriment
- Employment Rights Bill: Government launches four consultations
Weekly Issue 890
- Mr J Alom v The Financial Conduct Authority
- Ahmed v Capital Arches: EAT on discrimination time limits
- Employment Rights Bill: Lords to consider Commons rejections on 28 October
Weekly Issue 889
- Equity and others v Talent Systems Europe Ltd (trading as Spotlight)
- AB v Grafters Group Ltd (t/a CSI Catering Services International)
- Employment Rights Bill: Commons Rejects Key Lords Amendments and Next Steps
Disciplinary and dismissal
Weekly Issue 891
EAT: Disability s15 “Something” & Disciplinary Process
Discover why the EAT upheld the dismissal—clarifying s15 “something,” confirming no need for separate investigator—and what this means for handling disciplinary cases.
Whistle-blowing
Weekly Issue 891
EAT clarifies whistleblowing: s103A vs s47B detriment
EAT applies Jhuti: manipulation can make dismissal automatically unfair under s103A, but s47B detriment only bites where the actor is personally motivated by the disclosures.
Employment rights
Weekly Issue 891
Employment Rights Bill: Government launches four consultations
Government consults on: union workplace access, duty to inform workers of union rights, bereavement leave incl. pre-24-week pregnancy loss, and enhanced protections for pregnant/new mothers. Deadlines: 18 Dec 2025 & 15 Jan 2026.
Unfair dismissal
Weekly Issue 890
Mr J Alom v The Financial Conduct Authority
EAT dismisses Mr Alom’s appeal, upholding the FCA’s summary dismissal: interview transcripts not required, “Operation Orion” not relied on, no bias, and delay immaterial.
Equality, discrimination and harassment
Weekly Issue 890
Ahmed v Capital Arches: EAT on discrimination time limits
EAT upholds finding that Mr Ahmed’s 2018 allegations were time-barred: no “conduct extending over a period,” no just-and-equitable extension, and no procedural unfairness.
Employment rights
Weekly Issue 890
Employment Rights Bill: Lords to consider Commons rejections on 28 October
UK employment law update by James Lenihan and Jazmeer Jackson: Commons reject key ERB amendments; Lords debate on 28 Oct 2025; Royal Assent expected early November with first provisions two months later.
Employment rights
Weekly Issue 890
DBT Responds to WEC Report on Parental Leave Reform
The Department for Business and Trade has formally responded to the WEC’s Sixth Report, endorsing parental-leave reform: Neonatal Care Leave and Pay (from April 2025), day-one rights for Paternity and Unpaid Parental Leave (from April 2026), strengthened flexible working (from 2027), and a review exploring higher paternity pay, longer paid leave, flexible uptake, and support for self-employed parents.
Contract of employment
Weekly Issue 889
Equity and others v Talent Systems Europe Ltd (trading as Spotlight)
The High Court ruled Spotlight is not an employment agency under the Employment Agencies Act 1973, confirming its subscription platform is a marketing tool, not a job-finding service.
Equality, discrimination and harassment
Weekly Issue 889
AB v Grafters Group Ltd (t/a CSI Catering Services International)
The EAT ruled that employers may be liable for harassment outside work if there’s a strong link to employment, sending a sexual-harassment case back to the Tribunal.
Employment rights
Weekly Issue 889
Employment Rights Bill: Commons Rejects Key Lords Amendments and Next Steps
The House of Commons has rejected Lords amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, including changes on unfair dismissal, guaranteed hours, shift cancellations, and whistleblower protections—learn what happens next and why it matters for workers and unions.
Transfers of Undertakings
Weekly Issue 888
Mach Recruitment Ltd v Oliveira
The EAT held that consistent placement of agency staff can establish an “organised grouping” under TUPE, reinforcing protections in service provision changes.
Whistle-blowing
Weekly Issue 888
Whistleblowing: Post-employment detriments can fall within scope of protections under the ERA
The EAT confirmed whistleblowing protections can extend to post-employment detriments, but Dr Day’s appeal failed for lack of causal proof.