For the final podcast of this season, Simon & Jack travel back to the Summer of ‘63, have the time of their lives & discuss hit chick flick, Dirty Dancing. Was Max Kellerman guilty of discrimination? Could his nephew Neil have fired Johnny for the stolen wallets? And was Baby’s admission about her mambo partner “all for nothing”? Don’t fret, listeners. We’ll return later in the year. But, in the meantime, please remember, nobody puts JB in a corner…

Does Anakin Skywalker meet the common law test of being an apprentice (agreement, training, duration of contract) in Star Wars, Attack of the Clones? Has the young Padawan received any training? And can Obi Wan expel Anakin from the Jedi Order like he could a normal Jedi? Lastly has Jack actually watched the film in the last week? (If you listen to the very end of this podcast, you will find your answer).

Is Andy’s sweater truly cerulean blue? Will you ever look at belts in the same way again? And is a grilled 8lbs Jarlsberg sandwich the best snack ever? Simon and Jack don’t actually answer any of these questions, but they do discuss the real demon in The Devil Wears Prada. And *spoiler alert* they bicker about Miranda Priestley’s management style…

For a Disney film (Zootropolis), this fairly packs an employment law punch. The team discuss sex discrimination, unilateral variations to contract and unconscious bias. Si tells a story about a surgeon. JB impersonates Officer Hopps. And Roman spoils the “Flash, Flash, Hundred Yard Dash” ending for everyone! (They also get the singing out the way within the first six seconds of this podcast)

If you’ve watched the film, Filth, in preparation for this week’s ELiYP podcast, then we apologise. Amongst other things, Simon and Jack discuss perceptive discrimination related to sexual orientation. If you’re easily shocked or have a nervous disposition, please don’t listen to this podcast (particularly not the last exchange when these two quote from the film)! All complaints to JB please.

This week, Simon, Jack and Roman discuss the 1992 film, The Bodyguard. Did Rachel Marron (Whitney Houston) successfully engage Frank Farmer (Kevin Costner) on a self-employed basis? Do the team score The Bodyguard as highly as they scored the previous films? And will Si avoid singing Queen of the Night/I Will Always Love You? (No, no, and thrice no).

OK listeners. I hope that you’ve popped on your penguin pyjamas and reindeer jumper because this week, we take a deep dive into the world of Bridget Jones’ Diary. Simon and Jack ask, would Mr Fitzherbert have a claim against Bridget if he discovered his nickname? Is the Tarts and Vicars’ Party within the course of employment? And was it Daniel Cleaver or a bot who was DM’ing Bridget?

In this new season, Simon and Jack discuss the film, Love Actually.  How many red flags can you spot in Si’s favourite Christmas film? Is this the ultimate Christmas film or is it a spiritless, insincere cheese fest which should be hurled in the compost bin with your leftover brussels sprouts? What the team fail to spot IMHO is the stalker(ish) behaviour by Andrew Lincoln. I mean, seriously..… who makes a film of your best man, featuring close ups of Keira Knightley’s teeth?

In the final episode of Season 8, Jack and Simon discuss the case of Leary-Owhin v London South Bank University - an overview of a discrimination case relating to race. Was it harassment for the employer to suggest that Dr Leary-Owhin was “playing the race card”?  Will Simon find an opportunity to sing?  Will Jack manage to hold back the tears? Brace yourselves, listeners. It’s going to get emotional.

After Soares-gate, EmploymentLawyerInYourPodcast-gate and JohnCReilly-gate, season 8 episode 9 starting with “Take 3” doesn’t bode well. But Simon and Jack are joined by Stephen and they (eventually!!) do get around to discussing a really important topic which is becoming of ever-increasing relevance to employers- menopause. They look at the case of Rooney v Leicester City Council, where an employee sought to establish her menopause amounted to a disability and then look at whether other...

Butch and Sundance return for Ep 8. They discuss whether supporting Rangers FC amounts to a philosophical belief in terms of the Equality Act. They also discuss the five part “Grainger” test as to what qualifies as a “belief”. And lastly, they have cause to mention the American, award-winning actor/comedian, John C Reilly. (They *may* have confused their J Reillys)

Simon welcomes Blair back to the podcast to discuss the case of Soares v Ofgem.  Did the comment, “let’s play it by ear” to an employee with an ear infection amount to harassment? Was it reasonable for that comment to have offended Mr Soares? Has Simon pronounced Mr Flucker’s name correctly? And is Blair replacing JB on the podcast in the future? Buckle up, listeners. This podcast is a goodie.

