Is it reasonable to dismiss an employee who is caught stealing, even if they claim it is due to a disability?  In the recent case of Wood v Durham County Council, Mr Wood was caught shoplifting from Boots the Chemist and as a result was dismissed by his employer.  Mr Wood made a disability discrimination […]

One of the common characteristics of a self-employed person is that they have a right to substitute someone else to work for an employer on their behalf.   Indeed this is one of the key characteristics that both Employment Tribunals and HMRC use when making decisions on employed/self-employed status.  A recent case at the Employment Tribunal […]

After all the activity surrounding GDPR in the first half of 2018 things have largely calmed down in the press and with most businesses we talk to.  Some employers have ignored it and hoped it will go away (it won’t!) but most have at least put policies in place and trained their staff.  We think […]

Mental ill health is experienced by 1 in 4 of us at some point in our lives according to the Government’s Department of Health.  If you are affected it is important to understand your rights and the legal obligations of your employer where your mental health is concerned. Mental ill health can present itself in […]

After a relatively warm Christmas break, forecasters are predicting snow across the UK.  As the transport network struggles to cope, some employees will find themselves unable to get to work and employers will have to deal with questions over pay and absence. At Backhouse Solicitors, we review the employment handbooks and policies of many new […]