Employment

Northern Ireland unemployment falls

Northern Ireland unemployment falls

The rate of unemployment in Northern Ireland has fallen again, though as with previous months there has been an increase in the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefit. Northern Ireland continues... Read more

Fewer employee sick days in 2011

The number of working days lost to sickness of employees in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK dropped in 2011, making it 8 consecutive years of a decline... Read more

NI public sector employees in UK strike action

Thousands of public sector employees in Northern Ireland picketed outside civil service places of work protesting against proposed pension cuts. There has been strike action throughout the UK, and is due... Read more

County Antrim company loses unfair dismissal claim

Randox Laboratories, based in County Antrim, has been ordered to pay £70,000 to its' former international business manager, Harry Harrison, for unfair dismissal. The tribunal found that the company had tried... Read more

Solicitor forced to retire at age of 65

The Supreme Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of a solicitor who was forced to retire from his firm at the age of 65. The government recently abolished the compulsory... Read more

Northern Ireland unemployment rate unchanged

There was no change to the rate of unemployment in Northern Ireland in the period beginning December 2011 and ending in February 2012, according to the recent labour force survey. As... Read more

Belfast BMI employees warned of redundancies

BMI employees at the George Best Belfast city airport have met with the new owners of the company, British Airways, to hear about possible redundancies to be made among the... Read more

Unfair dismissal changes will put 2.7m GB jobs at risk

The TUC say that 2.7million employees could be put at risk when the qualifying period before workers in England, Scotland and Wales are protected from unfair dismissal is raised from... Read more

£10k for employee dismissed to avoid redundancy pay

An industrial tribunal has ruled that an employee of WDL Developments (NI) and related companies should receive nearly £10,000, after finding that his employers dismissed him in order to avoid... Read more

Belfast employee dismissed for Facebook comments

An employee of a Belfast call centre has been dismissed for making obscene comments about a colleague on Facebook. Daniel Joseph Teggart was employed by TeleTech in Belfast in July 2007,... Read more

Government announces minimum wage increase

It has been announced that the minimum wage for employees in  Northern Ireland and throughout the UK will increase by 11p to £6.19 as of October this year. However, the increase... Read more

Fall in Northern Ireland unemployment

Despite a small rise in the number of unemployment-related benefit claimants in Northern Ireland in the last quarter, the rate of employment has actually fallen by 0.4% compared to the... Read more

Unfair dismissal claim win for autistic employee

Employment tribunal judge John Hollow has condemned an employer who was paying an employee who suffers from Asperger's Syndrome and dyslexia less than half the minimum wage because he "thought... Read more

Increase in unpaid overtime worked by older employees

A new report by the TUC says that there has been a large increase in the number of people aged in their late 50s and early 60s working unpaid overtime. Last... Read more

Racial and sexual orientation discrimination case win

Det Con Kevin Maxwell, a gay black police officer aged 33, and with ten years service, has successfully brought a claim of racial and sexual orientation discrimination against his employer,... Read more

Woman sacked for gaining weight claims unfair dismissal

An interesting claim of unfair dismissal will be heard at an employment court in Brazil, after a former WeightWatchers leader was sacked for gaining 3 stone in weight. The employee weighed... Read more

NI unemployment rate below UK average

While the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Northern Ireland increased by 600 to 61,500 in December, the unemployment rate actually fell by 0.1% in the last quarter of... Read more

£617m set aside for public sector redundancies

The government has come under criticism from the Labour party after the Treasury released new figures revealing what they say is an additional £617million allocated for redundancy payments over the... Read more

Bank staff reject voluntary redundancy offer

The finance union, the Irish Bank Officials' Association (IBOA), has rejected the redundancy package offered to Ulster Bank staff as they aim to make the 350 Northern Ireland job cuts... Read more

52 yr old blind man deemed 'fit to work'

A man, who has been registered blind since the age of 16 in 1976, and now aged 52, has been told he is fit to work, and that he will... Read more

Employee stress levels up says report

A new report has been produced by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) to compare today's economy and the workplace to those 60 years ago when Queen Elizabeth... Read more

Unemployment to rise as UK returns to recession

New Bank of England research suggests that redundancies in the private services sector will increase drastically as the UK seems to be slipping back into recession. The service sector accounts for... Read more

Slight decrease in NI unemployment rate

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) has revealed a slight fall in the rate of unemployment in Northern Ireland, with a 0.7% drop since last quarter taking it to 6.8% -... Read more

Voluntary redundancy offer for teachers revealed

Education minister for Northern Ireland, John O'Dowd, has confirmed the details of a £167million voluntary redundancy scheme that will be offered to teachers from April 2011. The offers of voluntary redundancy... Read more

26,000 public sector jobs to go in NI by 2017

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is predicting that 26,000 public sector workers in Northern Ireland will find themselves unemployed by the year 2017 as a result of the... Read more

NI youth unemployment highest in UK

The number of unemployed 18-24 year olds in Northern Ireland has increased by 155% since 2008, and is the highest rate of unemployment in the whole of the UK. Approximately 20%... Read more

£1m compensation in racial unfair dismissal case

One of the largest compensation sums ever has been awarded to former NHS manager Elliot Browne who was found to have been unfairly dismissed and the victim of a campaign... Read more

NI woman wins indirect discrimination claim

Nuala Crilly, aged 47 from Northern Ireland, has won a claim of indirect sex discrimination at the industrial tribunal in Belfast, and has been awarded £11,677 in damages. Ms Crilly had... Read more

Employee wins discrimination case against Belfast restaurant

An employee at a restaurant in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has been awarded compensation of over £30,000 after a tribunal found that she had been subjected to racial, sexual and religious... Read more

TUC says charging employees tribunal fees unacceptable

The TUC has said that government proposals to charge employees to bring claims to employment tribunals could "effectively prevent the poorest and most vulnerable workers from ever being able to... Read more

Increase in NI unemployment benefit claims

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits increased by 300 in the month of November despite figures from the Labour Force Survey suggesting that unemployment has actually fallen in the... Read more

Strike could cost NI economy £500m

Strike action beginning on Wednesday, involving teachers and other public sector workers, could cost the Northern Ireland economy £500m as a result of disruption caused. The strike was called in response... Read more

Consultation on proposed dismissal rule changes

The government has announced a consultation on potential changes to employment legislation. They say the changes are designed to help companies take on new employees without raising concerns of job... Read more

Government considers scrapping unfair dismissal rules

The coalition government is seemingly involved in an internal row over a leaked proposal to do away with unfair dismissal rules.  An unpublished document commissioned by Steve Hilton, the director... Read more

Report predicts employment market to worsen

The quarterly survey produced by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) predicts that the job market in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK will get worse,... Read more

500 prison staff offered voluntary redundancies

A redundancy scheme involving over 500 Northern Ireland prison officers and a total cost of £60million has been announced by the Prison Service. It is hoped that prison officers over the... Read more

Nipsa union members vote to strike

Members of the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (Nipsa) have voted to take strike action on 30th November, after two-thirds of the 43% of members who turned out voted for... Read more

Northern Ireland public sector loses 4000 jobs

New figures compiled by PricewaterhouseCoopers reveal that 4000 jobs have been cut in the Northern Ireland public sector over the last year, but that the extent of the cuts is... Read more

Abolition of the Default Retirement Age - 'The Aftermath'

Following the abolition of the default retirement age earlier this year leading international law firm Norton Rose have carried out a survey among 125 senior HR professionals in to the... Read more

Northern Ireland unemployment at 14 yr high

The number of unemployed people in Northern Ireland rose again in the month of September, with an additional 500 people taking the overall total to 60,900 - the highest... Read more

Capita expansion to create 336 Belfast jobs

Employment prospects in Belfast got a small boost yesterday with the announcement by Capita that they are expanding their Northern Ireland workforce with the addition of 336 new jobs over... Read more

Northern Ireland employee's age discrimination case win

A Northern Ireland employee has succeeded in a claim of age discrimination against her former employee, with the tribunal saying she had been dismissed "in the most callous way". Age discrimination... Read more

Graduate unemployment on the increase

A survey of 49,065 university graduates in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK suggests that as many as 28% of graduates from 2007 were still not in full-time... Read more

First prosecution under new Bribery Act

The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed that a London Magistrates' court employee is the first person to be prosecuted under the new Bribery legislation. Munir Yakub Patel was charged under Section... Read more

NI is region with largest gender pay gap

A study by Chartered Management Institute has revealed that the pay gap between female and male managers in the UK continues to increase, and that Northern Ireland is the region... Read more

NI businesses optimistic for the future

While many businesses in Northern Ireland are currently facing a daily struggle for survival, most it would appear are optimistic about the future of the economy according to research carried... Read more

High earners unaware 50pc tax is actually 66pc

Centre for Policy Studies think-tank says high earners are unaware of the actual amount of income tax they are paying each month, revealing that the top-end 50 per cent tax... Read more

Nearly 2 in 10 Northern Ireland shops vacant

A new study by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has revealed that Northern Ireland is the region of the UK with the highest rate of vacancies in retail properties, with... Read more

NI women wins age discrimination compensation

Anna Stirrup from Cookstown in Northern Ireland has successfully brought a claim against her former employer for age discrimination, and has been awarded £25,000 in damages. Ms Stirrup had worked at... Read more

