header-logo header-logo

NLJ this week: Human-rights-first approach marks significant development in employment claims

21 July 2023
Issue: 8034 / Categories: Legal News , Employment , Discrimination , Human rights , Tribunals
printer mail-detail
131243
A recent employment appeal concerning a teacher dismissed for expressing gender-critical views on Facebook is a significant development in employment law because the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) focused on the ‘reason why’ question. In this week’s NLJ, Charles Pigott, professional support lawyer, Mills & Reeve, explains why the EAT’s approach ‘marks a significant development’ for discrimination claims, breaking new ground.

Pigott writes: ‘Perhaps because there was no parallel claim for indirect discrimination, this is believed to be the first EAT decision where a human rights analysis has provided the starting point for the analysis of the “reason why” question under s 13 of the Equality Act 2010 (EqA 2010), which provides the statutory definition of direct discrimination.’

In its judgment, the Employment Appeal Tribunal offered guidance to help employment tribunals approach the proportionality assessment in this and future cases. 

Read Pigott's assessment in full here.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Bridget Tatham, Forum of Insurance Lawyers

NLJ Career Profile: Bridget Tatham, Forum of Insurance Lawyers

Bridget Tatham, partner at Browne Jacobson and 2026 president of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers, highlights the importance of hard work, ambition and seizing opportunities

Gibson Dunn—London partner promotions

Gibson Dunn—London partner promotions

Firm grows international bench with expanded UK partner class

Shakespeare Martineau—six appointments

Shakespeare Martineau—six appointments

Firm makes major statement in the capital with strategic growth at The Shard

NEWS
One in five in-house lawyers suffer ‘high’ or ‘severe’ work-related stress, according to a report by global legal body, the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
The Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO’s) plea for a budget increase has been rejected by the Law Society and accepted only ‘with reluctance’ by conveyancers
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
back-to-top-scroll