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NLJ this week: Restraint of trade, fear of Covid & meaning of ‘employee’

24 June 2022
Issue: 7984 / Categories: Legal News , Employment , Covid-19
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In this week’s NLJ, employment barrister Ian Smith investigates a trio of unusual cases, including on the issue of when a court can directly enforce a valid restraint of trade clause against an ex-employee, (and what about their need to earn a living?)

Smith also covers the difference between an ‘employee’ in tax and an ‘employee’ in employment law, and whether an employee dismissed for their fear of coronavirus is protected under health and safety dismissal laws.

This third case is the first reported appellate decision on the issue. Smith writes: ‘There has been much speculation whether an employee dismissed for leaving work or, more particularly, refusing to come back to work, because of fears of contracting coronavirus could claim automatically unfair dismissal under the health and safety provisions of s 100(1)(d)–(e) of the Employment Rights Act 1996.’

Issue: 7984 / Categories: Legal News , Employment , Covid-19
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

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

Myers & Co—Jess Latham

Myers & Co—Jess Latham

Residential conveyancing team expands with solicitor hire

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
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