Some schools have hit the headlines this week for their decisions to offer only vegetarian meals. But would a similar approach extend to the workplace?
Some schools have hit the headlines this week for their decisions to offer only vegetarian meals. But would a similar approach extend to the workplace? Well, one property developer has gone down this route, requiring that all corporate entertaining, workshop catering and even staff expenses must now be vegetarian if staff wish to be reimbursed. The employer adopted the approach – after taking a staff vote on the issue – to attempt to reduce its environmental impact. This employer is not alone – American company WeWork announced a no poultry, pork or red meat approach to expenses claims back in 2018, also in a move to reduce its environmental impact.
Being told what to eat – or rather, what not to eat if you want to be reimbursed – is likely to be controversial with many employees. Importantly, here, the employer had the support of the majority of the workforce before making the change and set out its rationale for why the approach was being adopted – including how the approach was in line with its culture and values. Employers considering such an approach would be wise to secure employee engagement early on – and make sure that internal contracts and policies are consistent with the changes being considered.
Official statistics show that 15,336 claims which included a complaint of age discrimination were received at the Employment Tribunals between March 2020 and March 2021.
The outcome of the Employment Tribunal claim brought by Gulnaz Raja against Starling Bank Limited (1) (Starling), and Matthew Newman (2) was reported last month.
In the Autumn Statement delivered on 17 November, rises to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates were announced, to take effect from 1 April 2023.
The World Cup kicks off in Qatar on Sunday 20 November 2022, with the final taking place on Sunday 18 December 2022. Undoubtedly, this is a huge sporting event, and many employees will be keen to show their support for their favourite teams. However, due to the time difference, start times for the matches are between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. UK time, which could have an impact on employers if employees who wish to watch the matches are scheduled to work.
Settlement agreements are commonplace in an employment context and are ordinarily used to provide the parties to the agreement with certainty following the conclusion of an employment relationship.
The war on plastic is being taken to a new level, and businesses that don’t consider sourcing recycled packaging materials could face costly implications.
Earlier in the year a number of fashion retailers, boldly announced the introduction of a charging fee for returning any product purchased via their online store. Yet, despite this commercial, and perhaps somewhat controversial decision, at least one major fashion giant that adopted this approach has recorded ‘historic highs’ in its September profits. Browne Jacobson partner, Cat Driscoll who heads up the firm’s commercial team in Manchester and is also head of its Fashion & Beauty sector discusses whether this change has put the average consumer off and whether the days of free returns are long gone.