Unemployment in Northern Ireland increases

Unemployment figures in Northern Ireland increased in the month of July, with another 600 people reported to have joined the queue for unemployment benefit. That increase takes the total number... Read more

UK firms plan more redundancies

A new survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) reveals that there are more employers planning redundancies in the third quarter of this year than there are... Read more

Tower of London governor loses unfair dismissal claim

Former Tower of London governor, Maj Gen Keith Cima, has lost his claim for unfair dismissal after a London employment tribunal held that he was rightly removed from his position... Read more

Women suffer worse during redundancies

A new report by think tank IPPR suggests that women fare worse during redundancies, and in particular find it harder to get back into employment. The report says that one in... Read more

New figures show need for rethink on retirement

New figures released by the Department for Works and Pensions show an increased life expectancy for the current generation of 20-year-old and unders. The figures are based on Office for... Read more

'Women will never be equal at work'

Hilary Devey, successful business woman and the latest addition to the panel on the tv programme 'Dragon's Den', says men and women will never be equal in the workplace, and... Read more

One in three workers confess to faking illness

A new survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) seems to suggest that one in three employees in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK has feigned illness in order to take... Read more

NI working women back to 1950s inequality

A new report by the Women's Resource and Development Agency (WRDA) has said inequality in the workplace in Northern Ireland is being made worse by recent developments, with Lyn Carvill... Read more

Commons votes to increase women's pension age

The House of Commons yesterday voted to raise the state pension age of women, with MPs voting 302 in favour of a second reading of the Pensions Bill, while 232... Read more

Commons debate whether woman should work longer

The House of Commons will today debate government proposals for woman to work longer before being eligible to collect a state pension. Women are currently entitled to receive their pension... Read more

Northern Ireland unemployment continues to rise

The number of unemployment benefit claimants in Northern Ireland increased in May with another 400 people joining the dole queue, taking the total figure up to 59,500. Unemployment in the... Read more

New government work scheme to deliver 2.4m jobs

The new government work scheme designed to get people off benefits and back to full-time employment is expected to deliver 2.4million jobs in the next five years. The new scheme has... Read more

314 Northern Ireland teachers made redundant

According to figures compiled by the BBC show, 314 teachers in Northern Ireland have been made redundant, with the majority of those said to have chosen to accept voluntary redundancy... Read more

NI tax office staff strike over sickness policy

Northern Ireland employees of the tax office yesterday started a programmed series of walk outs in protest at changes to the sickness policy. On Tuesday, staff left their offices at... Read more

£9k claim award in NI employee discrimination case

An employee of a Laura Ashley store in Northern Ireland has been awarded £9,520 in compensation by the industrial tribunal which found that she had suffered discrimination by her employer... Read more

Finance minister angry at Civil Service sick days

Taxpayers are having to foot a bill for £22.9million for sick days taking by employees of the Civil Service in Northern Ireland. On average 11 sick days are taken a... Read more

Businesses told to consider employment regulation fairly

A new report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), entitled "The economic rights and wrongs of employment regulation", tells employers that they need to consider employment regulation... Read more

NI only UK region with rising unemployment

Unemployment statistics for April show that Northern Ireland is still struggling behind the other regions in the UK, with the number of people without a job on the increase while... Read more

Fathers to get 5.5 months paid maternity leave

The Coalition government will announce today that new fathers are to be given the option to take longer off work, as part of a reform of how paternity leave is... Read more

BA employee dispute close to resolution

Members of the British Airway cabin crew union BASSA will hear tomorrow the details of an offer from the company which Union representatives say they are "content with". If the... Read more

Employee absenteeism costs UK £32billion per year

New statistics released by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) show that the average worker in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK takes 10 unscheduled days off work each year, with an... Read more

Three quarters of benefit claimants 'fit to work'

Figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions show that three-quarters of sickness benefit claimants are fit enough to work, or drop their claim before it is processed. Statistics gathered... Read more

Former NI Water director to sue over dismissal

Declan Gormley, one of three former directors of Northern Ireland Water to be dismissed by regional development minister Conor Murphy after an independent report, is to sue the minister and... Read more

Ageism by youth toward older employees revealed

A study carried out by care provider Anchor has revealed what it describes as "casual ageism" by young people towards workers aged over 60, saying they are slower, less productive,... Read more

Unemployment in Northern Ireland at 13-year high

The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in Northern Ireland reached 59,000 last month, making it the highest rate of unemployment in the province for 13 years. Economists are predicting that... Read more

Court says firm overly protected pregnant employees

Ordinarily an employment tribunal case involving pregnancy and claims of unfairness result from a common problem of women feeling marginalised and discriminated against in the workplace. However, a case against... Read more

Minimum wage increase announced

The government has announced that the minimum wage for adults in the UK will be increased by 15p to £6.08 an hour this October, following recommendations from the independent Low... Read more

'Half a million benefit claimants fit to work'

Employment Minister Chris Grayling has estimated that 500,000 people currently claiming sickness benefits are in fact fit to work, as he gets ready to launch a huge crackdown on abuses... Read more

1,200 NI call centre workers receive job warning

HCL BPO Services (NI) Ltd has sent a letter to all of its staff in its Belfast and Armagh sites in Northern Ireland, advising that they will have to accept... Read more

UK youth go abroad to find work

Over half of 18 to 25-year-olds responded to a poll by saying they are seriously considering moving abroad in order to find work, with Australia being the country most cited... Read more

NI business activity decline slowing down

The rate of decline in business levels in Northern Ireland has fallen at the slowest rate since December 2009, according to the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) published by the Ulster... Read more

Employers want protection against speculative claims

New research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has revealed that the majority of employers (69%) feel they don't have "effective protection .. against wholly unjustifiable [tribunal]... Read more

Barrister wins discrimination claim against PSNI

Dolores Creen, a female barrister who was asked to act on behalf of the PSNI in a public inquiry, has received a £70,000 settlement after she brought a claim of... Read more

Post Office staff vote in favour of strike

Strikes by post office workers could begin by the end of March if scheduled talks with the Royal Mail are unsuccessful after employees voted to go on strike over pay... Read more

Pension age workers doubled in ten years

The number of employees who are at the pensionable age of 65 or over and are continuing to work has doubled in the last decade compared to figures released by... Read more

Victims Commissioner candidate loses discrimination claim

Marie Breen Smyth, a candidate for the role of Victims Commissioner in Northern Ireland has had her claim for unlawful discrimination rejected by an industrial tribunal. Ms Breen Smyth claimed she... Read more

Firms told to double number of women in boardroom

A new report by Lord Davies has warned firms to double the number of women on their boards by 2015, or otherwise face possible government measures. He has urged FTSE 350... Read more

Ringing in the Changes - Flexible Working

Article by Lyn Harris Head of the Employment law department of Wilson Nesbitt The law in Northern Ireland now requires that employers must consider requests from staff to work flexibly.  It is... Read more

PM announces sickness absence review

A new review into sickness absence from work has been announced by Prime Minister David Cameron with a view to seeing how the number of days of work missed and... Read more

NI local council employees told of pay freeze

Approximately 1.4million local council employees throughout Northern Ireland, England and Wales, have been advised that they will not receive a salary increase this year due to a £6.5billion funding gap... Read more

NI increase in unemployment largest in UK

January say the unemployment levels in Northern Ireland increase by a further 600 people, making it the joint largest rise in the whole of the UK. The overall total of... Read more

38 men sacked by e-mail get apology

Thirty eight long-serving warrant officers in the army have received an apology after they received an e-mail advising them they were sacked with one year's notice and that they should... Read more

Redundancies to increase in next few months

A survey carried out by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has revealed that the number of employers intending to make redundancies at their companies is at its... Read more

Northern Ireland firms struggling for survival

The latest purchasing managers index (PMI) published by Ulster Bank shows that business activity in Northern Ireland dropped by a "substantial" amount, and is the only region of the UK... Read more

One in five employees fear redundancy

A survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has revealed that one in five workers in the private sector fear for their jobs, while the number increases... Read more

Government still considering anti-strike laws

Ahead of a meeting of Union leaders in London to discuss a strategy, which many have warned includes large public sector strikes, the government has said that it has not... Read more

Plans for couples to share maternity leave

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has unveiled his plans to reform the "Edwardian" paternity arrangements currently in place in the UK, including one change which will allow couples to share... Read more

4000 Northern Ireland health service jobs to be lost

Health officials have warned that as many as 4,000 jobs could be cut in the Northern Ireland health service over the next 4 years because of budget cuts. It is expected... Read more

Default retirement age to be phased out

The government has confirmed that the default retirement age (DRA) is to be phased out this year, which means that employers will no longer be able to dismiss employees because... Read more

BBC TV presenter wins ageism claim

Miriam O'Reilly, aged 53, has successfully claimed against her former employers BBC on the grounds of age discrimination. Ms O'Reilly was a host of the BBC show Countryfile before being dropped... Read more

School dinner lady unfairly dismissed

A tribunal has found that dinner lady Carol Hill was unfairly dismissed by Great Tey primary school in Essex over an incident were she reported bullying directly to parents. Ms Hill... Read more

Most small firms don't offer employee pensions

Research by the Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA) two-thirds of small businesses do not currently offer their employees a pension, and many of those that do are not making sufficient... Read more

