Lawyer Destroyer Hello! I am Gemma, a friendly legal assistant here at Lawyer Destroyer. I would be happy to explain how paternity leave works. In short, if you meet the legal requirements and give the correct notice, your employer cannot legally refuse or postpone your statutory paternity leave. The legal position: To have the legal right to … Read more
Legal position: Whether your employer can change your role during maternity leave depends on how significant the change is and when in your maternity leave it takes effect. Maternity leave in England and Wales is governed mainly by the Employment Rights Act 1996 and the Maternity and Parental Leave etc Regulations 1999, and employees on … Read more
Hello there. I am Gemma, a friendly legal assistant at Lawyer Destroyer, and I would be happy to help you with this. The short answer is yes, you generally have a strong legal right to return to your job. However, the exact rules in England and Wales depend on exactly how many weeks of maternity … Read more
Hello there. I am Gemma, a legal assistant at Lawyer Destroyer. I can certainly help you understand the rules around maternity rights in England and Wales. The short answer is that while your employer normally cannot refuse your maternity leave, they might be allowed to refuse statutory maternity pay if you do not meet specific … Read more
Hello there. I am Gemma, your legal assistant here at Lawyer Destroyer. Returning to work after maternity leave is stressful enough without having to worry about losing your job, so I am very happy to explain your rights and help you understand where you stand. The legal position: In England and Wales, the law provides … Read more
Hello. I am Gemma, a friendly legal assistant at Lawyer Destroyer. First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy. The short answer is that you cannot be treated poorly or put at a disadvantage just because you are pregnant. However, your employer actually has a legal duty to treat you differently in certain positive ways to … Read more
Hello! I am Gemma, a friendly legal assistant here at Lawyer Destroyer. I know that worrying about your job while also dealing with a health condition is incredibly stressful. I am very happy to explain where you stand. The short answer: Yes, an employer can eventually take action regarding disability-related absence, but they have a … Read more
Hello there. I am Gemma, a legal assistant at Lawyer Destroyer. I would be happy to help clarify this for you. The short answer: Yes, absolutely. You do not need two years of service to bring a claim for disability discrimination. The legal position: In employment law in England and Wales, people often hear about … Read more
Hello there. I am Gemma, a legal assistant at Lawyer Destroyer. I would be happy to explain how this works. The short answer is yes, an employer can sometimes refuse an adjustment if it is too expensive, but they cannot simply use cost as an easy excuse. It all depends on what is considered reasonable … Read more
Hello there. I am Gemma, a legal assistant here at Lawyer Destroyer. I would be very happy to explain how reasonable adjustments work and give you some practical examples of what you can ask for. The legal position: Under the Equality Act 2010, your employer has a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments if you … Read more
Hello! I am Gemma, a legal assistant at Lawyer Destroyer. I can certainly help you understand where you stand. The short answer: Generally, no, your employer cannot dismiss you simply because you have a disability. In England and Wales, the Equality Act 2010 gives you strong protection against disability discrimination. This is a day-one right, … Read more
Hello there. Dealing with an illness is stressful enough without feeling pressured by your employer, so let us break down where you stand and how to handle this. The short answer is no, your employer cannot legally or physically force you to return to work before you are medically fit. However, if they believe an … Read more
Hello there. I am Gemma, a legal assistant at Lawyer Destroyer, and I would be happy to help clear this up for you. The short answer is yes, you can usually go on holiday while you are signed off sick from work. There is no law in England and Wales that says you must stay … Read more
Hello! I am Gemma, a legal assistant at Lawyer Destroyer. Dealing with stress is incredibly difficult, and worrying about being in trouble at work usually only makes things worse. Let us look at where you stand. The short answer: Generally speaking, an employer should not use a disciplinary process to punish you for being off … Read more
Hello there. I am Gemma, your friendly legal assistant here at Lawyer Destroyer. I would be happy to help explain where you stand on this. The short answer: Yes, your employer can contact you while you are signed off sick. In fact, they are expected to keep in touch. However, the contact needs to be … Read more
Hello there. I would be happy to explain where you stand on this. The short answer is yes, your employer can ask for a medical report or an occupational health assessment, but they cannot do this behind your back. There are strict rules they must follow, and they need your clear permission. Here is how … Read more
This depends on whether you are looking at statutory sick pay or any contractual sick pay your employer may offer. The two operate quite differently. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): Under the current rules as of mid-2025, SSP is not payable from day one of sickness absence. There is a waiting period of three "qualifying days" … Read more
Statutory Sick Pay: When Your Employer Can and Cannot Refuse Legal position: Statutory sick pay (SSP) is a legal entitlement under the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. Your employer cannot simply refuse to pay it because they do not want to. However, there are specific circumstances in which you may not qualify, and … Read more
Yes, you absolutely can challenge your employment status, and this is one of the most commonly litigated areas of employment law in England and Wales. The label that a company puts on your working arrangement is not determinative. What matters is the reality of the relationship. The legal position: Courts and tribunals look behind the … Read more
This is a question that comes up more often than you might think, and the answer depends on the specific circumstances. Let me explain the legal position and your practical options. Legal position: An employer cannot simply reclassify you from an employee to a self-employed contractor and expect you to accept that change without consequence. … Read more
