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We are delighted to share Episode 37 of The Lawdown, our regular podcast discussing the latest key employment, discrimination and partnership law-related news stories, and the interesting legal issues behind them! You can listen to the episode here.

In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partner Beth Hale, PartnerEmma Bartlett and Associate Kia Aoki discuss the following:

A Cleaner was apparently dismissed by an employment agency, for eating a leftover sandwich which she believed would be discarded after a lawyer’s meeting at a city law firm. She has reportedly asserted claims for race discrimination and unfair dismissal, which is supported by her union In light of this, we discuss the expectation of honesty between employers and employees, and the difficulties that may arise in bringing her claim.
There has been speculation that Mason Greenwood, a footballer for Manchester United, may return to the team following the charges of attempted rape and assault being dropped, and an investigation by club management being concluded. We discuss the issues employers may face where an employee is accused of criminal conduct, and factors employers can consider to move things forward.
Christian Horner has been cleared of misconduct after an investigation conducted by Red Bull, whilst the employee who accused him of inappropriate behaviour has been suspended. We discuss the grounds for suspension of an employee during an investigation, and the importance of carefully considered investigation outcomes for employers.
The Hammersmith and Fulham Council were ordered to pay £4.6 million after dismissing a senior employee who suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after working with Grenfell Tower fire survivors. We discuss the key features of the claim, and why the compensation awarded was larger than what is usually awarded by the Employment Tribunal.

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In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Beth Hale and Sarah Chilton, Senior Associate Wonu Sanda and Associate Kia Aoki discuss the following:

Recently published statistics reveal that women of Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage are earning on average almost a third less an hour than white British men in the UK. In light of this, we discuss the importance of ethnicity pay gap reporting and whether it should be made mandatory, and the difficulties and limitations that may arise in producing this data.
The disparity between CEO and worker pay is again making the headlines, following a UK thinktank’s finding that by 1pm on the third working day of the year, a FTSE 100 chief executive will have earned more on an hourly basis than a UK worker’s annual salary. We discuss the issues relating to this disparity, including against the backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis, whether workers should have a say in dictating CEO salaries, and possible alternatives where an employer cannot afford to raise the salaries of its employees.
Dwight Pile-Gray, a Rastafarian soldier in the British Army, won claims of race discrimination, racial harassment and victimisation in the employment tribunal following an incident where a white colleague didn’t believe he was a soldier based on his appearance. We discuss the Army’s handling of the incident, and what employers can do to ensure incidents like this are properly and fairly investigated.
Strikes are still dominating the headlines in 2024. We discuss the legal developments relating to industrial action, including the use of agency workers during strikes and the controversy around the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, and the implications of these developments for employers.

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In our latest (interesting and non-Christmas themed) episode of The Lawdown, Partner Emma Bartlett and Senior Associate, Wonu Sanda discuss the following:

1.The historical case of Justine Blainey, a teenager, who in the 1980s brought a successful sex discrimination claim in the Supreme Court of Canada, to strike out provisions in the Ontario HR Code which prohibited girls from playing sports with boys, arguing that she should be allowed to play ice hockey with the boys. We discuss how this case parallels the challenges people still face with bullying and sex discrimination in the workplace.

2.Benjamin Mendy, a former Manchester City defender is suing for millions of pounds of unauthorised deductions from his wages during the time he was facing criminal charges. We discuss the employer’s obligations and liabilities when dealing with suspended employees facing investigation.

3.Following the Phillip Schofield incident earlier this year, ITV’s investigation into his affair and the organisation’s culture highlights that he did not co-operate with the investigation due to concerns for his mental wellbeing. We discuss the implications of this and what employers can do when dealing with witnesses who may be suffering from mental health challenges.

4.The Tesla whistleblower, Lukasz Krupski, who leaked data regarding Tesla's braking and self-driving software issues to German newspaper, Handelsblatt, after he felt the concerns he raised internally were ignored by Tesla. We discuss the importance of employers enforcing up-to-date whistleblowing policies and what employers should do concerning mental health issues post-whistleblowing.

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We are delighted to share Episode 34 of The Lawdown, our regular podcast discussing the latest key employment, discrimination and partnership law-related news stories, and the interesting legal issues behind them!

