Employment Law Update 2026

Key Subjects

• Rice v Wicked Vision Ltd: Dismissal, Detriment and Whistleblowing Liability
• Discrimination Law Update
• Neurodiversity, Misconduct and Capability: Lessons from Steadman, McQueen, Khorram and Saunders
• An Update on the Law on Employment Status
• Privacy and Anonymity in Employment Tribunal Proceedings: Legal Principles and Practical Challenges

Speakers

Paul Jennings, Partner, Bates Wells Solicitors

Sean Jones KC, 11 KBW

Ijeoma Omambala KC, Old Square Chambers

Safia Tharoo, Barrister, 42BR Barristers

Conference Programme

Rice v Wicked Vision Ltd: Dismissal, Detriment and Whistleblowing Liability

This session will provide a review of the Court of Appeal’s judgment in Rice v Wicked Vision Ltd, and consider the issues currently awaiting determination by the Supreme Court.

It will examine:

• Whistleblowing detriment and the developing approach of the courts
• Automatic unfair dismissal in the context of whistleblowing protections
• Individual liability and its practical implications in workplace claims

The session will also consider the practical consequences of these issues for advisers, in light of the evolving legal position.

Paul Jennings, Partner, Bates Wells Solicitors

Discrimination Law Update

This session will provide an update on recent developments in discrimination law, with a focus on how these issues are being approached in practice.

It will consider how discrimination issues arise in workplace and advisory contexts, and the implications for those managing risk, compliance and disputes.

The session will cover:

• Recent developments in discrimination case law
• Key principles applied in discrimination claims
• Issues arising in workplace decision-making and management processes
• Evidential and procedural considerations in discrimination disputes
• Practical considerations for advisers handling discrimination-related issues

Sean Jones KC, 11 KBW

Neurodiversity, Misconduct and Capability: Lessons from Steadman, McQueen, Khorram and Saunders

This session will provide a practical analysis of recent case law on neurodiversity at work, with a particular focus on autism, ADHD, reasonable adjustments and fair management processes.

It will examine:

• The legal framework surrounding neurodiversity in the workplace
• Recent case law developments involving autism and ADHD
• The duty to make reasonable adjustments in practice
• Fair performance and capability management processes

The session will also consider how these issues arise in day-to-day workplace situations and the implications for employers and advisers.

Paul Jennings, Partner, Bates Wells Solicitors

An Update on the Law on Employment Status

This session will provide an overview of the current legal framework governing employment status, recent developments in the case law, and the key practical considerations for litigating employment status disputes. This session will cover:

• Why it matters
• Statutory definitions
• The tests applied by the courts
• Wicked Vision – has it, or does it, change anything?
• Practical considerations – preliminary hearings, disclosure, and witness evidence

Ijeoma Omambala KC, Old Square Chambers

Privacy and Anonymity in Employment Tribunal Proceedings: Legal Principles and Practical Challenges

Applications for anonymity and restricted reporting orders are becoming increasingly common in Employment Tribunal proceedings. This session will examine the legal principles governing these applications, how Employment Tribunals balance the principle of open justice against the need to protect individual rights, and the practical challenges that can arise from such orders. This session will review:

• The legal framework for anonymity and restricted reporting orders.
• The principles applied by Employment Tribunals when determining applications.
• Balancing the principle of open justice with the protection of individual rights.
• Recent trends in applications for anonymity and reporting restrictions.
• Practical challenges arising from such orders, and practical strategies for addressing them

Safia Tharoo, Barrister, 42BR Barristers