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05 May 2021 / Ian Smith
Issue: 7931 / Categories: Features , Employment , Tribunals , Litigants in person
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Employment law brief: 7 May 2021

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In this month’s brief, Ian Smith serves up some insight into items which are always on the employment law menu
  • Are foster carers workers?
  • Constructive dismissal: too late to make amends.
  • Striking out a litigant in person’s case.

Employment status is always on the menu in employment law. The first case considered this month addresses ‘worker’ status, but with two twists—it arose in the context of trade union law, and its subject is the very unusual legal position of foster carers. The Court of Appeal has come down in their favour, stressing how specific to their case the decision is, but encouragement is given to appeal further to the Supreme Court where the gloves would be off and reconsideration could be given to their position in the law generally, possibly leading to the extension to them of employment rights generally. The second case addresses a potentially important issue in human relations practice—if management has behaved badly to an employee who is threatening to leave and claim constructive dismissal, up to what point can the employer (ie

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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