In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Emma Bartlett and Beth Hale discuss the following:

The Royal Kingston-upon-Thames Council has been ordered by the Employment Tribunal to pay £25,000 in compensation for, amongst other things, failing to update a transgender employee’s name in their system – this is known as deadnaming. We discuss an employer’s duty of care when supporting gender transition in the workplace and the implications of the Tribunal’s findings on employers.
Citibank wins an unfair dismissal claim brought by an employee who claimed for two sandwiches and coffees for him and his partner during a business trip. We discuss the relationship of trust and expectation of honesty between employers and employees, particularly in a regulated employment environment.
Daniel Ogunshakin, a BBC Sports Journalist, retells his story of being told that he must cut his dreadlocks to progress in his career, in light of reports that former Premier League striker Gifton Noel-Williams has had similar experiences whilst attempting to break into football management. We discuss how racial stereotyping and dress and appearance policies in the workplace can potentially give rise to discrimination claims.
Cardiff University Students' Union bans men wearing blue shirts and chinos from certain club nights. We discuss the issue of stereotyping people based on their appearance.

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We are delighted to share Episode 33 of The Lawdown, our regular podcast discussing the latest key employment, discrimination and partnership law-related news stories, and the interesting legal issues behind them!

In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Emma Bartlett and Beth Hale and Senior Associate, Wonu Sanda, discuss the following:

The well-known high street chain, Wilko, going into administration and the resultant, unfortunate mass redundancies. We discuss who bears the responsibility for paying wages, notice and redundancy pay when a company goes into administration and the challenges employees may face when seeking to enforce their rights. We also look at the issues surrounding the establishment of collective consultation rights for employees
Tennis players struggling in sweltering heat at the US Open and the question of whether it is it ever too hot to work? We answer this and explore the scope of an employer's health and safety obligations in the workplace
A significant settlement reached in a disturbing case involving racial harassment claims brought by a probation officer. We discuss what constitutes harassment in the workplace and when an employer can be held vicariously liable for harassment perpetrated by a colleague
A recent study which revealed a surprising trend among Britons, who increasingly view work as less important compared to their global counterparts. We query the reasons behind this shift in attitudes toward work, exploring factors such as work-life balance, aging populations and evolving career aspirations

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We are delighted to share Episode 32 of The Lawdown, our regular podcast discussing the latest key employment, discrimination and partnership law-related news stories, and the interesting legal issues behind them!

In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partner Emma Bartlett, Senior Associate Wonu Sanda, and seconded Trainee Solicitor Sam Whiteley discuss the following:

The legal issues surrounding the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s handling of a sexual misconduct claim against a man in charge of one of its lifeboats (in particular, the question of suspension)
A study published in June by researchers at UCL and the University of the Republic of Uruguay suggesting that having a nap during the day is good for brain health, and could slow the rate at which the brain shrinks with ageing. Are employers taking the benefits of napping seriously, and what obligations do they have to do so?
The issue of equal pay in sports, and particularly football, which has been brought into the spotlight again following the Australian women’s football professional players union posting a video outlining injustices in the pay gap between them and their male counterparts
Finally, the fallout following a reporter asking the captain of the Morocco women’s football team, Ghizlane Chebbak, whether there were any gay players in their squad and what life was like for them in Morocco?

We hope you enjoy our latest episode! Please get in touch by emailing us at info@cm-murray.com if you would like any information on the topics discussed or if you would like to suggest a story for us to cover in a future episode.

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In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partner Sarah Chilton and Senior Associates Pooja Dasgupta and Wonu Sanda discuss the following:

The legal issues surrounding Phillip Schofield's resignation from 'This Morning' and the subsequent ITV investigation after he admitted to having an "unwise but not illegal" relationship with a younger, male colleague which revealed that he had been lying about the nature of this relationship to his employer, colleagues and the public.
Amazon UK offering term-time employment contracts to both parents and grandparents to allow flexible working for employees and whether this can be practically applied to a wider range of industries.
Finally, we discuss BlackRock and other financial institutions following their efforts to require employees to return to working in the office, the justification for this, and the potential pitfalls of doing so.

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In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Beth Hale and Emma Bartlett and Senior Associate Pooja Dasgupta discuss the following:

The Ritz job applicant informed of afro hair ban - we discuss the potential discriminatory impact of “employee [hair] grooming” policies and how to prevent such behaviour/practices, and look at the adoption of the Halo Code (the UK’s first Black Hair code).
The recent investigations into allegations of misconduct at the CBI, the Fire brigade and the Met.
Finally, we discuss how the unintended Boots sign relabelling disabled parking at certain sites as being parking for the “less abled” reminds us of the ongoing need to be considerate of choice of language and terminology in respect of disabilities.