4000 health service jobs to go due to budget cuts

Despite the announcement on Wednesday that the Northern Ireland health budget would increase by £326million, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has agreed with a senior health official's opinion that 4,000 jobs... Read more

First rise in UK unemployment total in 6 months

The overall number of unemployed in the UK has risen for the first time in 6 months over the three month August to October period according to the Office for... Read more

Banker denied promotion wins discrimination claim

Michael Wardle, aged 46, has been awarded £375,000 compensation after a court found that he had been overlooked for promotion on the basis of his nationality. Mr Wardle worked for... Read more

Employers need to take depression seriously

A survey by Mentaline.com has revealed that employers struggle to deal with mental health problems, including depression, among employees, and could find themselves at risk of discrimination claims as a... Read more

Polish employee wins racial and sexual discrimination claim

Polish employee Marzena Urnbanska-Kopowska has won a compensation claim and been awarded the amount of £52,382 after an industrial tribunal found she had suffered both racial and sexual discrimination, as... Read more

Snow costs business £1.2billion a day

The cost of disruption to businesses in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK as a result of the severe winter weather has been estimated at £1.2billion a day... Read more

Pay gap between men and women closes

While a recent report showed that women were still struggling to get important roles in the top FTSE 100 companies, a new report by the Office for National Statistics says... Read more

Seven times as much unemployment among NI youth

New figures published by The Prince's Trust show that long-term unemployment among 16 to 24 year olds in Northern Ireland has increased by more than seven times the level it... Read more

Women struggle to get jobs in top 100 firms

A report by Cranfield School of Management suggests that women are struggling to get important roles in the top FTSE 100 companies in the UK. The figures show that of... Read more

Freezing civil service pay could save £800m

The Finance Committee has been advised by experts that a pay freeze for employees of the Civil Service in Northern Ireland could save as much as £800million, which would make... Read more

Fixed share partners are not employees

An Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that fixed-share partners cannot be legally defined as employees, in a case that determined whether such partners can make a claim for unfair... Read more

1 in 4 public sector workers fear job loss

A new study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has found that 25% of public sector employees fear redundancy as the cuts in public spending start to... Read more

Council absenteeism in NI costs £16million

Northern Ireland council workers missed a combined total of 122,000 work days in 2009-10 at a cost of more than £16million. Nigel Smyth of the business lobby group CBI said... Read more

Job loss concern as result of Irish bailout

Arlene Foster, Enterprise Minister for Northern Ireland, has voiced her concerns that the bailout of the Irish Republic could result in job losses in banks north of the border. She advised... Read more

Job loss concern as result of Irish bailout

Arlene Foster, Enterprise Minister for Northern Ireland, has voiced her concerns that the bailout of the Irish Republic could result in job losses in banks north of the border. She advised... Read more

Northern Ireland unemployment increases in October

Unemployment in Northern Ireland rose in October taking the total number of claimants of benefit to 58,600; an increase of 400 since September, which was the highest monthly rise of... Read more

Northern Ireland unemployment increases in October

Unemployment in Northern Ireland rose in October taking the total number of claimants of benefit to 58,600; an increase of 400 since September, which was the highest monthly rise of... Read more

3 years unemployment benefits lost if work refused

The government has announced tough new sanctions today to deal with unemployed people claiming benefits that refuse to take up offers of work. The new penalty will result in the... Read more

Older employees more likely to escape redundancy

Statistics released by the Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland (CARDI) show that older employees have been more likely to hold on to their jobs during a redundancy... Read more

3 years unemployment benefits lost if work refused

The government has announced tough new sanctions today to deal with unemployed people claiming benefits that refuse to take up offers of work. The new penalty will result in the... Read more

Older employees more likely to escape redundancy

Statistics released by the Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland (CARDI) show that older employees have been more likely to hold on to their jobs during a redundancy... Read more

Unpaid labour to be forced on long-term unemployed

An announcement is expected this week from Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith that will unveil government plans to require long-term unemployed to do unpaid manual labour; with a... Read more

Council makes employees clock out to smoke

In a move that has already sparked spirited debate, Breckland Council in Norfolk has introduced an employment policy that all workers who want to smoke during work have to clock... Read more

Government backs compulsory company pensions

The government has agreed to the principle of automatic enrolment of employees in company pension schemes that was created in the 2008 Pensions Act. As such, from September 2016 all... Read more

Time off from work due to stress increases

The amount of time taken off work by employees in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK has increased over the last year according to research carried out by... Read more

Women the real losers after retirement age changes

Increasing the pension age to 66, from 60 for women, and 65 for men, will save the government £43billion in state pension and other senior benefits according to official documents.... Read more

High Court intervenes to halt Tyrone factory strike

An injunction has been granted by the High Court to stop a strike at Omagh Meats factory in Country Tyrone which would have seen 150 employees walk out of the... Read more

EU MPs back extended maternity leave law

A draft law proposing an extension of the minimum maternity leave with full pay in the EU from 14 weeks to 20 weeks has been passed by Euro MPs. One... Read more

Employers set to lift pay and recruitment freezes

A survey by CBS and Harvey Nash, entitled Gearing up for Growth, suggests that employers in the UK will have largely stopped the practice of freezing pay and staff levels... Read more

Spending cuts will result in 36,000 NI jobs loss

A new report by PricewaterCooper (PWC) suggests that reduced public spending as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) could result in the loss of 36,000 jobs in Northern... Read more

NI needs to grow private sector says Nick Clegg

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has pledged to re-examine the spending cuts proposed in Northern Ireland after talks with the first and deputy first ministers this week. He said he... Read more

Over-50s apprenticeships increase dramatically

Age UK and The Age Employment Network have advised that the number of apprenticeships being taken up by people aged 50 and over has doubled over a period of two... Read more

Losing competent employees costs businesses £42bn a year

New research carried out by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) has revealed that the combined cost of lost skills and productivity as well replacing and training new recruits after a competent member... Read more

Chancellor announces cap on total benefits per family

Chancellor George Osborne has told the Conservative conference that a ceiling limit will be introduced on the amount of benefits that can be claimed by one family in his efforts... Read more

Belfast given jobs boost by international HR company

Mercer Ltd designs, one of the world's leading human resources consultancy companies has confirmed that it will be expanding its current workforce of 55 people in Clarendon Road, Belfast with... Read more

Government to defy Employer warnings over flexible working

The Government has confirmed its intention to press ahead with universal flexible working for all employees, despite warnings from big businesses that the move was a mistake that would only... Read more

Rise in demand for back-to-work schemes

Demand for places on back-to-work schemes has risen significantly as more people in Northern Ireland come to terms with life after redundancy. The schemes are generally designed to find suitable... Read more

Automatic pensions enrolment costs concern small firms

A survey by the Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA) has revealed a high level of concern among small firms at the significant impact on their costs as a result of... Read more

60 per cent of wealthy people to shun retirement

The impending removal of the compulsory age of retirement in October 2011, and a UK wide pension deficit problem has changed the way people view their working careers, to the... Read more

UK Employers not prepared for ageing workforce

By 2020 a third of all UK workers will be aged 50 or over and a recent survey suggests that employers are not ready for the implications of having an... Read more

Minimum wage changes from 1st Oct 2010

From 1st October 2010 the minimum wage rates will change at a cost of an extra £48million to employers, and affecting an estimated 1million workers.  Below are the changes all... Read more

August increase in NI unemployment

Despite falling in the other regions of the UK the number of unemployment benefit claimants in Northern Ireland is still increasing, with a jump of 900 registered unemployed in the... Read more

Employers plan to cut staff in next 3 months

A survey by recruitment company Manpower has shown that Northern Ireland employers continue to buck the trend of the other UK countries, whose job markets are improving swiftly, by planning... Read more

Redundant workers win back pay award

Approximately 60 workers who were made redundant from Belfast Electrical contractors J&G Engineering in January have won an award of 90 days' back pay after their case was heard by... Read more

Belfast Company director wins wrongful dismissal case

Andrew McAllister, former company director of Belfast firm Greenhills Security Products, has won his case for wrongful dismissal against his former employers. He has been awarded £68,000 for breach of... Read more

Unfair dismissal case win against Belfast firm

Emma McGuigan, previously a manager at a Belfast firm of accountants, has won her case for unfair dismissal against her former employers with an award of £24,634. Ms McGuigan had been... Read more

57 year wait until females have equal pay

A study by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) concludes that at the current rate of salary increases female managers will have to wait another 57 years before their salaries are... Read more

Banker wins sex discrimination case

An employment law tribunal has resulted in success for Oksana Denysenko, a vice president at Credit Suisse who found herself made redundancy shortly after returning from maternity leave. Ms Denysenko... Read more

Airport strikes averted as BAA and Union agree deal

A major disruption to major UK airports has been averted in would have been another damaging below for the air travel industry of late. Ground staff at airports throughout the... Read more

Lack of Job satisfaction lowering UK employee morale

Research by Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has revealed a staggeringly large percentage of the working population of UK are not satisfied with their work and would like... Read more

50 per cent rise in redundancies predicted

The Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) has predicted that there will be  50% increase in redundancies over the next 3 months in its' quarterly publication 'Labour Market Outlook'... Read more

