Top 5 (for when you’ve only got 60 seconds⏱️):

1. UK & OpenAI deal – AI to be used across public services 🤖
2. DEI burnout? L&D could be the reset button 🎯
3. Pride row – NI Civil Service chief criticised over Belfast Pride plans 🏳️‍🌈
4. HR at risk – 82% of data breaches involve HR info 🔓
5. Morrisons lawsuit – Manager sues over not-his rude Secret Santa mug 🎁

In other news...Our next FREE Employment Law at 11 webinar covers all things holiday leave. Join Seamus and Christine next Friday 2nd August – sign up HERE! 

**If you have any difficulties accessing the article or resetting your password (if you haven’t already done so in 2025) please email hub@legal-island.com and we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible.**

1. Case Law Reviews
2. AI and Employment Law
3. Investigating Sexual Harassment at Work - How Should I Handle Allegations Against Senior Employees?
4. Pensions
5. Cybersecurity
6. Head of NI Civil Service warned over Belfast Pride involvement
7. Staff networks and external speakers: are you liable if what they say harasses an employee?
8. Just in Case You Missed It...
9. HR Developments
10. Employment News in the Media
11. GB Developments
12. Free Webinars This Month

Ladbrokes Betting & Gaming Ltd v Omi [2025] EAT 99

Summary Description: 

Constructive dismissal and disability discrimination successful when overtime given to another employee on the basis that he was seen as being more flexible compared to the claimant who could not work certain shifts due to her disability.

Claimant/Respondent on Appeal

Wahida Omi

Respondent/Appellant on Appeal

Ladbrokes Betting & Gaming Ltd

Practical Guidance for Employers:

The provision of overtime can be an issue which employers need to ensure is dealt with appropriately and reasonably.  In this situation, the claimant sought overtime yet it was just given to another employee based upon the perception that the other employee was more flexible.  Whilst that may have been the case it was not a real relevant factor considering that the overtime was settled and fell within the hours that the claimant could take on.  This meant there was less favourable treatment on the basis of disability. As a result, employers should be aware of how overtime is offered and given out to ensure that it is done fairly.

Read the Review in full:
Ladbrokes Betting & Gaming Ltd v Omi [2025]

Katholische Schwangerschaftsberatung v JB [2025] EU Case C-258/24

Summary Description: 

European Court provides guidance outlining that the genuine occupational requirement relating to religious affiliation only arises when it is required for the job. It was not so here so it was unfair to dismiss when the claimant left the Catholic Church.

Claimant: 

JB

Respondent: 

Katholische Schwangerschaftsberatung

Practical Guidance for Employers:

An interesting case relating to the genuine occupational requirement to have a particular religious belief and what happens where such a belief is not strictly required but leaving the religion is a serious breach of loyalty.   The ECJ has made it clear that the Directive relates to it being a genuine requirement of the job and that if the requirement was not part of the job then the decision could not be made to dismiss when someone was to leave the church.  It may have been a serious breach of loyalty and against Canon Law but the claimant would have still been able to carry out her role as a counsellor.  This is only likely to cover a small number of employers but they should be mindful of the genuine occupational requirement element links to who can carry out the job and not the actions of one if they decide to leave an organisation even though it was not strictly required to begin with.

Read the Review in full:
Katholische Schwangerschaftsberatung v JB [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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Opinion: The AI bias problem hasn’t gone away you know

In his regular column, Jonathan McCrea, an avid user of AI himself, advocates for not handing over decision-making to the machine. Read in full.

OpenAI and UK sign deal to use AI in public services

OpenAI, the firm behind ChatGPT, has signed a deal to use artificial intelligence to increase productivity in the UK's public services, the government has announced. The agreement signed by the firm and the science department could give OpenAI access to government data and see its software used in education, defence, security, and the justice system. 
More from the BBC.

Battle of the Workplace LLMs ChatGPT v Copilot – and the Winner by a Mile Is…?

This week Barry Phillips considers the importance of the announcement that OpenAI is now in partnership with the UK Government.

You can also access the episode here.

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Most organisations will need to conduct investigations into allegations of harassment at work at some point. While these workplace investigations are inherently complex and require a careful, sensitive approach, sexual harassment allegations against employees, particularly senior employees, can introduce additional complexity. Squire Patton Boggs discusses the challenges you are likely to face when addressing such allegations in this article from Lexology.

US tech CEO resigns after Coldplay concert embrace goes viral

A US tech company says its chief executive has quit after he was apparently caught on a big screen at a Coldplay concert embracing a female co-worker, in a clip that went viral. The clip showed a man and a woman hugging on a jumbo screen at the arena in Foxborough, Massachusetts, before they abruptly ducked and hid from the camera. The pair were identified in US media as Mr Byron, a married chief executive of Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the firm's chief people officer. 
More from the BBC.