All 30 episodes are available on various podcast platforms – please click the links below to listen and subscribe:

Anchor
Apple Podcasts
Spotify

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In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Beth Hale and Emma Bartlett and Senior Associates Wonu Sanda and Pooja Dasgupta discuss the following:

Matt Hancock’s leaked WhatsApp messages - thousands of the former Health Secretary’s covid WhatsApp messages leaked by Isabel Oakeshott to the Telegraph; the tension between upholding confidentiality agreements and the disclosure of information in public interest; and the potential risks of using WhatsApp for work.
Gary Lineker’s BBC Twitter storm - the BBC’s suspension of Match of the Day presenter, Gary Lineker, following his criticism of the government’s proposed illegal migration bill on Twitter. We discuss the increasing use of social media by employees to express personal views, the blurred boundaries between personal and professional life online and the importance of updating and applying social media policies clearly, proportionately, and consistently.
Fiona Bruce’s Question Time controversy – Fiona Bruce stepping down as ambassador for Refuge, a domestic violence charity, following accusations that she trivialised domestic violence during a discussion about Boris Johnson’s father on Question Time. We discuss the impact of external activities on the workplace and the challenges faced by those holding multiple roles when managing and resolving conflicts of interests.
Teacher’s racist WhatsApp chat caught by pupils – the Ethiopian Israeli school girls reportedly 'mocked' by their teachers in a racist WhatsApp group chat titled ‘Black School Trip’ and the concerning discriminatory connotations at play, as well as issues of professionalism, confidentiality and the risk of WhatsApp evidence disclosure in litigation.
2023 Oscars Diversity – the historic and ground-breaking wins at the 2023 Oscars for diverse creatives of Asian descent involved in the best picture winner, ‘Everything, Everywhere All at Once’ and other diverse winners. We discuss the positive developments since the #oscarssowhite protests in 2015, the progress in the recognition and celebration of minority groups at the Oscars and the importance of ensuring a diverse selection and voting panel process to bring about sustained change.

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We are delighted to introduce this Sports Edition of the Lawdown podcast, discussing our take on the employment, partnership and other legal issues behind some fresh news stories in the sporting world.

In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Beth Hale and Emma Bartlettand Paralegal Mitchell Blythe discuss the following:

Eddie Jones Move to Rugby Australia: The significance of post-termination restrictive covenants and confidentiality clauses asthe Rugby Football Union (RFU) failure to insert a non-compete clause into the severance agreement of former head coach Eddie Jones leads to his new role in Rugby Australia just 7 weeks later.
Maternity in Football: A landmark ruling on maternity pay at the FIFA Tribunal for Icelandic footballer, Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir, and criticism by Reading captain, Emma Mukandi of the Football Association maternity policy.
Gender Equality in Rugby Union: Action taken by both Wales Rugby Union and Ireland Rugby Football Union in the wake of allegations that there exists a toxic culture of sexism within Wales Rugby Union.

We hope you enjoy our latest episode! Please get in touch by emailing us at info@cm-murray.com if you would like any information on the topics discussed or if you would like to suggest a story for us to cover in a future episode.

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Happy New Year and best wishes for 2023 from the Lawdown Podcast team! We are delighted to kick off our first Lawdown podcast of the year discussing our take on the employment, partnership and other legal issues behind some fresh news stories.

In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Beth Hale and Emma Bartlettand Senior Associate Wonu Sanda discuss the following:

Naomi Osaka pregnancy announcement: we focus on the changing attitudes and practices towards pregnant and returning mothers in high performance sport. We also explore how maternity rights, protections and facilities have been used to support working mothers in traditional workplaces and the parallel maternity and family friendly advancements developing in the tennis world.
The Metaverse and the future of work: is the prospect of our workplaces being transported to the developing online virtual reality world – the metaverse – closer than we think? We consider some of the potential benefits and legal and practical challenges (including discrimination and employee wellbeing) that the Metaverse might give rise to and the interplay with employee management and interaction issues observed, following the wider post-pandemic adoption of remote working practices.
Storming of the Brazilian Congress: the recent footage of protesters storming the Brazilian congress and Supreme Court building shocked the world and raises employment questions as to whether employers can discipline those who are caught on video. We discuss this and the difficult issues that employers may encounter when seeking to manage clashing political views between employees expressed both inside and outside of the workplace.
Gender Neutral Brit Awards Nominations: with one of the UK’s biggest music award ceremonies, the Brit Awards, scrapping its male and female best artist categories for a gender neutral ‘Artist of the Year’ category, we discuss the backlash the Brit Awards has received for filling its nominees with an all-male line-up. We consider why and how has this happened and what employers can learn about diversity and equality issues.

