Weekly issue 44

News in brief

Under a new system of civil penalties (effective from February 2008), the Government has announced that employers who negligently hire illegal workers could face a maximum fine of £10,000 for each illegal worker found at their business.

Dismissing injustice

The law says that employers can dismiss an employee as a result of pressure from a third party.

Just and equitable

A discrimination claim must be made within three months of the date of the act being complained about, although tribunals can extend the limit if it is just and equitable to do so. In Department of Constitutional Affairs v Jones (IDS 839), the Court of Appeal said that the time limit can be extended if the delay was caused by the claimant’s reluctance to accept his depression constituted a disability.