But what if this happened in your organisation?

Would you know how to manage the reputational and HR risks? What would be a fair and lawful course of action? How would your organisation handle investigations, disciplinary outcomes, or media exposure?

To help HR professionals in Northern Ireland consider these very real challenges, we’re making several key resources from the Employment Law Hub publicly available for one week only. Usually reserved for subscribers, these practical tools and expert contributions are now open to everyone for a limited time.

Romance in the Workplace 

Romantic relationships in the workplace are nothing new — but when one becomes public (especially at a senior level), HR can be left to manage complex consequences.

Managing Workplace Affairs
by Joanne Lightburn, Managing Associate (Employment), TLT (NI) LLP
Read more here.

Handling Sensitive Workplace Issues 

Workplace Investigations: Handling Sensitive Cases with Fairness and Care
By Emma Doherty, Associate, Tughans LLP  
Read now.

Is it lawful to dismiss employees for activity conducted outside the workplace?
By Seamus McGranaghan, Director – O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors
Full article here.

E is for Ethics: The Moral Compass of HR 2025
By Charlotte Eakin, HR Consultant, AAB
More here.

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Pensions Commission launched to tackle low retirement savings

The government has launched a new Pensions Commission to examine why tomorrow’s pensioners are expected to be poorer than today’s and make recommendations for change. Almost half of working-age adults are still saving nothing, with low earners, ethnic minorities and the self-employed least likely to be pension saving. The analysis also shows that almost 15 million people are not saving enough for retirement. Personnel Today has more.

Labour minister Liz Kendall warns of ‘tsunami in pensioner poverty’ as she announces review of retirement age

Liz Kendall has warned of a “tsunami of pensioner poverty” without major reform to the system as she launched a new pension commission. Speaking in central London, the work and pensions secretary also announced a review of the state pension age, opening the door for it to be increased. It comes as research by Age UK found that people looking to retire in 2050 are on course to receive £800 per year less than current pensioners while 2 million pensioners are already in poverty with the number expected to rise. You can read more from the Independent.

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82% of data breaches contain HR information

A study into 141 million files found in data breaches has shown that 82% of incidents have included HR data. Lab 1, a data intelligence platform, has published what it claims to be the biggest ever content-level analysis of information, using AI agents to scrape breached datasets and analyse every file exposed. These included unstructured files, such as PDFs, emails and spreadsheets, which it said are typically overlooked in data breach analyses. These file formats are commonly used by HR practitioners and may hold sensitive information that can not only be leveraged for sophisticated cyberattacks but also introduce the risk of identity fraud for employees. You can read more from Personnel Today on this.

Weak password allowed hackers to sink a 158-year-old company

One password is believed to have been all it took for a ransomware gang to destroy a 158-year-old company and put 700 people out of work. KNP - a Northamptonshire transport company - is just one of tens of thousands of UK businesses that have been hit by such attacks. In KNP's case, it's thought the hackers managed to gain entry to the computer system by guessing an employee's password, after which they encrypted the company's data and locked its internal systems. 
The BBC has more.

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The head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) was warned it would be "open to the charge of acting politically" by taking part in Belfast Pride. Staff are due to participate in the LGBT parade on Saturday, but its involvement has been questioned by some politicians over impartiality concerns, reports the BBC.

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The decision in the tribunal of Newman v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis raises significant questions for those organisations that give staff networks free rein to organise events and invite external guests to speak at them. 
This article from Lexology outlines the case and employer considerations.

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What Top Recruiters Know that You Don’t (Yet)

In this MCS Lunch and Learn webinar Julie from Legal Island was joined by leading recruitment experts Ryan Calvert and Rebekah Mulligan. In this 45-minute webinar, Ryan and Rebekah share the latest trends in recruitment, exploring how organisations are addressing skills shortages, meeting the demand for flexible work, and adapting to the changing expectations of today’s candidates. From the rise of AI-assisted applications to the impact of global DEI rollbacks on local employer brands, they outline the trends that will define talent acquisition in 2025 and beyond. Didn't get to attend live? Don't worry - we have the recording for you here.

The 4-Day Work Week: What Is This Madness

In recent years, the 4-day work week has gained significant attention as a potential model for the future of work. Companies around the world have been experimenting with this shortened workweek, offering employees the same pay for fewer hours. This shift, prompted by changing attitudes towards work-life balance, has sparked debate about whether the 4-day work week is just a passing trend or if it’s here to stay. 
More from Ursula Henderson, Senior Consultant - HR at AAB here.