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It’s December – and that means Christmas plans and festivities are underway! But if you want a break from all of that then we are delighted to share another episode of our topical podcast, The Lawdown, where we discuss our take on recent employment, discrimination and partnership law-related news stories and the interesting legal issues behind them.

In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Senior Associates Wonu Sandaand Pooja Dasgupta, alongside Partners Beth Hale and Emma Bartlett discuss the following:

The recent mass redundancies sweeping through Twitter and the apparent lack of consultation and process followed. We also weigh in on CEO Elon Musk’s controversial 24 hour ultimatum that remaining staff either accept long and high intensity working hours to build "Twitter 2.0” or leave with a three month severance package and the possible health and safety, employee motivation and well-being implications.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s public criticism of and subsequent departure from Manchester United football club and whether employees can be disciplined for publicly criticising their employers, including issues around breach of contract and whistleblowing. We look at other potential outcomes like constructive dismissal claims and negotiated exits often considered in circumstances where there has been a breakdown of mutual trust and confidence.
Lady Hussey’s (a former royal lady in waiting) resignation following the revelation that she repeatedly questioned Ngozi Fuloni (a black executive of charity, Sistah Space) on where she was “really” from. We discuss racial prejudices, how these and other such incidents can constitute micro-aggressions, the impact on an individual’s sense of cultural belonging in society or in a workplace and the role of bystanders in the fight against discrimination.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) independent cultural review and recommendations, commissioned following an investigation into the death of a trainee firefighter who had complained of bullying and harassment, including the importance of a zero-tolerance approach to confronting and rooting out misogyny, sexism, abuse, harassment, racism and other forms of discrimination in our workplaces and public institutions.

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We are delighted to share Episode 25 of The Lawdown, our regular podcast discussing the latest key employment, discrimination and partnership law-related news stories, and the interesting legal issues behind them.

In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Senior Associate Pooja Dasgupta and Partners Beth Hale and Sarah Chilton discuss the following:

Manchester United’s handling of allegations made against Mason Greenwood, pending the outcome of criminal proceedings against the prominent footballer, including discussion around the avenues currently open to the club; the potential legal consequences associated with early termination of Greenwood’s contract; and the impact of the concurrent criminal proceedings upon the club’s decision making process.
Liz Truss’ unprecedented short term in office; bullying allegations recently made against Gavin Williamson; and Matt Hancock’s widely criticised foray into “the Jungle” – drawing upon parallels in the workplace context and relevant considerations for employers in similar circumstances.
The conclusions reached by Baroness Casey in her interim report on the current misconduct system in the Met Police, focusing on the findings made in relation to the significant delays in the processing and determination of disciplinary offences within the Met Police; and the impact of those delays on complainants, perpetrators and wider cultural issues across the police force.

All 25 episodes are available on various podcast platforms – please click the links below to listen and subscribe:

Anchor

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Follow The Lawdown on Twitter: @lawdownpodcast.

CM Murray is Ranked Tier 1 for Employment (Senior Executives) by Legal 500 UK 2023.‘‘CM Murray is unique, even among employment law boutiques, in their strength and depth of experts and expertise. They simply cannot be beaten. They are formidable advocates for their clients.' (Legal 500 UK)

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We are delighted to share Episode 24 of The Lawdown, our regular podcast discussing the latest key employment, discrimination and partnership law-related news stories, and the interesting legal issues behind them.

In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partner Emma Bartlett and Senior Associates Wonu Sanda and Pooja Dasgupta discuss the following:

The government’s pledge to scrap the current cap on banker bonuses, forming part of its ambitious deregulation plans for London’s financial industry in order to boost economic growth, including discussion around the potential employment law implications arising from this proposed shift;
Hot on the heels of International Equal Pay Day, we look at the RSC’s appointment of its first female artistic director and reflect on what has been achieved and what is being done to address the gender pay gap globally; and
The latest workplace hiring and firing trends going viral on social media and news outlets: “Quiet Quitting”; “fatFIRE”; and “Quiet Firing”, including a discussion regarding the ways in which these trends can impact employees, and how they should be managed by employers.

