This week, Sam & Nils cover a practical issue affecting motorists in Bradford and a recent pregnancy discrimination case highlighting the risks employers face when managing sickness absence and flexible working requests during pregnancy.

Key Takeaways:

• Bradford’s Clean Air Zone requires certain vehicles to pay a £9 daily charge if they enter the zone and do not meet emissions standards.
• Failure to pay the charge can result in a £120 penalty (reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days), in addition to the original charge.
• Anyone wishing to challenge a penalty must make representations to the council within 28 days. If rejected, the decision can be appealed to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.
• The registered keeper of the vehicle remains legally responsible for charges and penalties.
• Failing to correctly update DVLA records when selling or scrapping a vehicle can lead to significant liability if the vehicle continues to enter the zone.
• Minor administrative oversights, such as not transferring the logbook properly, can quickly lead to multiple fines.
• A claimant was awarded approximately £73,000 for pregnancy discrimination after being dismissed following disclosure of her pregnancy and requests to work from home due to severe morning sickness.
• Tribunals may infer discrimination where pregnancy is referenced alongside performance concerns in internal communications.
• Emails between management, HR, and third-party consultants were disclosable and played a key role in the tribunal’s findings.
• Organisations should be cautious about how internal discussions are documented when seeking advice from non-legal advisers.
• Employers must carefully separate genuine performance concerns from issues connected to pregnancy-related illness or adjustments.

Seminars & Events:

https://www.chadwicklawrence.co.uk/seminars/business-services-seminars/

Contact Us:

BoxHR@chadlaw.co.uk

SamPawson@chadlaw.co.uk

NilsODonoghue@chadlaw.co.uk

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/company/employment-law-chadwick-lawrence-llp/

Chapters:

(⁠⁠00:00⁠⁠) Introduction

(⁠⁠00:33) What's in Your Inbox?

(⁠⁠00:49) Clean Air Zone Charges & Fines

(⁠⁠04:10) Pregnancy Discrimination Case: The Issue of Disclosure

(13:54) Out the Office!