Employment - March 2008

This month’s edition includes articles on immigration...

...forthcoming legislation, equal pay and age discrimination.

Migrant workers – Beware of changes!

On 29 February 2008, radical changes were introduced into aspects of business immigration as a result of the introduction of civil penalties for illegal workers.  The new points based system being rolled out by the Home Office will affect 80 current work and study immigration groups.  Ashley Irving summarises what employers need to do.

Legislation pipeline

Laws due to be implemented from 6 April 2008 include changes to social security and employment tribunal rates; obligations for smaller employers in relation to employee information and consultation and pension consultation; the deadline for the EHRC equality schemes and changes for employment agencies.  Paul McFarlane, Associate and Business Centre Manager of Weightmans’ London Employment Team, provides a summary of forthcoming legislation.

Equal pay

The EAT has held that a bonus scheme designed to reward police officers working at night was an appropriate and necessary means of achieving the legitimate aim of rewarding working anti-social hours, despite the scheme adversely effecting women.  Jawaid Rehman, the head of the Weightmans Equal Pay Forum, introduces the Forum and Ashley Irving, a Paralegal at Weightmans London office, looks at the recent decision in Chief Constable of West Midlands Police v. Blackburn and Another.

Employment tribunal case on age discrimination in recruitment

In McCoy v James McGregor and Sons Ltd and ors, Northern Ireland’s first age discrimination decision, the Tribunal found JMS Ltd guilty of age discrimination stemming from their advertisement and interview process. Lisa Gillis a Solicitor at Weightmans London office discusses the recent case of McCoy v James McGregor and Sons Ltd and ors.