Before taking refuge in his beach hut, Ian Smith serves up a summer smorgasbord of Parliament, bias & demotion
- Restricted rights in disciplinary hearings.
- Continuation of the employment relationship; applying Hogg v Dover College.
- Apparent bias and post-hearing conduct of a side member.
It has been a busy month on the legislative front. First, the Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023 came into force on 24 July. It operates entirely by way of amendments to the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996).
Secondly, the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 received royal assent. Its changes to existing law are that the employer will have to deal with a request within two months (unless an extension is agreed); an employee will be able to make two requests within a 12-month period; the employer will not be able to refuse a request until it has consulted the employee; and the employee will no longer have to explain what effects they think the change would have and how they