Impact of recession on Northern Ireland salaries

A survey on the impact of the recession on salaries and jobs in Northern Ireland by a recruitment agency in Belfast has shown that virtually every sector in the region... Read more

Government asked to consider a ban on strikes

The Government has been urged to consider banning strikes by workers involved in the supply of essential services. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) made the recommendation as... Read more

Employee worktime spent on social media sites costs UK

British businesses are being cost billions of pounds in lost productivity due to employees spending significant portions of their work time on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. A... Read more

FSB calls for maternity and paternity leave reform

The Federation for Small Businesses (FSB) has released a 'flexible working' report with its recommendations to the Government for improvements to childcare and maternity leave. The FSB says reform is... Read more

Man sent back to work days after brain surgery

The government led effort to return employees on sick leave back to work, and to get people off benefits, seems to have gotten a little over zealous as one man... Read more

Fixed retirement age scrapped by end of 2011

A government consultation proposal could pave the way for the fixed retirement age of 65 to be scrapped by October 2011. Current legislation allows employers to force employees to retire... Read more

Flexible working option improves staff retention

A survey by recruitment firm Hays found that almost all employees took the option of flexible working into account when choosing a job, saying they felt improved their work-life balance.... Read more

Continued rise in unemployment in Northern Ireland

Statistics from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment have revealed that unemployment in Northern Ireland has risen to 56,100; an increase of 600 on the previous month. A leading... Read more

One in five staff admit feigning illness

A poll by Aon Consulting claims that one in five UK workers feigned illness the last time they took a day off work as sick leave. And it is estimated... Read more

Pension age may increase to 68 sooner than thought

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has suggested that more workers are likely to have to wait until the age of 68 before they can claim their state pension,... Read more

Quarter of public sector workers would take pay cut

Research by Totaljobs.com indicates that a quarter of public sector workers in Northern Ireland the rest of the UK would be willing to take a pay cut if it meant... Read more

56 per cent increase in Employment tribunals

For the first time Tribunal services activity has been published as Official Statistics, with regular annual reports proposed hereafter. The figures covering the period from 1st April 2009 to 31st... Read more

Paternity leave benefits expanded

New legislation approved shortly before the change in Government will significantly expand the paternity leave given to employees. Paternity leave is currently limited to two weeks of leave with statutory payment... Read more

Leaked Treasury docs predict 1.3m rise in unemployment

Leaked documents of a "secret Treasury analysis" suggest that the Budget could result in the loss of as many as 1.3million jobs in the UK. According to a report, the... Read more

Unemployed people to relocate to find jobs

The government is considering offering incentives to unemployed people living in council homes to move to areas where jobs are more readily available. In a statement today, Work and pensions... Read more

Unfair dismissal award for worker who swore at boss

Keith Bodman, a shop steward, has received compensation for unfair dismissal from Yuasa Battery (UK) Limited after he was dismissed for swearing at this boss. The incident happened in August 2009... Read more

Government to remove default retirement age

The Government seems set to get rid of the default retirement age which currently allows employers to get rid of employees once they reach the age of 65. The move... Read more

Government rejects call for strike law reform

In the wake of several high profile strikes that caused huge financial loss to the British economy, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) had called for the government to change... Read more

Hourly minimum wage to go up by 13p in October

In October 2010 the adult minimum hourly wage will rise by 2% to £5.93. The increase falls short of the retail price index measure of inflation which is often used... Read more

BT asks Union to postpone strike ballot

The CWU trade union made the unconventional move to advise the media that they were willing to compromise on a pay rise of less than 5% despite BT saying that... Read more

Rise in Northern Ireland unemployment rate

Northern Ireland was the only part of the UK to experience an increase in the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in May. The number rose by 100 compared to... Read more

RAF officer wins pregnancy discrimination case

A tribunal has ruled that a serving Royal Air Force officer, who has declined to be named, was discriminated against by her superiors because of her pregnancy, and was awarded... Read more

Northern Ireland employers advise of more job cuts

An employment survey conducted by recruitment firm Manpower has revealed that more Northern Ireland employers are intending to cut staff rather than hiring new people. It is the second quarter... Read more

Sick days decrease but still cost UK ?16.8billion

According to a CBI/Pfizer Absence and Workplace Health Survey the number of sick days taken by workers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK decreased last year and... Read more

Employees prefer flexible working over bonuses

A new PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) survey has revealed that employees in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK value flexible working arrangements more than material perks from their Employers such... Read more

Increasing need for qualifications to gain employment

Northern Ireland's Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reginald Empey, has warned of the increasingly important role of qualifications when it comes to job selection, and suggests that nearly all jobs... Read more

900 staff at Quinn Insurance take voluntary redundancy

Quinn Insurance have confirmed that over 900 of its staff has offered to take voluntary redundancy after they were told by administrators that the workforce was to be significantly reduced. The... Read more

Goverment set to offer flexible working for all

The Queen's speech and the coalition programme have mentioned plans that could pave the way to flexible working being made available to all employees, as they talked of the need... Read more

Businesses fear impact of 'World Cup sickies'

Research carried out by food firm Kellogg's confirms fears of employers throughout Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK about the impact of the World Cup on employee attendance. Over... Read more

Stress from credit crunch effects 1 in 10 workers

Results of a survey carried out by mental health charity 'Mind' show a significant increase in work related stress as a result of the economic downturn, as workers endure longer... Read more

Northern Ireland only area in UK still losing jobs

A study for Ulster Bank has revealed that Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK to still be losing jobs in the business sector. While mainland UK has... Read more

Northern Ireland PWC partner sues for disability discrimination

Colin Tenner, a former equity partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) in Northern Ireland, will take his claim of compensation for disability discrimination to the employment tribunal this week. Mr Tenner was made... Read more

Work hours are up but only 2 in 5 people are paid overtime

A survey of 2,000 adults conducted by Santander has showed that the average employee is now working a 41-hour week for an annual wage of £27,150. One in seven of those... Read more

Royal mail dispute ends as workers accept new agreement

The long-running dispute between postal workers and the Royal Mail has come to an end as workers backed a proposed agreement offering various improvements to pay and job security. The... Read more

Female Council staff win pay discrimination case

Approximately 5,000 staff of Birmingham council, almost all women, have won their case for equal pay at an employment tribunal. It is estimated that the workers are owed back pay... Read more

12 applicants for every UK job

New research by recruitment website totaljobs.com says that the number of people applying for positions in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK has reached a 20 month high,... Read more

Administrators close doors at Laser Electrical

Laser Electrical, the largest locally owned electrical retailer in Northern Ireland, has had the doors closed in its 10 stores throughout the country as administrators failed to find a buyer.... Read more

New report to detail redundancies in construction sector

A new report by the Construction Industry Council will be presented to Stormont today detailing the effect of the economic downturn on workers in the construction sector. The report shows how... Read more

HMRC to get tough on tax cheats

HMRevenue & Customs have revealed their Business Plan for 2010-11, and among the objectives for the year is a significant clamp down on "tax cheats". It is estimated that an... Read more

6 in 10 employees lie about being ill in N.I.

In a survey of workers in Northern Ireland and in the Irish Republic the majority confessed to pulling "sickies" to get a day off work. Of those surveyed, 57% said... Read more

British Gas workers vote in favour of strike action

In the last few months the phrases 'job cuts' and 'strike action' have almost gone hand in hand as a number of large profile companies have met Union led resistance... Read more

Ulster Bank to face 1,500 legal actions from employees

The Ulster Bank is set to face over 1,500 legal actions from employees in Northern Ireland and in the Republic over new employment contracts which approximately 1,000 bank officials are... Read more

?407,700 damages for head teacher forced to quit

Former Headmistress, Erica Connor aged 57, has been awarded £407,700 in damages for being forced from her job after a campaign aiming to give Islam a greater presence in a... Read more

?407,700 damages for head teacher forced to quit

Former Headmistress, Erica Connor aged 57, has been awarded £407,700 in damages for being forced from her job after a campaign aiming to give Islam a greater presence in a... Read more

Gordon Brown says BA strike is deplorable and not in 'National interest'

The Prime Minister weighed in on the long running BA strike issue today, demanding that the Union cancel its planned cabin crew strike saying it was "deplorable". The Unite union had... Read more

Disproportionate percentage of employment claims come from public sector

Despite only 22% of the workforce being employed in the public sector it is reported that 37% of employment appeal cases are against public sector organisations, according to analysis of... Read more

Gordon Brown says BA strike is deplorable and not in 'National interest'

The Prime Minister weighed in on the long running BA strike issue today, demanding that the Union cancel its planned cabin crew strike saying it was "deplorable". The Unite union had... Read more

Disproportionate percentage of employment claims come from public sector

Despite only 22% of the workforce being employed in the public sector it is reported that 37% of employment appeal cases are against public sector organisations, according to analysis of... Read more

Aer Lingus restructuring plans 'brutal' and 'unfair'

The Irish Airline Aer Lingus has announced restructuring plans which will result in 670 staff being laid off in a bid to save £88million; the company having previously reported £60million... Read more

Aer Lingus restructuring plans 'brutal' and 'unfair'

The Irish Airline Aer Lingus has announced restructuring plans which will result in 670 staff being laid off in a bid to save £88million; the company having previously reported £60million... Read more