Follow The Lawdown on Twitter: @lawdownpodcast.

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We are delighted to share Episode 23 of The Lawdown, our regular podcast discussing the latest key employment, discrimination and partnership law-related news stories, and the interesting legal issues behind them.

In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partner Emma Bartlett and Senior Associates Wonu Sanda and Pooja Dasgupta discuss the following:

Dina Asher-Smith’s call for more research into the effect of periods on performance after her cycle caused her to suffer from cramp at the European Championships in Munich. We consider this issue both from a ‘women in sport’ perspective and also in a wider workplace context;
Leaked allegations that the RAF’s head of recruitment refused to follow an order to prioritise women and ethnic minority candidates over white men on the basis that it constituted positive discrimination. We discuss the differences between positive action and positive discrimination, the conditions that must be met for positive action to be lawful and some of the pitfalls posed by the legislation; and
The roll out of the UK’s four-day working week trial, including a discussion in relation to the advantages and disadvantages of a shorter working week and offering some practical suggestions as to how businesses might be able to make this a viable, long-term option.

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We are delighted to share Episode 22 of The Lawdown, our regular podcast discussing the latest key employment, discrimination and partnership law-related news stories, and the interesting legal issues behind them.

In this episode of The Lawdown, Partner Emma Bartlett and Senior Associates Wonu Sanda and Pooja Dasgupta delve into the legal and topical issues behind some recent headlines, including:

The concluding act to the Sue Gray report and the government’s Partygate saga. We examine what the report means for the prime minister, discuss the need for leadership and accountability to drive positive change in organisations and potential next steps.
A £75k Employment Tribunal award won by a casino cashier for victimisation after reportedly not being invited to a work drinks night out by colleagues. We discuss the problems with sensationalist Tribunal award reporting; unpack the claims behind the headline and reason for the high award; and explore the importance of public hearings, open justice and accurate reporting.
A TV presenter walking out of an after-dinner speech at the Scottish Sports Awards over reported sexist, racist and homophobic “jokes”. We consider whether employers can be liable for third party harassment in similar cases, including the historical position and shocking past cases; action open to employees and employers to address third party harassment and proposed changes in the law; and the bystander effect and practising effective intervention.

Follow The Lawdown on Twitter: @lawdownpodcast

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We are delighted to share Episode 21 of The Lawdown, our regular podcast discussing the latest key employment, discrimination and partnership law-related news stories, and the interesting legal issues behind them.

In this episode, Partner, Beth Hale, and Associates, Pooja Dasgupta, Winnifred Sarfo-Gyamfi and Yulia Fedorenko, discuss the legal issues arising from the latest news stories making the headlines, including:

The infamous Will Smith and Chris Rock Oscar slap - exploring the appropriateness of the actions taken by the Academy; the way in which employers should respond to similar incidents of assault, harassment and misconduct in the workplace; and the “bystander effect”;
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez’ pregnancy loss – discussing the impact of pregnancy loss and how employers can support staff in such circumstances; existing pregnancy loss rights; and the implementation of pregnancy loss policies; and
The latest on the Partygate saga, as MPs approve the Privileges Committee inquiry into Boris Johnson’s conduct in misleading parliament - exploring how employers should deal with investigations of alleged misconduct by senior leaders; the implications of breaching ministerial codes; and practical considerations in relation to managing concurrent investigations.

Further information on the topics covered in all our podcasts can be found at www.cm-murray.com.

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We are delighted to share Episode 20 of The Lawdown, our regular podcast discussing the latest key employment, discrimination and partnership law-related news stories, and the interesting legal issues behind them!