In Episode 6 of Season 8, Jack and Ethan discuss the case of Sommer v Swiss Re Corporate Solution Services Ltd.  Can an employer defend comments made by one employee to another about her breasts? Is redundancy a safe bet after said female has complained about these allegations and taken a period of maternity leave? Hear all about how not to conduct yourself in the spirt of an equality and diversity policy, here…”

In Episode 5, Simon and Jack discuss the case of Drummond v HMRC where the employer required to resist a claim for discrimination arising from disability (a section 15 claim). Did HMRC have a legitimate aim in place? Was this aim exercised proportionately? Who wants to hear about the time Simon fainted when giving blood? And why have you not yet left a review?

It’s Episode 4, and Simon and Jack are joined by Ethan to discuss the case of Bradbury v Sky In-home Services Ltd, where the focus is on race discrimination. Was a comment made to Ms Bradbury by a fellow Sky Inclusion Advocate discriminatory?” Did the Judgment leave her on cloud 9? Have a listen to find out!

Brace yourselves, listeners. Simon and Jack discuss the case of Finn v The British Bung Manufacturing Company Limited where a colleague is referred to as a “stupid, old, bald ****” Was it sex-related harassment? Or was it sexual harassment? And can you guess which of these two require to be bleeped out, when they mistakenly use that word?...

In Episode 2 of Season 8, two become three as Simon, Jack and Ethan discuss the case of Thompson v Scancrown Limited. Can an employer refuse a flexible working request from a pregnant employee in the name of business needs? Does such a refusal discriminate against female employees? Hear all about Mr Sellar’s expensive maternity leave slip-up here…”

In the first episode of season 8, Simon and Jack discuss the case of Knox v Chief Constable of Merseyside Police. Can an employee lodge a claim for harassment on the basis of his colleague whistling Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 at him? How about the fact that he stuck a photo of Dolly up, beside his work station? And have Simon and Jack’s singing voices suitably recovered from covid to allow them to warble in key? Listen now to find out…

Due to popular demand (one listener), Simon returns for the final episode of Season 7. He is joined by Jack and Blair and they discuss three Christmas party employment tribunal claims. One case involves a fight on the dancefloor (Westlake v ZSL London Zoo). The second involves a Christmas party promise (Judge v Crown Leisure Limited). And the third involves a Christmas party fling (Nixon v Ross Coates Solicitors)! With apologies in advance from the team for the puns in our takeaway tips.  We...

In the last episode of season 7, we reach the end of the “Long and Winding (Newbie) Road”. Employment lawyers Jack, Blair and Stephen discuss how “We Can Work It Out” when taking a new recruit through a probationary period and induction process.  Blair gives some valuable tips on how “To Hold the Hand” of new starts; Jack offers advice on sorting out who within the organisation should “Carry That Weight” of overseeing the process; and Stephen discusses how slow starters should be given the...

Employment Lawyers Stephen, Blair and Jack discuss the do’s and don’ts of pre-employment health questions.   In addition to lots of useful tips about how to avoid exposing your business to a discrimination risk, we also learn which member of the team is a demon on the dancefloor.  Blair shines in the mini quiz.  Stephen is getting into the spirit of festive party season and urges listeners to sign up to our mailing list

The Newbies well and truly take over this week as Stephen is joined by Paul Nash of Blackadders Corporate team with a focus on all things data protection. We look at why it is important for employers to be aware of their data protection obligations from the outset and throughout a recruitment process and offer our top tips on the main areas which can give rise to problems. We also find out about the first album Paul owned and Stephen partly reveals his one true claim to fame, as they process...

In Episode 5 of Season 7, Simon returns and is joined by Jack and Blair to discuss confidentiality and restrictive covenants. They highlight top tips when drafting confidentiality clauses in employment contracts and how make sure that restrictive covenants are enforceable. We also find out which song one of Simon’s clients performed when giving evidence at a tribunal. ‘I gotta feeling’ that it’s going to be a good episode….

Season 7 is ‘The Newbies’ series of podcasts. The ELiYP team will be looking at the ins and outs of recruiting and integrating new employees into the business, together with identifying some legal pitfalls. In this episode: Employment Lawyers Stephen, Blair and Jack discuss the all important employment contract and job offer letter.   In addition to lots of useful tips about the documentation to be issued before a new employee starts work and whether a job offer can be withdrawn, we also...