Legal News (Employment Law)

The Return to Work Safely Protocol, now known as the Work Safely Protocol, was updated on 20 November 2020 to reflect the continuously evolving public health advice and guidance and the Government’s Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19.

COVID-19 has propelled a vast majority of businesses into the world of remote working overnight and with that, several employment law considerations have arisen for employers.

Parental leave entitles parents to take unpaid leave from work to care for their children. From 1 September 2020, parental leave entitlement for eligible parents has been extended up to 26 weeks’ leave in respect of each eligible child.

The High Court has struck down legislation providing for the setting of certain minimum pay and conditions for a number of workers in various economic sectors, which are traditionally covered by mandatory collective arrangements. 

The issue of holidays and how they accrue during the Covid-19 crisis is a question that is arising in workplaces as the lockdown continues. What entitlements does an employee have to leave during this time and can an employer require an employee to take leave?

One significant question facing employers in these challenging times is what the future workplace may look like when the current restrictions are lifted. What will the “new normal” mean for employers?