Top 5 in a Flash:

1. At last! A position paper on AI specific to Northern Ireland 🤖
2. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald launches new support service for childcare providers 👶
3. Many mums say career progression feels impossible with kids 👩‍👧
4. Neurodivergence now the third biggest cause of work struggles 🧩
5. Co-op counts £206m revenue loss from cyber attack 💻

In other news................Get the edge this October with sharp, practical guidance on reasonable adjustments in NI. Cut risk, boost inclusion. Brought to you with Lewis Silkin (NI) LLP. Find out more.

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1. Annual Review Session of the Week - Top NI Employment Cases of 2025: Insights and Implications
2. Case Law Reviews
3. AI and Employment Law
4. Cybersecurity
5. DEI
6. Just in Case You Missed It...
7. HR Developments
8. Employment News in the Media
9. GB Developments
10. Health and Safety Developments
11. Free Webinars This Month

Top NI Employment Cases of 2025: Insights and Implications

Jason Elliott BL unpacks the most important Northern Ireland employment cases of 2025, turning legal decisions into clear, practical takeaways. Gain expert insights to avoid costly mistakes and strengthen your organisation’s approach.

It’s almost here! Legal Island’s Annual Review of Employment Law, our flagship event of the year takes place on 13th November, live at the Crowne Plaza Belfast (and online for those who prefer to tune in from afar).

This is the go-to event for HR professionals who want to stay ahead of the curve, get practical insights from leading experts, and connect with peers who are shaping the future of work.

Each week between now and the big day, we’ll shine a spotlight on the must-see sessions in this year’s packed programme.

Don’t miss out.  Check out the full line-up and secure your spot today. More details here.

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Doone & Morrison v Chief Constable of the PSNI [2025] NIIT 16785/18

Summary Description: 

Claim relating to detriment due to being part-time police officers was rejected as the PSNI had made changes due to budgetary and operational reasons rather than due to the claimants’ protected act.

Claimants: 

Ambrose Doone
David Morrison

Respondent: 

Chief Constable of the PSNI

Practical Guidance for Employers:

The Tribunal is to be commended for not stopping at the time limits point but explaining the substantive decision had it been found to be in time.  This gives a useful examination of how detriment relating to protected acts works.  It was found that there was a detriment, but the respondent can have a defence by demonstrating that the reason for the action was not due to the protected act – in this case it was the budgetary constraints, ensuring resource and the objectives of the organisation at the time. For this reason, the claim was dismissed.

Read the Review in full: Doone & Morrison v Chief Constable of the PSNI [2025]

Vassallo v Mizuho International Plc [2025] EAT 131

Summary Description: 

Application for costs allowed but on a reduced basis of £1,000 rather than the actual cost of dealing with the unreasonable claims that were brought and how they were conducted.

Claimant: 

Liliana Vassallo

Respondent: 

Mizuho International Plc

Practical Guidance for Employers:

This decision demonstrates the thought process for the Tribunal in determining a costs application.   It was clear from the decision that the claimant had acted unreasonably and had led to costs being incurred.  However, the decision for the claimant was softened when looking at the means to pay.  This meant that only £1,000 was ordered against the claimant. This is likely to be a frustrating element for the respondent who will be losing out in defending against what were unreasonable claims but demonstrates the extent to which the Tribunal operates to facilitate those making claims.  These factors would have to be considered in determining whether to make an application for costs.

Read the Review in full: Vassallo v Mizuho International Plc [2025]

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These case reviews were written by Jason Elliott BL.  NI Tribunal decisions are available on the OITFET website.

If you have any queries or wish to comment on the reports please feel free to contact Jason at: jasondelliott@outlook.com 

Jason Elliott was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2013 and is the Associate Head of School of Law at Ulster University. As a practising barrister, he has developed a largely civil practice representing individuals, companies and public bodies in litigation.  This covers a wide range of areas including personal injuries, wills and employment law. In terms of employment law, he has represented both applicants and respondents in the Industrial Tribunal.   At Ulster University, Jason lectures extensively on the civil areas of practise such as Equity and Trusts and delivers employment law lectures for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Remember: Our case law reviews are held in our case law section on our fully-searchable employment law hub website.