In this episode of The Lawdown, Partners Beth Hale and Emma Bartlett, Senior Associate Wonu Sanda and Associate Winnifred Sarfo-Gyamfi discuss the law behind some fascinating recent news stories, including:

A West Ham footballer who has been reprimanded for an alarming video of him kicking his cat, and the interesting employment law-related issues, including whether an employer can impose discipline for misconduct that occurs outside the workplace; when an employer can suspend an employee, and the legal and practical considerations and constraints that apply; and the impact of serious allegations on the accused’s mental health.
A call from a senior QC to abolish archaic requirements for barristers to wear wigs in the few courts where the tradition remains. We discuss the cultural insensitivity concerns and implications of court wigs for diversity and access to the legal profession, as well as the potential discrimination issues that may arise when applying blanket workplace dress codes generally.
Concerning reports of harassment of avatars in the metaverse (a new developing virtual reality platform) and the questions that arise as to how employers would monitor and address these issues in a potential future metaverse workplace. We discuss new proposed digital solutions, such as a personal avatar boundary feature introduced by Meta and other companies; employer obligations in the metaverse and whether current anti-harassment legislation applies; and the potential complication of applicable law and jurisdiction in an online virtual world.

We hope you enjoy our latest episode! Please get in touch by emailing us at info@cm-murray.com if you would like any information on the topics discussed or if you would like to suggest a story for us to cover in a future episode.

Follow The Lawdown on Twitter: @lawdownpodcast.

CM Murray is Ranked Tier 1 for Employment (Senior Executives) by Legal 500 UK 2022. ‘Brilliant employment law team...Incredibly talented knowledgeable and commercial in their very professional approach. Very able in international employment matters.' (Legal 500 UK)

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It’s a new year – which, for the Lawdown podcast, means we get to share more of our legal take on new and interesting stories in the news with you! So please join us for our first episode of the year where Partners Beth Hale and Emma Bartlett, Senior Associate Wonu Sanda and Associate Pooja Dasgupta kick off by discussing some of the top news stories so far, including:

Cutting sick pay for unvaccinated staff who are required to isolate as a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid. With the likes of Next, Ikea and Morrison's receiving hugely divided reactions to the adoption of such sick pay policies, we consider their legality, whether they are discriminatory, the benefits and risks for employers, employee relations, and whether employers have a role to play in incentivising vaccination.
“Sorry not sorry”: the recently reported public apologies (or non-apologies as the case may be) of a Conservative MP, and separately Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in the House of Commons and the wider role apologies play in employment and other disputes. We explore different types of apologies and what an effective apology looks like, as well as consider the legal and reputational benefits of apologies and whether they are tantamount to an admission of legal liability.
Prince Andrew’s failed attempt to prevent Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit against him in the US by relying on tird-partyh waiver of claims wording contained in a $500k settlement agreement she had entered into with Jeffrey Epstein. We discuss how such waivers (which are typically found in settlement agreements) might play out in the UK context and the considerations for UK practitioners drafting similar provisions.

Follow The Lawdown on Twitter: @lawdownpodcast.

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In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partners Beth Hale and Emma Bartlettdiscuss with Associate Pooja Dasgupta:

The FCA’s consultation on proposals to boost disclosure of diversity on listed company Boards and Executive Committees, including the wide-ranging benefits of embracing such proposals and enforcement considerations;
Creative measures taken by firms to tackle staff burnout and workplace stress, including introducing unlimited leave policies and annual workplace closures, and the potential advantages and disadvantages of implementing such policies; and
The sharp increase in menopause-related Employment Tribunal claims in the past 4 to 5 years, including an overview of some of the interesting facts in play in some of the cases that have gone to Tribunal, and best practice tips for employers in educating themselves on the menopause and making appropriate adjustments, as necessary.

All 18 episodes are available on various podcast platforms – please click the links below to listen and subscribe:

Anchor

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Google Podcasts

Follow The Lawdown on Twitter: @lawdownpodcast.

CM Murray is Ranked Tier 1 for Employment (Senior Executives) by Legal 500 UK 2022.‘Brilliant employment law team...Incredibly talented knowledgeable and commercial in their very professional approach. Very able in international employment matters.' (Legal 500 UK)

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With the world slowly trying to recover from the impact of the pandemic, in our latest episode of The Lawdown, Senior Associate Wonu Sandaand Associate Pooja Dasgupta discuss connected governmental developments and interesting media stories, including:

The government’s recently launched consultation on “making flexible working the default” which is seeking views on the reform of flexible working regulations, including the headline-grabbing day one right to make a request; and the staunch objections to the potential reforms by a senior city executive, who believes staff abuse working from home.
The Women and Work All Party Parliamentary Group’s recent annual report on the theme of “Women’s Wellbeing at Work”, including their key recommendations on how to build back better outcomes and opportunities for women’s careers post pandemic and the simple but effective recruitment initiative which increased women applicants for senior roles by a third.
Allegations levelled at Facebook by an NGO for allowing sexist job advertising: examining the potential discrimination liability implications for service providers and the moral responsibilities owed by tech giants in an increasingly digital world.

