News & knowledge

In Smith v Pimlico Plumbers Limited, the Court of Appeal ruled that Smith, a worker who was previously wrongly classified as self-employed by Pimlico Plumbers, was entitled to holiday pay for the whole time he was engaged by the company. It is an important judgment for organisations which engage self-employed contractors on a long-term basis.

Age Discrimination. So held the Employment Tribunals in David Robson v Clarke’s Mechanical Limited. The Tribunal concluded that R had been subject to direct age discrimination due to R having to endure the nickname of “Half-Dead Dave.” The case was principally about unfair redundancy, however the Tribunal found that R’s age was the effective cause of his selection.

Despite running into some 75 pages the judgment in Cowie v Vesuvius & Ors makes for interesting reading, especially as direct age discrimination cases tend to be few and far between. The use of words like “old fossil” has brought it to the attention of some national newspapers.

Penryn-based copywriting agency Radix Communications is now owned by its employees, after setting up an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).

What’s the appeal, why are they useful and what are the risks?

Many people have very different views. Some people are keen to express their views; others would prefer to keep their politics private.

References are often an area of confusion and concern for employers. Many decline to provide a reference for fear of the potential legal consequences of responding honestly. This has the negative side-effect of reducing the worth of a valuable recruitment tool.

Well obviously, the answer is no isn’t it? Your policies probably say so. Why would you let that happen anyway?

What happens and tips for a successful outcome.

A recent case in the Technology and Construction Court illustrates the importance of precise drafting when providing for caps on liability under contracts.