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AI and the Future of Work in Northern Ireland

At last! A position paper on AI specific to Northern Ireland....

The new Matrix NI report: "AI and the Future of Work" (Sept 2025) issued yesterday is a wake-up call for Northern Ireland.

Here are 5 insights that struck our Chairman, Barry Phillips, from the report:

1. Disruption is uneven. ICT and professional services are at the sharp end; construction and agriculture much less so (pp. 13–15).
2. The economic prize is big - but fragile. AI could add anywhere from £0.2bn to £3.7bn GVA by 2030. That swing depends on choices made now (p. 18).
3. It’s about tasks, not just jobs. Between 13%–47% of tasks could shift. That’s equivalent to 110,000–200,000 jobs being reshaped (p. 19).
4. Inequalities could worsen. Entry-level and admin roles — where women are over-represented — are most exposed. Add NI’s heavy reliance on FDI back-office jobs, and the risks multiply (pp. 15–16).
5. Three levers matter most: willingness, capability and capacity. Without leadership will, institutional adaptability, and proper resourcing, we’ll lose momentum (pp. 38–43).

Read the report for yourself HERE.

Skills Over Titles. What OpenAI’s move signals for HR

OpenAI’s new certifications signal a major shift. Discover how to move to a skills-first hiring model and build an AI-fluent workforce in this article from HRD Connect.

UK tribunal judge uses AI to draft ruling

A UK tax tribunal judge has confirmed that he used artificial intelligence to help draft a ruling on a disclosure application, in what appears to be the first published UK judicial decision of its kind. You can read more on this from Irish Legal News.

AI for HR Weekly Podcast – with Barry Phillips

This week's episode: AI in the Workplace – According to Three Recent Key Reports

This week Barry Phillips takes a look at what is going on in the workplace with AI according to three recent heavyweight reports.

You can tune into the latest episode right here - or, if you’re on the move, why not take us with you?

Listen on all major platforms: 🎧 Spotify🎧 Amazon Music 🎧 Apple Podcasts

Simply search for “AI for HR Weekly Podcast” and enjoy expert insights anytime, anywhere.

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Co-op says cyber attack cost it £206m in revenue

The Co-op has said the cyber attack it suffered earlier this year cost it at least £206m in lost revenues. The retailer's IT networks were infiltrated by hackers in April, resulted in payment problems, widespread shortages of goods in shops, and the loss of customer data. The BBC has more here.

Business Secretary says workers hit by JLR cyber attack can sign on for benefits

Car workers facing redundancy after the crippling cyber attack on Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) should sign on for unemployment benefits, the Business Secretary has suggested. Peter Kyle refused to commit to a taxpayer bailout for hundreds of companies in JLR’s supply chain who have been affected by the carmaker’s production shutdown. Some JLR suppliers have started to lay off staff after work dried up. Yahoo Finance has more.

EU cyber agency says airport software held to ransom by criminals

The EU's cyber security agency says criminals are using ransomware to cause chaos in airports around the world. Several of Europe's busiest airports have spent the past few days trying to restore normal operations, after a cyber-attack on Friday disrupted their automatic check-in and boarding software. The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, ENISA, told the BBC on Monday that the malicious software was used to scramble automatic check-in systems. Read more here.

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Civil service networks issued with formal guidance

The government has issued guidance to clarify the rules that civil service staff networks must follow. Civil service union Prospect welcomed the formalisation of the rules, which described it as a "sensible" move. CSW understands the update comes after departments and staff network members requested clarity on the policy around staff networks, and that these discussions began under the previous government. Read more.