We hope you enjoy it! For more information on any of the topics discussed, or to suggest a story for us to cover, please email us at info@cm-murray.com.

You can also find all episodes of The Lawdown on Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.

Follow The Lawdown on Twitter: @lawdownpodcast

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In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partner Beth Hale, Senior Associate Wonu Sanda and Associate Pooja Dasgupta discuss:

· the government’s response to the consultation on sexual harassment in the workplace, published at the end of July 2021, including an overview of the government’s key commitments and their potential implications; and

· harassment during lockdown and upon returning to the office, including the increase in online harassment whilst working remotely; the challenges faced by employers when addressing and preventing harassment in a blended/hybrid working model; and the importance of updating policies and delivering refresher training on harassment, particularly in the current climate.

We hope you enjoy our latest episode! Please get in touch by emailing us at info@cm-murray.comif you would like any information on the topics discussed or if you would like to suggest a story for us to cover in a future episode.

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In our latest episode of The Lawdown, Partner Beth Hale, Senior Associate Wonu Sanda and Associate Sophie Rothwell discuss some recently profiled innovative family-friendly policies and developments, including:

Progressive pregnancy loss policies - what they are and why they are necessary, and the employers who are leading the charge in this sensitive and crucial area.
The childcare disparity - which recognises that women bear the brunt of childcare responsibilities, and the implications of the recent EAT case which held it was a matter about which judicial notice should be automatically taken.
Egg freezing policies, as recently introduced by the law firm Cooley, including the potential impact of such policies on the female and general workforce, as well as the potential risks around possible discrimination and messaging.

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In this “relaunch” episode of the Lawdown, we discuss:

Naomi Osaka dropping out of the French Open due to mental health issues and the wider workplace implications of this story, including employer health and safety, mental health and wellbeing obligations, and potential reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010;
Gary Lineker’s recent dispute with HMRC over alleged non-compliance with the IR35 regime, the IR35 regime itself and some wider considerations from both a tax and employment law perspective; and
Entering hospitality venues after the easing of certain lockdown restrictions - the potentially discriminatory impact of Covid electronic test and trace rules on people without access to technology, and some of the key data protection considerations for businesses in adopting such technology.

We hope you enjoy it! For more information on any topics discussed or to suggest a story for us to cover, please email us at info@cm-murray.com.

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With apologies for the sound quality at some points, a zoom and slow broadband issue got in the way, it will be fixed for next episode. In this episode we discuss some of the recent headlines in the news, including the potential impact on workplace diversity following the A level results disaster; the issues facing employers and employees following the expansion of quarantine rules to further countries and why low sick pay rates are a public health issue; the PPE procurement scandal and why judicial review is such a key remedy to hold governments to account and finally, how workplace misconduct could end up with a spell in jail! For more info on the PPE issue visit www.goodlawproject.org/news/the-ppe-fiasco and to get in touch with us email at info@cm-murray.com.

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We are back after a long break, in which we were very busy with the day job. In this episode we discuss two huge issues which have dominated 2020: coronavirus and racism. We discuss how these impact the world of work, and ways in which employers can respond, to help drive change. We also touch on the alleged misconduct of the UK PM’s adviser, Dominic Cummings. It’s a long one, but we hope you enjoy it and please get in touch with any questions or comments, or topics you’d like us to cover in subsequent episodes - info@cm-murray.com.

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In this episode we discuss Mr X the millionaire businessman who sought a restricted reporting order from the Employment Tribunal to keep his identity secret; we talk about what employees can do if a job offer is withdrawn before the employee has even started, which recently happened to a highly paid banker who is now reportedly suing the bank; in geek moment of the episode, we update you on the first post employment restrictive covenant case to get to the Supreme Court in over a century - Tillman v Egon Zehnder and finally in a twist to tweet of the week, we talk about Trump’s recent tweets - not our favourite of the week but worthy of mention all the same. For any information on these stories or to contact us please email info@cm-murray.com.