Tyrone Crystal factory to close after lack of sale interest

Just over a week ago we reported that the staff of the Tyrone Crystal factory near Dungannon, Northern Ireland, had been advised in an internal meeting that the factory was... Read more

Job cuts forecast for April to June 2010 in Northen Ireland

Despite the rest of the UK experiencing a positive turn in the employment market with more employers reportedly intending to employ staff than to reduce, the situation in Northern Ireland... Read more

'Women are equal to men in workplace - but have to work harder and longer'

A nationwide survey carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP asked respondents about their views on women in the workplace, and most particularly those in senior jobs. The results varied from region to... Read more

Women to be most effected by rising unemployment levels

A new report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development predicts that unemployment levels will continue to rise due to a "sharp" reduction in the public sector, with women... Read more

?50,000 damages for victim of racial abuse in Mallusk company

Croatian Nenad Zubin, who has lived in Northern Ireland for more than 20 years, has been awarded £53,596 in damages for racial abuse suffered at his work place, Brett Martin... Read more

British Airways outline measures to deal with strike fallout

Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, has angered Union members by holding an internal briefing with BA staff outlining the measures the company will take during strike action to... Read more

'Tyrone Crystal Giftware' company for sale

While there has been no official statement from representatives of 'Tyrone Crystal Giftware', it has been reported that employees of the company in Dungannon were advised last Friday that the... Read more

Further calls for retirement law to be scrapped

The UK retirement law is in the spotlight once again after Age Concern and Help the Aged joined the calls for it to be scrapped. Research shows that 100,000 people... Read more

OFT warns of increase in scammers targeting the unemployed

Scammers are tapping into the current climate by targeting the ever increasing pool of the unemployed. Research from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) as part of their Scams Awareness... Read more

Number of people losing jobs could double

A survey carried out by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has painted a grim picture of employment for the near future. The report warns that fewer people... Read more

Think-tank suggests 21-hour working week to solve employment problem

A think-tank called The New Economics Foundation has issued a report suggesting that the working week should be cut to 21 hours to boost employment and the economy, and improve... Read more

Kraft takes control of Cadbury

The American food group Kraft were finally able to confirm yesterday that they had secured 71.73% of Cadbury shares, giving it control over the 189 year old British chocolate making... Read more

Compulsory retirement age 'should be scrapped'

The Equalities watchdog have said that people should be free to choose whether they continue working into older age instead of being forced to retire when they reach 65. The Equality... Read more

Union leaders consider strike response to pay freeze

Local authority unions in Northern Ireland, England and Wales had a claim for a 2.5% wage increase refused, and were told that the pay of approximately 1.6 million council employees... Read more

Rate of increase in N.I employment begins to slow

While the majority of the UK recorded a decrease in unemployment in the last quarter of 2009, Northern Ireland continued to see an increase as late as December; albeit at... Read more

Employees feeling undervalued during recession would change jobs

A poll carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PWC) of around 950 workers found that a third of UK employees are feeling undervalued by their employer during the recession and would... Read more

SMEs count the cost of disruption caused by snow

Once again, heavy snowfall has taken people in the UK by surprise, though perhaps at most expense to small business owners who are hit by postal and courier issues, staff... Read more

Ex-police officer alleges being bullied for being posh

An employment tribunal has rejected ex-police officer Alison Wheeler's claim that she was bullied because of her "posh" background and found in favour of Surrey Police. Ms Wheeler, who was... Read more

High Court rules in favour of British Airways to halt Christmas strike

Hundreds of travelers throughout Northern Ireland received the welcome news that the High Court had found in favour of British Airways Plc on Thursday to prevent a 12-day cabin crew... Read more

BA responds to strike announcement with legal action

The continuing saga of the proposed British Airways strike took another twist today as the airline announced it would be taking legal action because of irregularities in the ballot process. ... Read more

Over a million passengers to face Christmas chaos as BA cabin crew announce 12-day strike

Unite stunned British Airways airline by announcing a strike that will take place from December 22 to January 2. The strike was announced following a 9-1 vote in favour, with... Read more

Employers in Northern Ireland optimistic about hiring more staff

The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey has advised that employers in Northern Ireland are now optimistic that they will soon be employing more staff, with more saying they would intend to... Read more

More than 75% of British businesses have no disability employment policy

A report released today by ComRes and Remploy states that only 8% of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that do not currently employ disabled people have expressed they would have... Read more

New service launched by Wilson Nesbitt a first for Northern Ireland

In a first for Northern Ireland, Wilson Nesbitt Solicitors of Belfast have launched their new business law guide and document builder website. People visiting www.wilsonnesbittonline.co.uk will have free access to... Read more

Northern Ireland economy recovering slower than rest of UK

Recent emerging reports have suggested that the Northern Ireland economy will take longer to recover than the rest of the UK, with the First Trust Bank's December economic and business... Read more

Redundancy fears 'making workers avoid sick leave'

Fears over the prospect of redundancy are leading workers in the UK to avoid taking sick leave, it has been suggested.According to Mike Emmott, adviser of public policy at the... Read more

Company directors 'at more risk of being sued'

Current insolvency figures suggest that company directors in the UK are at more risk of being sued, it has been claimed. Insolvency Service statistics have revealed that there were almost... Read more

UK labour market 'showing signs of recovery'

New research has highlighted that the UK's labour market appears to be showing signs of recovery.According to the September Report on Jobs published by the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC)... Read more

UK firms 'bullish' over recession

Companies across the UK and Northern Ireland are acting defiantly in the face of the recession, according to a new poll.The study by specialist insurer Hiscox found that over half... Read more

CBI sets out youth unemployment plan

Companies could be offered a subsidy for offering additional apprenticeships to young people under new plans from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The proposal to offer £2,500 to firms... Read more

Companies 'taking advantage through pay freezes'

Businesses in the UK and Northern Ireland have been accused of "taking advantage" of workers by introducing a high number of pay freezes, according to an expert.Carolyn Jones, director of... Read more

Government brings forward retirement age review

A review into the default retirement age in UK and Northern Ireland is to be brought forward, it has been confirmed.The government has revealed that the employment legislation, which currently... Read more

UK firms call for new employment measures

Businesses across the UK and Northern Ireland have collaborated on a new report calling for the government to introduce new employment measures to help them through the current economic conditions.The... Read more

Recession 'changing the employment landscape'

Research from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has revealed that a number of employers have made changes to the organisation of their operations and working patterns.The survey, which was... Read more

Employment matters to remain in focus in 2009

Issues concerning employment in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK will remain in the limelight throughout this year in light of continuing redundancies, according to debt charity Credit... Read more

One in four seeking advice on employment-related issues

Employment-related matters are a concern for many consumers in the UK, according to LV, which has revealed that the recession is forcing many to contact solicitors for legal advice.The organisation... Read more

Over-50s afraid of discrimination in recession

Employers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK have been called upon not to discriminate against employees on the grounds of their age following news that over-50s are... Read more

Limiting new legislations could help businesses retain staff

The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has stated that limiting the flow of new regulations from the government and European legislators could give businesses in Northern Ireland and the rest... Read more

Former Visteon employees get better pay deal

Solicitors of the Visteon car components plant in Northern Ireland may be breathing a sigh of relief following the conclusion of a seven-week sit-in by sacked workers.Some 200 former employees... Read more

Over 46,000 now unemployed in Northern Ireland

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) paint a grim picture on the job front in the UK, highlighting a fall in both the employment rate and the... Read more

Visteon sit-in continues as workers push for favourable terms

Solicitors in Northern Ireland may be watching the developments at collapsed Ford car parts manufacturer Visteon to see what outcome emerges from a sit-in being staged by the firm's workers.Laid... Read more

MPs urge government to stick to building plans

More construction jobs in Northern Ireland may be created and others protected as a result of recommendations made to the government by the Communities and Local Government Committee.Solicitors in Belfast... Read more

Empty properties 'can create jobs'

Jobs in the construction sector in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK can be created if the government changes its attitude towards empty properties, it has been stated.According... Read more

NI construction workers increasingly losing jobs

Demand for solicitors in Belfast dealing with employment issues is likely to continue increasing as construction firms in the province go on with laying off staff.The latest figures from the... Read more

Positive news as 250 jobs head to NI

Amidst the economic gloom that has put pressure on businesses in Northern Ireland (NI) forcing them to lay off staff, some good news has come to workers in the region,... Read more

Unemployment approaches 2m

The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance has continued to rise, putting the level of unemployment on a ten-year high of nearly two million, according to new figures.An estimated 1.971... Read more

House builders need bailout too, FMB says

Over 50 per cent of the 13,000 building companies represented by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) plan to cut jobs in the next three months and the government needs... Read more

More jobs go as Ulster Bank cuts costs

Redundancies continue to sting Northern Ireland as the credit crunch takes its toll on the economy with more than 200 banking jobs in Northern Ireland set to be lost, it... Read more

Nortel files for bankruptcy prompting job fears

More than 600 people in Northern Ireland are facing uncertainty over their jobs following news that solicitors for Nortel, which has a Northern Ireland base, have filed for bankruptcy protection... Read more

Unemployment soars in Northern Ireland

Unemployment continues to rise in Northern Ireland as the global financial crisis continues to cause havoc for businesses, forcing many to cut jobs and put individuals on the dole, it... Read more