Many mums believe it’s unrealistic to progress in their career with children

HR Director reports that nearly a quarter (22%) of mums think it’s unrealistic to progress in their career with children – almost three times higher than dads (8%) – according to a new survey of working parents, with many struggling to envisage a professional future for themselves. The survey conducted by WOMBA (Work, Me and the Baby) in partnership with Hult International Business School identified the same 13 critical factors as influencing their ability to thrive in the workplace, which you can read about here.

Neurodivergence now third leading cause of work struggles

Neurodivergence has become the third most common reason for employees to be referred to occupational health – after mental health and musculoskeletal (MSK) issues. The issues that people who are neurodiverse can experience in the workplace are reflected in the significant increase in employment tribunal decisions involving neurodiverse conditions, with ADHD-related claims seeing an 8.5-fold rise since 2020. Personnel Today has more here.

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Employee posting controversial content on transgender issues and citing religious beliefs: How Do I Handle It?

One of our employees has recently been posting inflammatory content about transgender issues on their personal social media accounts, which are publicly visible. They have said they are entitled to express their religious beliefs. We are concerned about the potential for reputational damage to the business. How do I handle it? Emma Doherty, Associate at Tughans offers her take. Read the article here.

You can also explore the full range of articles in the How Do I Handle It? series by clicking here.

H is for home working – where flexibility drives results, but oversight can be tricky!

Homeworking is one of the pandemic’s most enduring legacies. What began as an emergency response has become embedded in the modern workplace. Yet questions are now being asked: is the tide turning? More from Keara Paterson,
HR Manager at AAB, here.

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HR Must Help Leaders Routinize Change to Bolster Adoption

Change has become ungovernable for leaders. For instance, in the last year:

63% of HR employees tell us that their organisation expanded to a new geographic region or market.
79% made a significant technology platform change.
75% experienced one or more senior leader transitions.

You can download a copy of Gartner’s report here.

What is corporate catfishing?

Catfishing normally refers to the act of creating a fake online identity to deceive others. But misleading employees with long lists of job perks that do not reflect reality – corporate catfishing − is widespread. A 2023 Resume Builder survey of hiring managers found that 40% admitted they exaggerate job responsibilities (40%), growth opportunities (39%) and career development (38%). Raconteur outlines the risks.

Workplace investigations: reaching conclusions and making recommendations

One of the most challenging aspects of a workplace investigation is assessing the evidence to reach an outcome. Whether the issue relates to a grievance or disciplinary matter, this stage demands careful analysis of the evidence, which can leave investigators struggling to make well-reasoned findings. People Management’s article provides guidance here.

Data Reveals Work in Transition Driven by Competing Forces Reshaping Employee Experience

Culture Amp’s mid-year 2025 benchmark data, reveals a workplace landscape in profound transition in the face of AI-driven disruption. While employee engagement continues on a downward trajectory with notable declines in energy and motivation, organizations are simultaneously seeing improvements in goal-setting processes and employees' ability to disconnect from work, creating a complex picture of contradictions that demands leadership attention. Read more here.

Civil servants get new ‘find-a-coach' platform

Matching service from Government Skills helps officials line up free professional-development assistance. It allows users to choose from a database of more than 250 fully-trained coaches, all of whom are current civil servants, and then creates a messaging channel so that face-to-face or online sessions can be arranged. The Government Skills Internal Coaching Service replaces an older system that directed officials looking for a coach to an Excel spreadsheet.  Civil Service World has more on this story.

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Businesses need more incentives from the government to take on apprentices, a Belfast mother has said. Helen Marks' 19-year-old son Ryan Beggs has been enrolling in apprenticeship courses at Belfast Metropolitan College for the past two years but has been unable to find an employer to take him on. The BBC has more.

