Your Weekly Five:

1. Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay. Key FAQs from the Labour Relations Agency 📘
2. Scott Mills’ dismissal from the BBC. What the lawyers think 📻
3. When do social media posts cross the line into dismissal territory? 📱
4. Poor management is pushing employees to leave, report finds 📉
5. TUPE management. What employers need to get right 🔄

In other news................ Biscuitgate: Tribunal Weighs in on Office Snack Rights. Catch up with the full decision.

1. Case Law Reviews
2. AI and Employment Law
3. Skill Builder for HR: TUPE Management
4. Employers should embrace neurodivergent staff in the workplace
5. When do social media posts become grounds for dismissal?
6. Parental Bereavement Leave & Pay – Labour Relations Agency FAQs
7. Just in Case You Missed It...
8. HR Developments
9. Employment News in the Media
10. Health & Safety Developments
11. Friends of Legal Island
12. Free Webinars This Month

Dwivedi v Hindu Cultural Resource Centre Sandwell [2026] Case No: 6006819/2024

Summary Description: 

Claimant was unfairly dismissed and suffered age discrimination when made to retire as a priest as he was sixty eight.

Claimant: 

Deoraj Dwivedi

Respondent: 

Hindu Cultural Resource Centre Sandwell

Practical Guidance for Employers:

The factual background in this case is interesting considering the voluntary donations but the actual issue relating to them was insignificant considering that the correspondence with the claimant related to him having to leave due to his age.  There was no process about dismissal or disciplinary and for that reason it was clear that the dismissal was unfair and it was direct age discrimination in making the decision to dismiss.   This should be a useful lesson in relation to not having unilateral decisions relating to retirement unless there is an objective justification for it or a legal basis for retirement at a certain age within a particular industry.

Read the Review in full: Dwivedi v Hindu Cultural Resource Centre Sandwell [2026]

Milrine v DHL Services Ltd [2026] EAT 31

Summary Description: 

Procedural failings in the running of an internal appeal to dismissal meant that the decision to dismiss was unfair.

Claimant: 

Ernest Milrine

Respondent: 

DHL Services Ltd

Practical Guidance for Employers:

This case does demonstrate a difference between the law in Great Britain and Northern Ireland where the statutory process in dismissal requires that the appeal is offered.  The appeal was offered here but there were serious defects in the process and the requirement was for the Tribunal to examine the whole process and where the defects were significant to demonstrate why they had no or little outcome. The point for employers is ensuring that the communication is clear and that the process for appeals is robust.

Read the Review in full: Milrine v DHL Services Ltd [2026]

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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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ICO calls on recruiters to review use of automated decisions

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is calling on employers to review their use of automated decisions in recruitment to ensure the right protections are in place. The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 updated the data protection legislation to make it more straightforward for firms to innovate responsibly with people’s personal information, including using automation to make decisions without human involvement. Personnel Today has the full story.

Why your AI adoption strategy is stalling—and what to do instead

Most of the conversations happening today about AI focus on either end of the workplace spectrum: How the organization at large will adopt and implement AI for enterprise transformation at scale, or how individual leaders or workers are using AI to change specific habits and productivity. Yet real change—and real adoption—happens somewhere in the middle. This article from Charter Works explores this idea. 

AI for HR Weekly Podcast with Barry Phillips 🎙️

From Dartmouth to DeepSeek: The AI Timeline Every HR Leader Needs to Know

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

Listen on 🎧 Spotify or Apple Podcasts

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

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Skill Builder for HR: TUPE Management 

📅Thursday 23rd April 2026
⏰12:30 - 14:00 ( 1 hour 30 mins )
📍Online

Part of the Skill Builder for HR series, this 90-minute practical session is designed for HR professionals managing diverse ways of working across their organisations. Join Gareth Walls, Partner and Head of Employment Group at A&L Goodbody (NI) LLP and self-confessed TUPE ‘geek’ as he shares practical insights into managing TUPE transfers.

More here.

Legal Island Employment Law Hub Members receive two FREE Skill builder places*

*As part of their subscription - worth £270. T&Cs apply.

Find out more about all the upcoming Skill Builder for HR sessions HERE. 

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For the estimated one in five people who are neurodivergent, the environment in which they work can make the difference between thriving and struggling. Yet many employers remain uncertain about their legal obligations, exposing them to significant risk. This article from The Scotsman provides guidance for employers.