Government moves to secure future jobs

Business and union leaders are being engaged by the government to adopt measures that will help provide jobs as the country heads towards a recession, solicitors in Northern Ireland may... Read more

FG Wilson to lay off 260

Northern Ireland continues to take a hit as the credit crunch wrecks havoc on businesses in the province, with engineering firm FG Wilson emerging as the latest casualty of the... Read more

Redundancy fears raised as M&S announces grim figures

Solicitors in Northern Ireland may find themselves dealing with more redundancy related issues following news that high street giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) is to cut jobs.The retailer, which has... Read more

Engineering firm loses 160 workers as credit crunch bites harder

An engineering firm in Northern Ireland is to create 160 redundancies as many businesses in the province continue to feel the effects of the ongoing financial downturn.FG Wilson is to... Read more

20,000 could be made redundant in NI, warns CEF

Solicitors in Northern Ireland may find themselves dealing with up to 20,000 construction industry redundancies in the province, if the pace of work continues to decline, it has been stated.The... Read more

Gangmasters Licensing Authority carries out sting operation

Police and members of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) have cracked down on Northern Ireland's migrant labour market, solicitors in Belfast dealing with employment may be interested to know.The BBC... Read more

Redundancies closer as Woolworths initiates sale

Woolworths went into a closing down sale today but as thousands benefit from huge discounts on offer, the company's bosses may be discussing with their solicitors how to go about... Read more

Investment plans could create construction and retail jobs

Some 1,000 jobs may be created in Northern Ireland if a multi-million pound plan to lure one of the biggest retailers in the UK to the province succeeds, solicitors in... Read more

FMB warns government of impending redundancies

Solicitors in Northern Ireland with clients in the construction sector may find themselves dealing with a lot of redundancies in coming months as some 41 per cent of firms in... Read more

Redundancies expected in NI as retailers collapse

The fate of more than 250 employees in Northern Ireland hangs in the balance following the collapse of furniture retailer MFI and Woolworths, solicitors in Belfast may want to know.Woolworths,... Read more

NI to escape BT carnage

The latest casualty of the ongoing credit crunch is BT, which has announced that 10,000 redundancies are to be created but solicitors in Northern Ireland may be interested to hear... Read more

Northern Ireland redundancy worries rise

The credit crunch is continuing to wreck havoc across the entire nation and is already having a significant impact on employment in Northern Ireland, an assembly member has said.According to... Read more

Aer Lingus to cut jobs in bid to reduce costs

Aer Lingus could cut up to 1,500 jobs through redundancy and outsourcing as part of a programme to try and cut costs, it has been reported.A cabin crew base at... Read more

Unemployment differences revealed

Black immigrants are more likely to be unemployed than white nationals, new research has revealed.Research conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute and the Equality Authority has found that... Read more

Employees must take breaks at work to reduce job related stress

Employees must take regular breaks at work to refresh the body and mind, according to the International Stress Management Association (ISMA).A spokesperson for ISMA said: "Time out is vital to... Read more

UK businesses will have to pay a fee for employing migrant workers

UK businesses that employ skilled workers from outside the European Union will have to pay fees under new immigration rules.In news that could interest solicitors and legal professionals, businesses that... Read more

Reducing gender pay gap a priority for government

The government sees reducing the pay gap between men and women as a priority, a spokesperson for the Government Equalities Office (GEO) has said.Figures reported by the GEO put the... Read more

MPs call for more fraudsters to be prosecuted

More people claiming benefit illegally should be prosecuted says a Commons committee that scrutinises public accounts, according to the Telegraph today.The House of Commons public accounts committee welcomed a reduction... Read more

Acas launching revised grievance policies

Disputes in the workplace may be made easier to solve by new guidance on grievances and dismissals, the employment advisory service claims.The new code, produced by Acas, is now open... Read more

Programme revealed for Northern Ireland Investment conference

More than 70 companies from the United States are planning to visit Northern Ireland with a view to investing in the area, according to the NI economy minister Nigel Dodds.The... Read more

Employers could have to pay maternity pension payments

Changes introduced under the Sexual Discrimination Act on April 6th may mean employers have to pay pension payments for women off work on maternity leave.Personnel Today reports that even employees... Read more

Employment disputes falling in Northern Ireland

The total number of disputes being referred to the Labour Court was down last year, according to the body's annual report, while the number of cases from alleged breaches of... Read more

Northern Ireland attracting workers from overseas

Solicitors and other professionals are being drawn to Northern Ireland as its economy continues to expand, it has been suggested.According to Ken Belshaw, co-founder and group managing director of Grafton... Read more

Northern Ireland attracting workers from overseas

Solicitors and other professionals are being drawn to Northern Ireland as its economy continues to expand, it has been suggested.According to Ken Belshaw, co-founder and group managing director of Grafton... Read more

Nuclear workers risk heart health

While solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland may be used to dealing with clients who have developed cancer from working with nuclear materials, there may be an even larger type... Read more

Employee litigation 'biggest business risk'

Businesses in Belfast and Northern Ireland could find that their biggest risk of financial loss may come if an employee contacts their solicitors following poor treatment, experts say.According to Hiscox,... Read more

Nuclear workers risk heart health

While solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland may be used to dealing with clients who have developed cancer from working with nuclear materials, there may be an even larger type... Read more

Employee litigation 'biggest business risk'

Businesses in Belfast and Northern Ireland could find that their biggest risk of financial loss may come if an employee contacts their solicitors following poor treatment, experts say.According to Hiscox,... Read more

Newspaper seller embroiled in tax case

A man who organised a newspaper selling group in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has had to contact his solicitors after being investigated for tax issues.Not only that, but 28 Romanians who... Read more

Newspaper seller embroiled in tax case

A man who organised a newspaper selling group in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has had to contact his solicitors after being investigated for tax issues.Not only that, but 28 Romanians who... Read more

Solicitors see more RSI

Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland are seeing more claims against employers for repetitive strain injury (RSI), statistics show.Of the work-related injuries that solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland see,... Read more

Agency employees could be more protected

Solicitors could see more temporary workers coming to them for help after the government is considering extending the rights of agency workers in Belfast and Northern Ireland.Although some employers in... Read more

Employers 'must consider back pain'

Employers in Belfast and Northern Ireland should consider reviewing the problem of work-related back pain if they do not want to be taken to court by solicitors if an employee... Read more

Ageist bosses could face £45m bill

Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland are being increasingly called on to mediate in cases of age discrimination.Yet experts warn that employers in Belfast and Northern Ireland could end up... Read more

Charity fined after voicemail sacking

Solicitors in Northern Ireland have secured nearly £35,000 in compensation from a charity after two women were unfairly dismissed from their jobs, with one of the ladies fired via voicemail.Marilyn... Read more

NI contractor fined for serious negligence

Contractors in Belfast and Northern Ireland have been sent a stern message to take health and safety regulations seriously after a court ordered a hefty fine for a breach in... Read more

Solicitors could secure more compensation

Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland will be able to secure more money in compensation for people treated unfairly at works thanks to updated guidelines.Under the Employment Rights (Increase of... Read more

ECJ backs mother in landmark discrimination case

Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland could see a surge in a new type of claim after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has backed a working mother's claims against... Read more

More workers 'happy in their jobs'

Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland could see fewer claims for people being badly treated at work, as studies show that employers seem to be increasingly concerned with being fair... Read more

Care workers injured in attack

Solicitors in Northern Ireland could become involved in more criminal injury cases involving young offenders if care workers do not deal with the problems in juvenile halls.According to the Belfast... Read more

Vital for NI employers to be savvy

Vital for NI employers to be savvySolicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland are likely to see a great deal of claims regarding unfairness at work if employers do not figure... Read more

Line managers 'need employment education'

Solicitors who are recruited to assist in employment tribunals in Belfast and Northern Ireland may find that line managers are most often the cause of complaint among employees, a new... Read more

First NI age discrimination case won

Solicitors have helped to secure compensation for a man in the first ever age discrimination case ever seen in Belfast and Northern Ireland.Terence McCoy, from Newtownards, contacted solicitors after he... Read more

Unison lodges 33,000 claims in New Year

Unison has already launched 33,000 equal pay claims to begin its New Year campaign, meaning that solicitors in Britain and Northern Ireland are likely to be very busy in 2008.According... Read more

Tougher penalties for bad employers

Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland should see fewer claims from employees after a new employment bill has been published to ensure bosses are fairer.Even if businesses do exploit or... Read more

Ageism 'affects young as well as old'

New research has found that solicitors in Northern Ireland and Britain could see an increase in cases relating to ageism brought by young people in the near future. A recent... Read more

Extreme team building brought to an end

Companies are set to be forced to end their extreme team bonding sessions with the introduction of new legislation into Britain and Northern Ireland. Solicitors could see claims being brought... Read more

Work-related RSI cases 'overblown'

Solicitors in Northern Ireland and Britain are seeing far more cases of work-related repetitive strain injury (RSI) coming through their doors than may be necessary, it has been claimed. Cases... Read more

Employers offering flexible working

New research has found that the vast majority of employers in Britain and Northern Ireland will now offer flexible working initiatives for employees. According to the research, which was commissioned... Read more

Belfast council in tomato damages

A member of staff at Belfast City Council has visited Northern Ireland solicitors in order to make a case against her employer for an unusual work-related injury.According to Sunday Life,... Read more

Social worker wins damages after 'threat'

Solicitors of a social worker who was sacked after threatening a teenager have secured damages in Northern Ireland courts.Laurence O'Connor was sacked from a church-run hostel after allegedly threatening a... Read more

Subbies owed thousands by haulage firm

Northern Ireland solicitors may see an increasing number of sub-contractors coming to them for legal advice after Reid Transport has gone into administration, owing them tens of thousands of pounds.The... Read more

Work-related road accidents hidden

Solicitors in Northern Ireland may be ignorant as to the number of road traffic accidents which involve drivers who were working at the time if they listen to the police,... Read more

TV presenter secures damages

Belfast solicitors have secured compensation from BBC Northern Ireland for the corporation's former presenter George Jones after libellous remarks were broadcast about him.Mr Jones sought the help of solicitors as... Read more

Fire crews to get fair deal?