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In this episode of the Lawdown, Sarah Chilton and Beth Hale discuss the recent high profile (but very different) dismissals of Gavin Williamson, Alex Hales and Israel Folau and the employment law issues to which they give rise, including investigations, reputational damage, social media, drug testing and addiction, discrimination and harassment and conduct outside the workplace. For more information, or to suggest a story or topic, please get in touch at info@cm-murray.com. More information on these topics at www.cm-murray.com. Please rate and review if you like what you hear.

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In this episode of the Lawdown, Wonu Sanda and Beth Hale discuss the latest gender pay gap reports (and what they tell us (and don't tell us) about equality of pay in the UK) and the reported ban on alcohol and drug use at Lloyds of London. We also bust some myths about the level of damages awarded in discrimination claims and discuss how compensation is actually calculated. For more information,to suggest a story or topic, please get in touch at info@cm-murray.com. More information on topics on www.cm-murray.com. Please rate and review if you like what you hear.

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In this episode we discuss NDAs following the publication of proposals from the Government for reform; we also highlight the, in some cases, increasing gender pay gap, nearly one year on from the first reporting deadline; and finally we bring you a case update on the Jewish nursery case, a case highlighting the limitations of religious discrimination. For more information,to suggest a story or topic, please get in touch at info@cm-murray.com. More information on topics on www.cm-murray.com. Please rate and review if you like what you hear.

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We are back after the festivities and thought it was time to talk Brexit. In this episode we clear up confusion about the European Court of Human Rights and the UK’s exit from the EU and discuss some of the risks of Brexit-related abuse. We also chat workplace cultures and, for those legal geeks and businesses seeking to protect their assets, we update you on the recent restrictive covenant case heard by the Supreme Court - Tillman v Egon Zehnder.

For more information about restrictive covenants, please listen to our restrictive covenant podcast on iTunes or SoundCloud. To find out about restrictive covenants in a broader people management context, head to iTunes or SoundCloud.

For more information, questions or to send us a story to cover please email info@cm-murray.com

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In our Christmas special (before we take a break until 2019), we talk about whether veganism could be a protectable belief under the Equality Act 2010, the Ted Baker enforced hugging scandal and Goldman Sachs' decision to offer London staff access to emergency nannies and other family-friendly benefits. We look again at whether Article 50 can be unilaterally revoked and discuss employment law risks during the festive season.

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In this episode we discuss the huge bonus awarded to the boss of Persimmon; we are back debating the topic of sexual harassment after allegations were made against the House of Lords peer and barrister, Lord Lester; we talk about microchipping employees, suggested as a possible tool for businesses and we also bring you an update on the Scottish Court case seeking to clarify the UK Government’s ability to unilaterally revoke Article 50. To get in touch please email info@cm-murray.com.

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In this episode we discuss the “gay cake case” and why the Court reached the decision it did about the bakers who were sued for refusing to ice the slogan “Support Gay Marriage” on a cake (www.lawgazette.co.uk/commentary-and-opinion/judgment-in-gay-cake-case/5067886.article), we talk about the much publicised injunction against the Telegraph newspaper brought by who we now know to be Sir Philip Green, including injunctions, parliamentary privilege and NDAs and also the sexual harassment issues faced by Google, including the staff walk out. For more information on any topics discussed or to suggest a story for us to cover please email us info@cm-murray.com.

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In this episode we discuss the impact of the US Supreme Court selection process and the allegations made against Cristiano Ronaldo. We look at how employers should be dealing with historic allegations and discuss the approach taken by Juventus. We also cover the move towards parental pay transparency and a new scheme introduced by the Old Vic Theatre aimed at facilitating the reporting of sexual harassment allegations. We hope you enjoy it! For more information or to send us a story you would like us to discuss please contact info@cm-murray.com.

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In this episode we discuss Facebook, flexible working and four day weeks as well as highlighting some of employment law proposals following the Labour Party Conference. For more information or to send us a story you would like us to discuss please contact info@cm-murray.com.

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In this episode we discuss a former Scottish First Minister, Donald Trump, golf courses and flexible working! Some of these may have quite a bit in common, Trump and golf courses for example, but there are interesting legal issues relating to each of them which we discuss in this, our first episode of the Lawdown. We hope you enjoy it! More information about the issues discussed can be found at www.cm-murray.com. If you want to suggest a story for us to discuss, email sarah.chilton@cm-murray.com.

The Lawdown: Recent Episodes

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