Katie graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a degree in Law with French in 2012, having spent a year studying in Bordeaux. Katie commenced employment with Worthingtons in June 2012 and gained pre-qualification experience working as a Legal Executive in the employment department. She qualified as a Solicitor in September 2016 and joined the employment department of our Belfast office. Upon graduation from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies she was awarded prizes for attaining the highest marks in her year group in the Practice Management and Administration of Estates exams. She was also awarded third place in the Belfast Solicitors Association prizes. These prizes are awarded annually to the three solicitor trainees who attain the highest average marks across all exams leading to the Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Studies. Katie was promoted to Associate Partner in July 2021.
Katie Buchanan, Head of Employment at Elliotts Legal, comments on the Decision of the Industrial Tribunal in Anna Owens v Westville Hospitality Limited 3870/24IT and considers the issue of indirect sex discrimination; in particular how rota/shift changes can have a disparate impact on working mothers and those with caring responsibilities.
The Claimant commenced employment as a receptionist in November 2021. She had childcaring responsibilities for her son and was a carer for her father. For those reasons, before accepting the role, she requested, and the General Manager at the time, agreed, that she work three fixed days per week; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. The only agreed caveat was that occasional changes may be required, but only if the Claimant
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