As employer pension contributions are not received directly by an employee but paid into a pension fund, it has been established practice to exclude such payments from the calculation of a week’s pay (for example when calculating statutory redundancy pay or holiday pay). However, in University of Sunderland v Drossou UKEAT/0341/16, the EAT has upheld the employment tribunal’s decision to include employer pension contributions in the calculation of a week’s pay.
Facts
In this case, Ms Drossou was dismissed by the University on the grounds of an irretrievable breakdown in working relationships. The tribunal found that she had been unfairly dismissed and ordered compensation. When calculating Ms Drossou’s compensation, the tribunal found that a week’s pay should include employer pension contributions. Upon the University appealing the decision, the EAT agreed with the tribunal’s reasoning and confirmed that a week’s pay should include employer pension contributions.
Comment
This case alters a longstanding principle increasing the value of a statutory week’s pay under the Employment Rights Act 1996. A number of payments and remedies are based on the statutory week’s pay and, consequently, these will be increased. These include:
The implications of this decision will be of particular interest to employers who make large contributions under a defined benefit pension scheme. The average contribution to defined benefit pension schemes is 21.2% according to a 2015 ONS survey. A week’s pay for employees who participate in these schemes could, therefore, potentially, be over a fifth as much before this ruling.
There may be further litigation to challenge the validity of the EAT’s judgment but, in the meantime, employers should be aware of the adjustment to the calculations.
If you have any questions around this briefing, please get in touch with your usual contact in our Employment Team or speak to Anna Dabek.
It is anticipated that as lockdown restrictions ease, and particularly with children and young adults returning to education, cases of meningitis will start to rise.
As we continue to emerge from lockdown measures and deal with local measures and the short and long term economic impact of Covid-19, local authorities will need to re-assess how services will be delivered for years to come.
The Government first announced plans for a shared ownership right to buy in October 2019. At the time the sector raised concerns about the impact the plans would have on housing associations ability to borrow. An election and a pandemic later the Government announced, during the CIH Housing Festival last week, the return of the right to shared ownership as part of its Affordable Homes Programme (AHP).
Two final pieces of the possession jigsaw have been published on 15 September 2020. Mr Justice Knowles’ working group on possession proceedings has issued its guidance on the “overall arrangements” for possession proceedings.
One change proposed by the Building Safety Bill is the introduction of a duty holder regime, which will see statutory responsibility for the safety of higher risk buildings placed on key individuals
Throughout this pandemic, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been publishing various “Statements on Coronavirus” (Statements) which provide guidance on consumer rights during this time.
A recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the UK means new measures are being put in place in an effort to reduce the risk of a second wave. Whilst the impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt, it is important to remain focused on the sector’s road to recovery.
Sometimes half an hour at a conference gives you the reality that has been staring you in the face all along. That was my experience watching “Change is on the Horizon”
Following our recent e-briefing on Possession Notices, Helen Tucker and Emilie Pownall from our housing litigation team discuss the impact of the changes on social landlords.
Not only has the possession stay been extended until 20 September, the notice periods to be given to tenants has been extended in certain circumstances with some important exceptions.
To receive invitations to our events, as well as information and articles on legal issues and sector developments that are of interest to you, please sign up to Newsroom.