An employment tribunal has awarded £61,000 to a former Foodhub sales manager, ruling that he was unfairly dismissed following disputes about his time spent in Egypt. Tanveer Shah was initially dismissed in August 2022. Chief executive Ardian Mula accused Shah at the dismissal meeting of stealing money from the company and “illegitimately taking a salary”. The company questioned whether Shah had been carrying out his field-based duties after it emerged he had spent several weeks in Egypt in early 2022. Shah said he had travelled there on holiday and contracted Covid-19, which prevented him from flying back to the UK. More from HR Magazine.

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has announced her intention to set up a business support service for childcare providers. The service is a recommendation contained in research published today by the Department for the Economy. The research entitled Targeted Business Support for Childcare Providers was commissioned to determine the key issues impacting the financial sustainability of childcare providers and specific targeted business support requirements. Find out more.

Bensons for Beds is rolling out a series of “industry leading” family-friendly benefits for all of its staff. The new policies, which launch on 1 October, are designed to support working parents and families through some of life’s most important and most challenging moments, according to the bed retailer. Highlights of the new package include 26 weeks of fully paid maternity leave, marking a first for the UK bed retail industry. The Retail Gazette has more here.

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NB: Please note these articles relate to GB and do not apply in Northern Ireland, unless otherwise stated.

Updated GB EHRC Code for Services following For Women Scotland

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in GB has finished updating its Code of practice for services, public functions and associations (Code for Services) and has provided its updated draft to the Government for ministerial approval. Once the draft has been approved, it will need to be laid before Parliament for 40 days before it can be brought into force. You can find out more here from Make UK.

Foster carers in GB seek Supreme Court ruling in landmark employment case

Lawyers will this week attempt to move a long-running battle over foster carers’ employment rights in GB to the Supreme Court. Judge Crosfill ruled in three test cases that under human rights law, foster carers are entitled to bring claims to the employment tribunal for discrimination and whistleblowing. But the tribunal is still bound by the Court of Appeal decision in the case of W v Essex from 1998. This ruled there was no contractual relationship between a foster carer and their local authority. The Law Gazette has more here.

The Westminster Government’s menopause action plans are a wake-up call for business leaders

Under the GB Government’s Employment Rights Bill, currently moving through its final stages in Parliament, large firms with 250 employees or more will be legally obliged to introduce menopause action plans by 2027. Smaller organisations will be encouraged to follow suit. HR Director has more.

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Body camera helps me feel safer in work, says nurse

A nurse with 25 years of experience has said wearing a body camera has made her feel safer because of a "massive increase in violence and aggression" towards healthcare workers. The most recent figures show that in four years - between 2019/20 to 2023/24 - there were almost 56,000 recorded instances of physical abuse towards healthcare staff across Northern Ireland's six trusts. Ms Doherty added that nurses were finding it difficult to cope with the violence, reports the BBC.

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Employment Law at 11 - Sickness Absence

📅 Friday 3rd October 2025

🕒 11am to 11.45am

📍 Live online | Free to attend

Register here. 

Cold and flu season is around the corner – are you ready? Join our monthly Employment Law at 11 webinar to get practical guidance on managing sickness absence, including SSP, OSP, reporting obligations, and holiday entitlements. Stay compliant and support your team with confidence!

Tell your HR colleagues and register individually or get your HR team around the computer and use the webinars as monthly group learning opportunities. Ask any questions (on employment law) and hear the answers live or catch up later when we upload both a recording and transcript of the discussion. Or catch up on Spotify, Amazon or Apple Music while you're on the go!

NOTE: – Send your questions in advance to gosia@legal-island.com. Anonymity assured.

Please note that the employment law matters discussed in this webinar apply primarily to Northern Ireland.

🎙️ Listen to Employment Law at 11 – Anytime, Anywhere!

Whether you’re commuting, working out, or on the go, you can tune in to the latest discussions on employment and workplace matters.

Available on all major platforms: 🎧 Spotify🎧 Amazon Music 🎧 Apple Podcasts

Just search “Employment Law at 11” and join the conversation.

Enjoy your weekend!

Legal Island

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