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The government has launched a consultation on proposed regulations aimed at making it easier to dismiss doctors who use discriminatory language on social media. The Department of Health and Social Care said there had been “too many” instances of doctors using racist and antisemitic language, particularly in posts shared on social media. More from People Management. 

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The LRA have produced this useful document giving guidance on the new regime relating to miscarriage leave and pay here in NI. Find it here.

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The Employment Law Hub is a comprehensive, jurisdiction-specific resource designed for HR professionals, legal advisors, and business leaders. It centralises essential employment law and HR updates, expertly curated and written by leading HR and legal specialists to provide reliable, practical, and authoritative insights. We have over 700+ in depth articles and 1000+ case law reviews. As a subscriber, you have access to all of this. Check it out the full Hub here and below are some recent articles you may have missed.....

Beyond Vento: Is Personal Injury Reshaping Tribunal Compensation in Northern Ireland?

For discrimination claims in the Industrial Tribunal in Northern Ireland, the remedy is Injury to Feelings. Assessing the extent of Injury to Feelings is not a straightforward task and one that often requires an assessment of medical information/evidence by a Tribunal. In recent years however, there has been an increasing trend of discrimination claims being accompanied with a Personal Injury claim. Niall McMullan of Edwards Solicitors has more.

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Are Apprenticeships Becoming the First Choice for SME Talent?

This article from HRD Connect looks at new research from Employment Hero which reveals a growing shift in how SME employers view early careers, with apprenticeships increasingly valued alongside or above degrees. As productivity, skills and immediate impact take priority, HR leaders are rethinking how they attract, develop and retain early-career talent. Read more.

Poor management is driving workers away, report shows

A report from Aerotek shows a wide range of factors influencing the job search in Q1 2026, including an interest in skilled trades. Thirty-seven percent of respondents said they left their shortest-tenured job due to “poor culture or management. HR Dive has more. 

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While taking many by surprise, there is an inevitable sense of déjà vu in learning about Scott Mills’ sacking from the BBC. Employment lawyers share their thoughts on the Radio 2 DJ’s dismissal and the broadcaster’s handling of yet another high-profile departure. Read more.

A probate executive’s reviews in which she accused her former employer, a solicitor, of being dishonest and incompetent have been found to be defamatory at common law. Shanaz Niazi left three one-star reviews on two different review websites after leaving Croydon-based B&L Solicitors. The Law Gazette has more. 

The secretary of a Co Down primary school has appeared in court charged with abusing her position of trust in order to steal more than £30,000, reports Belfast Live. 

Personnel Today reports the High Court has awarded nearly £1 million to a former marketing manager after his employer failed to respond properly to employee stress concerns. Matthew Foxton-Duffy was compensated to the tune of £990,000 after the court found his employer, Jockey Club Racecourses, breached its duty of care and caused a psychiatric injury. More here.

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Body-worn cameras 'stopping attacks on ED staff'

Body-worn cameras have proved so effective at tackling violence against hospital staff that one health trust is set to use them permanently. Several trusts have been trialling the measure, which sees cameras worn on the lapels of healthcare workers in emergency departments (EDs). More from the BBC.

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Kevin Gallagher promoted to Partner in Lewis Silkin (NI) LLP

Lewis Silkin has today announced the promotion of eight new partners from across its Employment, DCC (Digital, Commerce and Creative) and Real Estate groups. Congratulations to all, but particularly to Kevin who has partnered with us on many events! Read more on Lewis Silkin's website.

Happy Retirement!

And it's 'good luck and enjoy your retirement!' to Rosemary Connolly! 

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Employment Law at 11

Our regular webinar will return in May. Got a topic you'd like Seamus and Christine to discuss? Drop us a line at gosia@legal-island.com or contact Seamus or Christine on LinkedIn.

📅 Friday 8th May 2026

🕒 11am to 11.45am

📍 Live online | Free to attend

REGISTER HERE

Can't wait until then? Catch up with the last webinar here:

Miscarriage & Bereavement in the Workplace

NEW LEGISLATION ALERT: In our March instalment of Employment Law at 11 Seamus McGranaghan of O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors and Christine Quinn of Legal Island, gave us a guide to paid miscarriage leave in Northern Ireland, coming into effect in April 2026, and broader guidance on supporting employees through bereavement. They cover statutory entitlements, policy considerations, and best practices for compassionate workplace support, helping employers navigate these sensitive situations with confidence.

Enjoy your long weekend!

Legal Island

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