Weekly Issue 429

Closing the gender pay gap

The government last week published a consultation document asking employers for their views about implementing a law requiring them to publish information about the gender pay gap.

Working meeting

The Working Time Regulations state that working time is any time when the worker is working, at their employer’s disposal and carrying out their activities or duties. In Edwards and Morgan v Encirc Ltd, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) held that “being at the employer’s disposal” was not the same as being under the control and direction of the employer, nor was it restricted solely to carrying out their contractual duties.

Ankle length

It is indirect sex discrimination for an employer to apply a provision, criterion or practice (PCP) which puts a person of one religion at a particular disadvantage compared to someone who does not share that religion. In Begum v Pedagogy Auras UK Ltd t/a Barley Lane Montessori Day Nursery, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) held that it was not discriminatory for an employer to apply a policy limiting the length of someone’s clothing on health and safety grounds.