Solicitors in Northern Ireland may see fewer fire fighters claiming compensation for discriminatory treatment if the Fire Brigade Union (FBU) makes its point successfully at the Croydon employment tribunal on... Read more

Carer claims for discrimination

Solicitors in Britain and Northern Ireland will be watching the outcome of a discrimination case heard by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) last week very closely, as a new... Read more

Pleural plaques compensation blocked

People suffering from work-related pleural plaques in Northern Ireland are less likely to visit their solicitors to try to make a case for compensation, following a House of Lords ruling... Read more

Quarry firm fined for disclosure failures

A quarrying company has been found guilty of failing to report the ill-health of an employee as well as breaching health and safety regulations.The law requires employers to report industrial... Read more

Caution on age discrimination laws

After the first age discrimination claims following new laws have seen tough decisions by judges, People Management magazine has warned employers to take the legislation seriously.Solicitors in Britain and Northern... Read more

Acra warns of asbestos risk

While asbestos is the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in Britain and Northern Ireland, The Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (Arca) says it difficult for workers to know when they... Read more

Disabled employees unequal in healthcare

Solicitors in Britain and Northern Ireland are likely to see many clients who work in healthcare pursuing claims for unequal treatment in the workplace, according to a new study.The Disability... Read more

Unfair pay claims rocket

The number of women in Britain and Northern Ireland taking legal action over unfair pay is rocketing, according to the latest statistics.There were 44,013 unfair pay claims heard by the... Read more

Foundry worker found to be honest

A foundry worker who broke his back has been awarded compensation by a judge who believed he had been honest in his claim, despite photographic evidence conflicting with his story.David... Read more

Education Worker claims unfair dismissal

An Education Worker is taking the London Borough of Camden Council to an employment tribunal, claiming unfair dismissal, race discrimination and victimisation.Salik Miah worked for the council in their education... Read more

Cancer charity in sex discrimination case

A woman from west Belfast has won her case for sex discrimination against Northern Ireland charity Action Cancer.According to UTV, the charity will now have to pay out over £30,000... Read more

Epileptic beats the bullies

An epileptic woman who was employed by Estee Lauder has been told she will receive compensation after an employment tribunal ruled that she had been a victim of bullying. The... Read more

Asbestos claims triple

The number of claims and criminal prosecutions in Britain and Northern Ireland for asbestos poisoning at work is on the rise and more than tripled last year.Under the Control of... Read more

Charity director wins unfair dismissal case

The former director of the London Irish Centre as been awarded compensation of £46,537 after a tribunal found that she had been unfairly dismissed and had suffered sex discrimination.Margaret Murnane... Read more

Employment claims driven up

Solicitors in Britain and Northern Ireland will have dealt with a sharp increase in equal pay cases as the number of cases rose by 155 per cent to 44,013 year-on-year.According... Read more

Incapable worker loses claim

Even with the help of solicitors, a Glasgow biscuit factory worker was not able to win his claim for unfair dismissal, after being sacked for turning up at work the... Read more

Hammer man wins damages for severed hand

Bryan Banham has been awarded a six-figure sum in damages after his hand was severed while he was rebuilding a factory in Suffolk.In February, the 31-year-old was working for foundation... Read more

Tesco shopped by two employees

Tesco Stores has been forced to pay compensation to two members of staff following health and safety breaches which resulted in two separate accidents.It has paid out £11,000 in total... Read more

Ellis outcome could mean more PI claims

While Susan Ellis won her case against Bristol City Council for slipping on a wet floor in her workplace, a law firm has warned that the ruling could mean that... Read more

Law beats lawyers in discrimination case

Law firm Clifford Chance has paid an undisclosed sum in compensation to a former partner in the first claim of sexual orientation discrimination against solicitors in Britain and Northern Ireland.... Read more

Belfast Airport workers win unfair dismissal case

Nearly £600,000 in damages has been awarded to 22 security staff in Northern Ireland, who were sacked for going on strike for a row with their employer five years ago.The... Read more

Employee wins compensation after near-fatal accident

A Bradford businessman has been jailed for six months and forced to pay £90,000 in compensation after a near-death accident on his building site left a man in a coma.When... Read more

Many work-related accidents not reported

After the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) published statistics of work-related deaths and injuries in Britain and Northern Ireland between 2005 and 2006, Consult GEE says that the full picture... Read more

Welshman wins compensation for ladder accident

Michael Morgan has won £45,000 in compensation after he fell from an unstable ladder at work and broke both feet.Mr Morgan was working as a mason for Pembrokeshire County Council... Read more

Compensation settlements soar in NI schools

Some £1,764,212 million was paid out by Northern Ireland's education boards in compensation claims last year, an increase of almost 70 per cent in 12 months, the Belfast Telegraph reports.... Read more

Solicitors want asbestos compensation raised

Solicitors have said that the amount of compensation awarded to families of mesothelioma victims in Scotland should be the same as that given in the rest of Britain and Northern... Read more

IOSH says health and safety is common sense

While people working in Britain and Northern Ireland deserve to be protected at work, the president elect of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) says that health and... Read more

Printers a health and safety risk?

Offices in Britain and Northern Ireland could see a glut of employees reaching for their solicitors' numbers if research into the health risks of modern office printers is proved to... Read more

Men 'sold out' over salary at Sellafield

After it was revealed that male employees at Sellafield nuclear power plant are paid £4,000 less than females that do a similar job, 370 men have announced that they will... Read more

BAA coughs up compensation

The British Airport Authority (BAA) has been ordered to pay compensation to a man in their employment who was exposed to asbestos while working at Heathrow Airport.The man from Middlesex... Read more

Solicitors not having to deal with smoking ban breaches

It seems that Northern Ireland's smokers have by and large accepted the smoking ban, with the majority of businesses being compliant with the new laws.In the three months that the... Read more

Stats published for workplace injuries and deaths

Provisional figures for the year from 2006 to 2007 have been published by the Health and Safety Executive, revealing that the number of workers killed by fatal injuries in Britain... Read more

Directors' fear of litigation increases

Research by Eversheds has shown that most executives fear solicitors, with 70 per cent of directors in Britain and Northern Ireland claiming they are more likely to be prosecuted than... Read more

Illegal landlord smoked out

Hamish Howitt will be the first landlord to involve solicitors in the smoking ban across Britain and Northern Ireland as it was found that the consumption of tobacco occurred on... Read more

Firm fined over unsafe forklifts

Following two workplace accidents caused by poorly managed forklift trucks, Norlec Engineering has been ordered to pay £20,000 for failing to protect its employees.Both Stephen Hewitt and Ian Hustings were... Read more

Sex discrimination case thrown out

Investment bank BNP Paribas has been vindicated after a working mother attempted to sue the company for sex discrimination and victimization after she was dismissed. Katharina Tofeji claimed she had... Read more

Big bosses disagree with equality law

The majority of senior executives do not want women to be paid the same salary as men, a new poll has revealed. Despite legislation meaning that women in Britain and... Read more

Compensation for pregnancy dismissal

An assistant manageress of a hotel in Perthshire has won £8,184 compensation for sex discrimination after being fired for being pregnant. An Edinburgh employment tribunal heard that Tracey Lamond... Read more

Quinn wins dermatitis compensation

James Quinn has won an undisclosed amount of compensation after solicitors negotiated a settlement with his former employers for a work-related dermatitis claim. Mr Quinn, a machine driver for Mone... Read more

New age discrimination law to be tested

Unless solicitors can resolve the case at the last minute, the first claim of age discrimination could come to court since new laws were passed in October. Peter Bloxham is... Read more

Welsh women in equal pay campaign

Unison, Wales' biggest trade union, is in talks with solicitors about taking legal action on local councils after it found that thousands of women working in the public sector are... Read more

Ten PSNI cases thrown out of court

Mr Justice Patrick Coghlin has thrown out claims from all ten of the main complainants in the McClurg case against the Police Authority for Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Chief... Read more

Minister says workers dying needlessly

North Down MLA Leslie Cree has appealed to the minister for Enterprise Trade and Investment to invest more in ensuring that construction workers are aware of safety precautions.Mr Cree said... Read more

£100 million compensation case to be decided

After 5,000 police officers in Northern Ireland have claimed that they suffered stress in the workplace during Northern Ireland's turbulent years, a high court judge will rule whether they have... Read more

