News: Contract Law
Proposed equality measures 'highlight employment law training'
26 January 2009
Measures are being proposed to ensure businesses are not unfairly dismissing female workers, which could highlight the need for training in employment law.
Female ministers have suggested the Equality and Human Rights Commission should launch an inquiry into sex discrimination in the financial sector.
In addition, they have called for the government to monitor companies to ensure their staff are not targeted unfairly on the basis of their gender, which could highlight the importance of employment law training for human resources professionals.
"There is a major fear about women being targeted by their employers … this is unlawful," Harriet Harman, the women's minister, tells the Times.
She says it is illegal to make those in part-time positions redundant before permanent workers and adds that it also breaks the law to fire those on maternity leave.
In other news, a former HBOS employee, Mona Awad, is seeking £16.7 million in damages, alleging she was the subject of sex discrimination.
