In Brief: Important Updates from January 2021

A number of useful articles were added to the Legal Island Employment Law Hub throughout January 2021. Here is a quick recap of some of the recent developments within the employment law sphere:

Homeworking and Home-schooling: Seven Ways Employers Can Support Parents – as the NI Executive announces that schools will remain closed until at least the 8^th of March, Think People’s Laura Boden outlines 7 ways in which employers can help support parents as they juggle home working and home schooling.

Not forgetting Brexit, Kiera Lee, Mills Selig, outlines an employers obligations to conduct ‘Right to Work checks’ and considers how employers can draft their contracts to help demonstrate compliance.

Ciara Fulton, Jones Cassidy Brett, discusses the new immigration rules that apply to EEA and Swiss nationals wishing to visit or work in Northern Ireland and vice versa.

Kevin Gallagher, Kennedys Belfast, reflects on the types of issues that are likely to arise in Early Conciliation from 2021 by reflecting on some GB cases.

Leeanne Armstrong, TLT NI, looks back at how Covid-19 has shaped employer policies and procedures.

Terminating employment on the grounds of ill health can be tricky and by necessity should be handled with empathy and compassion.  Patricia Rooney, Tughans, outlines the key steps an employer should take when dismissing for ill health reasons.

Top stories from the Weekly Reviews included:

• An eye health charity is recommending people learn the "20-20-20" rule to protect their sight, as lockdown has increased people's time using screens.
• A survey has suggested that a majority of UK workers do not feel safe on their employer’s premises.
• Parental Bereavement Leave is to be introduced in NI on the same basis as the provisions in GB.
• The UK Supreme Court has ruled that many small employers should receive compensation under their insurance policies for losses as a result of closure because of Covid-19 restrictions.
• The Government in Ireland has produced a National Remote Work Strategy.

View the Weekly Review of Developments series >

Mark McAllister discussed his top 5 cases from 2020 and top 5 developments to look out for in 2021.

You can also listen again to our Employment Law at 11 webinars with Seamus McGranaghan, O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors and register for the next one in the series on the 5^th February 2021.