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Working matters

14 April 2011 / Ian Smith
Issue: 7461 + 7462 / Categories: Features , Tribunals , Employment
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Ian Smith reports on fixed-term employees legislation & an EAT decision on dismissal justification

On the legislative front the month up to the beginning of April was a busy one. In an exercise in business-friendly retrenchment, the government provided that flexible working rights are now not to be extended to all parents of children under 18, that the right to time off for study or training is not to be extended to those employed by employers of less than 250 employees and that the “two-tier workforce” code of practice applying to local authorities is now revoked.

On a more positive note, the equality duties in the Equality Act 2010 come into force (albeit that the underpinning regulations are subject to further consultation with a view to a July start, in shorter form), the new employment-related codes (on employment issues generally and specifically on equal pay) come into force on 6 April (which also sees the repeal of the old ones under the specific legislation on sex, race, etc) and the annual social security

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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