Mesothelioma victim awarded compensation

Ken McDonald of Barrow has won £102,500 in compensation after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, which he developed from being exposed to asbestos in the workplace.The 67-year-old, who was a former... Read more

False CV sackings could be unlawful

Although last week Patrick Imbardelli, chief executive of Intercontinental Hotels' Asia Pacific Region resigned after his employers found he had lied on his CV, solicitors warn that firing someone for... Read more

NI inquest hears of faulty forklift

On the second day of an inquest into the death of a man in Northern Ireland, the court has heard that the forklift truck that claimed the 59-year-old's life had... Read more

Hearing over first day of work death

Two representatives from the construction industry have appeared in court to answer health and safety charges after a 17-year-old from Northern Ireland was killed in an accident on his first... Read more

Companies should be firm on smoking ban

Solicitors have warned that some employers who try to accommodate smokers by providing shelters outside for staff could be breaking the law if they are not careful with the construction... Read more

Companies should be firm on smoking ban

Solicitors have warned that some employers who try to accommodate smokers by providing shelters outside for staff could be breaking the law if they are not careful with the construction... Read more

UK employers evade European accusations

Solicitors in Britain and Northern Ireland will have noted the news that the UK government has successfully fought off a legal challenge brought by the European Commission (EC) over health... Read more

UK employers evade European accusations

Solicitors in Britain and Northern Ireland will have noted the news that the UK government has successfully fought off a legal challenge brought by the European Commission (EC) over health... Read more

Firm fined after hand injury

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning to businesses to ensure that health and safety is assured after a firm was fined for breaches when a worker's... Read more

Apprentice questions inappropriate

Solicitors have pointed out that if employers made the same comments as Sir Alan Sugar does to potential employees in TV's The Apprentice, they could face charges of discrimination.Tony Bourne,... Read more

Firm fined after hand injury

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning to businesses to ensure that health and safety is assured after a firm was fined for breaches when a worker's... Read more

Apprentice questions inappropriate

Solicitors have pointed out that if employers made the same comments as Sir Alan Sugar does to potential employees in TV's The Apprentice, they could face charges of discrimination.Tony Bourne,... Read more

Minister pledges support for the disabled

Disabled people in Britain and Northern Ireland may have to visit the solicitors less often for discrimination cases, if the pledges of a government minister come to fruition.Employment and learning... Read more

Top firms to tackle worker exploitation

Land Securities, Serco and Jaeger are among the firms who have agreed to join the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to try to tackle the problem of exploitation of employees.Some of... Read more

'Dodgy' ladders to be ditched

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced that it will use a 'ladder exchange' scheme to replace 4,000 'dodgy' ladders from workplaces across Britain and Northern Ireland.This news could... Read more

Churches fight new gay rights laws

Religious institutions in Northern Ireland are in the process of arguing in the High Court in Belfast that the new Sexual Orientation Regulations (Sors) breach their human rights.The new laws... Read more

Quiet music to the ears

Managers of orchestras in Britain and Northern Ireland may face trips to the solicitors for harming the health of orchestra employees if they do not comply with new EU regulations... Read more

Agency workers unsure of their rights

Temporary workers in Britain and Northern Ireland are unsure of whether to approach their solicitors when incidents occur in the workplace, as research reveals that they are unsure of their... Read more

NI workers most taxed in UK

The level of tax that workers in Northern Ireland pay is the highest in the whole of the UK, according to the Adam Smith Institute.People in the province pay more... Read more

DWP appeals to employers to prioritise the disabled

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) minister, Lord McKenzie, has called on employers to take responsibility to help disabled people achieve social inclusion.He appealed for managers to ensure the... Read more

Lifesaver receives payout for sacking

A Citizens Advice Bureau worker has received £18,000 compensation for unfair dismissal after she was sacked for breaching confidentiality rules, even though her actions led to a life being saved.Terri... Read more

Gay nurses win record discrimination payout

Two psychiatric nurses have been awarded a six-figure compensation payout after a tribunal found that they had been treated unfairly because they were lesbians.Barchester healthcare has been ordered to pay... Read more

Smoking ban may involve legal implications

The smoking ban in Northern Ireland may lead to solicitors seeing fewer claims for smoke-related illnesses in employees, but recent commentary has not fully addressed wider implications for employers, according... Read more

Solicitors report more mesothelioma

The British Mesothelioma Register's statistics show that mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, is on the rise. Mesothelioma deaths have risen from 153 in 1968, to 1969 in 2004,... Read more

Businesses warned to insure against Corporate Manslaughter Bill

Businesses should be aware that they face big bills and trips to the solicitors if they do not prepare for the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter Bill.The bill should be... Read more

Epidemic of epilepsy discrimination

Charity Epilepsy Action has accused employers of continuing to discriminate against people with epileptic conditions, by either not employing them or treating them less favourably than other workers while in... Read more

Schools, contractors and councils warned of asbestos risk

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has found it necessary to alert local authorities, schools and contractors to the dangers of disturbing asbestos, following a case involving all three groups... Read more

Minimum wage dodgers targeted

The government has announced plans to crack down on employers that are paying below the minimum wage.Trade and industry secretary, Alistair Darling, is proposing a raft of new options that... Read more

PSNI to promote women PCs

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is holding a seminar to promote the profile of females in the police force, the Belfast Telegraph reports.Women In Policing, which will be... Read more

Skills shortage 'threatens NI businesses'

It has been suggested that a skills shortage in Northern Ireland is putting serious pressure on the region's businesses.According to Wilfred Mitchell of the Federation of Small Businesses, the lack... Read more

Councils face disability rap

Five councils are set to face legal action after failing to comply with the regulations on disability equality.The action against the councils comes after the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) issued... Read more

Directors urged to tackle health and safety

Company directors in Britain and Northern Ireland have been urged to take the lead on improving health and safety standards in their companies.Over 300 senior personnel from some of Britain... Read more

Scots show the way for new smoking laws

Since the new smoking ban took effect in Northern Ireland, bar managers have been complaining that they were finding it difficult to prepare by the deadline.However, it could be a... Read more

Both salaries and tribunals gather strength

People in Northern Ireland have more wages to invest than previously yet the preponderance of employment tribunals has revealed an unfortunate trend towards employer unfairness.According to the latest salary survey... Read more

Employers tread carefully around the disabled

Employers are more than willing to employ people who are disabled, according to a new survey, but can be discouraged by the 'politically correct' language used to define disabilities.Remploy, which... Read more

NI women 'still waiting' for equality

Despite over 30 years of laws banning gender discrimination, solicitors in Northern Ireland will still encounter many cases where women have not been treated fairly, according to the University of... Read more

Car-sprayers suffer asthma risk

Occupational asthma affects 24 workers per 100,000 in the motor manufacturing industry, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which is issuing advice to firms on the occasion of... Read more

Cushnahan takes NIO to tribunal

John Cushnahan, a former head of the Alliance party, has taken the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) to an employment tribunal, after complaining that he was discriminated against.The case, which will... Read more

Threatened dinner ladies win compensation

The House of Lords has ruled that a group of dinner ladies were threatened with job losses if they filed for gender discrimination charges.Originally, 500 dinner ladies from St Helens... Read more

Office workers suffer 'poor desk health'

With 46 per cent of workers in Britain and Northern Ireland spending six or more hours in front of a computer everyday, millions are complaining of poor health, according to... Read more

Irish woman wins discrimination case

Warwick University has been ordered to pay £35,000 in compensation after an employment tribunal ruled that it had failed to hire a potential employee purely because she was Irish, according... Read more

British police urged to follow Northern Ireland's lead

Recruiters for the police service in Britain are letting down the UK's goal of adding more women and ethnic minorities to its forces, according to senior law enforcement officials.The Association... Read more

NI highest density of union members

Northern Ireland has more members of trade unions than anywhere else in Britain, with 39.7 per cent of employees part of a union, according to the Department of Trade and... Read more

£150 offered for filing online returns

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has offered small businesses in Northern Ireland an incentive of a £150 tax-free lump sum to file their 2006-07 Employer Annual Returns online.Small businesses which... Read more

Anti-age discrimination protest lobbies MPs

Protesters are to lobby ministers today, calling for extended measures to prevent age discrimination in all areas of life for people across Britain and Northern Ireland, according to the Guardian.Charity... Read more

Increase in work deaths rattles HSE

From April to September 2006, 124 work-related deaths were recorded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in Britain, a 17 per cent increase on last year's fatalities if the... Read more

Firm is fined £2,500 after construction accident

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a warning that construction firms should ensure proper safety measures after a Lancashire worker was awarded costs after falling through a roof.Steven Davieson... Read more

NI firms told to protect staff from smoke

Bosses of firms in Northern Ireland have received a reminder of duties to protect employees and customers ahead of the smoking ban, which is due to be introduced on April... Read more

Gender equality top of agenda

Solicitors in Northern Ireland will get a "timely prompt" to remember their own equal opportunities laws this April.The rest of Britain will see the introduction of the new Gender Equality... Read more

Northern Ireland hopes for corporate tax break

Officials in Northern Ireland are calling on the chancellor to introduce a corporate tax break for the region's businesses.Solicitors in Northern Ireland could see a change in the corporate tax... Read more