verdict ignites workers' rights calls
Mon 7 Apr 2008
07/04/2008
A House of Lords' verdict on a firefighter's employments rights could spark new claims for part-time workers to receive improved benefits, employeebenefits.co.uk has reported. Richard Arthur, partner at Thompsons Solicitors, represented the part-time firefighter in his claim for access to a pension scheme and the same sick pay (pro rata) as full-time colleagues. "There are massive implications with the House of Lords' decision," he said. "It means that employers do not have to conduct individual analysis into part-time workers. If part-time workers' core duties are the same as [full-time] workers' then they will be eligible for the same benefits." As part of the claim, he had to prove that part-time workers were employed under the same type of contract to do broadly the same type of work, but were treated less favourably. Amendments to the sex discrimination act will soon allow employees on maternity leave the right to receive non-cash benefits for up to a year. |
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