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HR is feeling the strain as responsibilities escalate

Leaders should see this as an opportunity to lighten the load while amplifying impact, giving HR teams the space they need to focus on what really matters without feeling overwhelmed. Read the full article here.

Four-day week study shows benefits to health

A four-day working week – with no reduction in pay – can have a positive impact on workers’ mental and physical health. According to a study by researchers from the US and Ireland published in the Nature Human Behaviour journal, employees were able to maintain their normal output because their working environment improved, but also enjoyed better sleep and less fatigue. Find out more here.

Stress at work remains the health and wellbeing issue affecting most generations of staff, according to employers

For the second year in a row, employers’ biggest concern for their staff is stress and anxiety related to work, according to research conducted by GRiD, the industry body for the group risk sector. In 2025, stress and anxiety related to work (such as pressures of overwork and uncertainty of the future) was cited by employers as their main concern for three out of four generations in the workplace:

• Baby-boomers: 34%
• Gen X: 36%
• Gen Z: 38%

You can read more on this from HR Director.

DEI needs a reboot and L&D is the key

For years, DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) has been framed primarily as a training problem–something to be addressed through workshops, policy updates, or annual awareness events. But what happens after the training ends? In today’s complex workplace, we need more than well-meaning intent. And that’s where L&D teams and internal coaching come in. Inclusion sticks when it’s built into how teams work, not just what they know. More from the Training Journal.

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A war of words over pronouns broke out at the ongoing employment tribunal between nurse Sandie Peggie and trans doctor Beth Upton. Ms Peggie’s lawyer Naomi Cunningham was accused by NHS Fife’s legal team of being “offensive” by referring to Dr Upton as a man and told she must use “appropriate language”. Catch up.

A women’s rights charity has accused MPs and peers on two select committees of being ‘openly hostile’ to the government’s preferred candidate for the next chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Sex Matters has written to two parliamentary committees – the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) and the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) – about the questioning of Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson earlier this month. Read more.

A Morrisons health and safety manager sued for sexual harassment over a rude Secret Santa mug - which wasn't even for him. Barry Cochrane had just started his new job at a Morrisons-owned abattoir when a lewd mug featuring cartoon testicles was gifted to a colleague at the work Christmas party. More from Daily Mail here.

An executive whose job was given to someone else while she was on sick leave with cancer has won £1.2 million in compensation at the employment tribunal. Andrea Wainwright claimed for discrimination arising from disability and constructive dismissal at an initial tribunal. However, although the tribunal found that appointing someone else to her role and telling her this was temporary amounted to disability discrimination, it found no grounds for constructive dismissal or that the dismissal was discriminatory, so she appealed. More here.

UNISON reports Bindu Parmar, a British Asian social worker, has won a landmark legal case against Leicester City Council after the Court of Appeal ruled that she was subjected to racial discrimination. The court found that the council’s actions in disciplining, transferring, and ultimately dismissing her in 2021 were racially motivated. This judgment brings a close to a prolonged legal battle, during which both an employment tribunal and an employment appeal tribunal previously sided with Mrs Parmar. The Court of Appeal upheld these decisions, concluding that she had been treated less favourably due to her race. It further described the disciplinary investigation she faced as "baseless." UNISON, the public service union, hailed the outcome as a significant legal victory. Read here. 

Antonia Romeo, the new permanent secretary at the Home Office, has commissioned a review of complaints, conduct and disciplinary procedures at the department “to ensure absolute confidence in the integrity of the system”. It comes after an investigation reportedly found a senior official in the Border Force had behaved inappropriately but left without facing formal consequences. The Home Office confirmed the launch of the review in a statement responding to a story in the Guardian that said the official had “harassed and behaved inappropriately towards a female colleague, before being able to leave the civil service with an unblemished record after a 'shambolic' disciplinary process”. More from Civil Service World.

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Mental health and the law: Coping strategies

Mental health statistics show a deepening crisis in our workplaces, manifested in employment claims. Can existing laws keep up? You can read more on this story from the Law Gazette.

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FREE WEBINAR: Employment Law at 11 - Here Comes the Sun: Holiday Leave Essentials for NI Employers

📅Friday 1st August
⏲️11am to 11.45am

REGISTER

Employment Law at 11 regular Seamus McGranaghan of O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors and Christine Quinn, Knowledge Partner at Legal Island explore annual leave entitlements under NI employment law, including tricky issues such as carry-over rules, holiday during sick leave, pay in lieu of holidays at termination and the consequences for not good maintaining records.

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.

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.

Check out previous discussions:
Legal Island | Webinars and Podcasts

Enjoy your weekend!

Legal Island

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