MFMac: Employment Law
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About
A podcast offering clear, practical guidance on UK employment law and HR issues.Hosted by David Hossack, a highly experienced employment lawyer at MFMac, one of Scotland's top independent law firms. Each episode features insights from our experienced employment lawyers on key issues including all the latest employment law developments in Scotland, England and Wales, as well as regular guest speakers discussing a wide variety of UK employment law-related issues.Designed for HR professionals, managers, business owners, and employees looking for practical, straight-talking commentary on employment law and related issues.MFMac is a full-service Scottish independent law firm with offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow. We offer trusted legal solutions across all areas of law.Subscribe for smart, straight-talking legal insights – direct from expert employment lawyers.
Episodes
- Common whistleblowing mistakes
Host David Hossack is joined by Rebecca Linford from Protect , the UK's leading whistleblowing charity, to discuss how organisations can introduce effective whistleblowing processes and what can get in the way of these working well in prac…
- Mergers and acquisitions: Immigration risks employers need to understand | Immigration for Employers series
In this episode, host David Hossack is joined by Stuart McWilliams , Partner in MFMac's Business Immigration team, to discuss the key immigration issues employers should consider during mergers and acquisitions, including sponsor licences,…
- Polygamous working – what is it and is it really happening?
In this employment podcast, Elise Turner , Legal Director at MFMac, speaks with host David Hossack about recent reports suggesting a rise in polygamous working and the steps employers can take to address this apparent trend.
- Nicknames in the workplace – banter or bad idea?
In this employment law podcast, Elise Turner speaks with David Hossack about the use of nicknames in the workplace and when banter crosses the line and creates a business risk.
- Key employment law changes in April 2026
In this podcast David Hossack and Innes Clark discuss the significant employment law changes coming into force in April that employers need to be aware of.
- Workplace Health - grasping the nettle
In this podcast David Hossack and Lindsey Cartwright look at the latest CIPD report on health and wellbeing at work and discuss what employers can do to proactively manage wellbeing at work with an informed approach to training and support.
- Home Office Audits and Sponsor Responsibilities | Immigration for Employers series
Home Office sponsor licence audits are a key part of UK immigration compliance and can carry serious consequences for employers. In this episode, David Hossack hosts a practical discussion on what Home Office audits involve, what complianc…
- Keeping to the script? Navigating HR's role in disciplinary decisions
This podcast features Andrew Gibson discussing with David Hossack the potential pitfalls for HR professionals who are providing support to decision makers in disciplinary proceedings, including via the use of scripts, and the risk of falli…
- The importance of being aware of an employee's side hustle
In this employment law podcast, David Hossack and Daniel Cormack discuss a recent Employment Tribunal case involving an employee who had been working two full-time jobs simultaneously for 16 years. This podcast explores the key lessons ari…
- Right to Work: What Employers Need to Know | Immigration for Employers series
In this second episode of the Immigration for Employers series , we explore what employers need to know about right to work compliance and the responsibilities involved in hiring and managing staff in the UK. Stuart McWilliams , Partner at…
- Balancing rights and single sex facilities
David Hossack talks to discrimination expert Sarah Gilzean about three recent Employment Tribunal judgments which show the legal and practical complexities currently facing employers when managing competing rights under the Equality Act.
- When the cap comes off - unfair dismissal and employer risk
David Hossack and Innes Clark discuss the very important changes relating to the law of unfair dismissal which are expected in 2027, including the removal of the compensation cap and the reduction in the qualifying period to 6 months.
- Proposed Changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain | Immigration for Employers series
In this first episode of our Immigration for Employers series, we explore proposed changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain and the implications for organisations across the UK. Stuart McWilliams joins host David Hossack to discuss residence…
- What to expect in employment law in 2026
David Hossack and Innes Clark discuss the very significant changes to be expected in 2026 as a result of the Employment Rights Act, as well as covering some other important changes that employers should be aware of.
- Travelling to work and the national minimum wage
In this episode Alan Delaney and David Hossack discuss whether employees need to be paid the NMW for time spent travelling to work.
- Can job applicants be rejected for supporting a rival football team?
In this podcast, David Hossack and Fiona Meek look at a recent Employment Tribunal decision which has attracted significant media attention, where an Employment Judge commented that there could be circumstances where a job applicant's supp…
- The pitfalls of failing to consider whether an employee's (mis)behaviour could be impacted by a medical condition
In our latest podcast, David Hossack and Ellen Grant discuss some recent case examples which demonstrate the importance of ensuring that medical conditions are taken into consideration by employers during disciplinary investigations.
- Sponsorship squeeze: Navigating immigration salary rules and employment law risks
In this episode, we explore the legal and practical challenges facing employers as changes to the Immigration Rules - particularly around minimum salary thresholds - begin to take effect.
- When Redundancy Goes Wrong: The importance of considering alternative roles
Proper consideration of alternative employment is a fundamental part of a fair redundancy procedure. David Hossack and Nikita Sandhu discuss top tips for a fair redundancy procedure following the recent case of Hendy Group Limited v Kenned…
- "The Black Cop" – Diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace
For our latest podcast David Hossack is joined by Gamal Turawa, subject of BAFTA award winning film The Black Cop, for a fascinating discussion on diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace. With openness and honesty, G reflects on t…
- Mismanagement of disciplinary process leaves employer liable for psychiatric injury
David Hossack talks to Sarah Gilzean about the extra care that employers should take with employment processes once they are on notice that the process may be making the employee unwell.
- Is prioritising working from home to oversee gardeners acceptable?
In this employment law podcast, David Hossack and Fiona Meek discuss a recent case involving an unfair dismissal following an argument about working from home.
- Talkin' bout my generation – age and impact on attitude to whistleblowing
In our latest employment podcast David Hossack is joined by Rebecca Linford of Protect to discuss their research on how views on raising concerns about work differ across the generations. The episode explores how these findings impact work…
- Walking the Tightrope Between Rights and Protections
David Hossack and Caitlin Alexander from MFMac's Employment team discuss a recent case which focused on how courts approach the expression of Article 9 rights and protected beliefs. They consider the impact of workplace policies and traini…
- Medicinal cannabis in the workplace: Issues for employers and employees
For our latest employment podcast David Hossack is joined by Andrew Gibson to discuss the legal issues that arise around the use of medicinal cannabis in the workplace.
- Changes to immigration rules for care workers
In this podcast, immigration specialist Stuart McWilliams, a Partner in MFMac's Healthcare team, discusses with David Hossack the recent changes to the immigration rules for care workers, how this will affect recruitment in the sector and…
- Dyslexia in the workplace
For our latest employment podcast David Hossack is joined by Dr Jeremy Law of Glasgow University to discuss dyslexia in the workplace and to consider the issues raised in the report "Towards a dyslexia friendly Scotland". Reference is made…
- Clawback provisions in the context of immigration: what are they and when can employers use them?
David Hossack speaks to Lily Braunholtz about the circumstances in which employers can seek reimbursement of immigration costs from employees and the consequences if they get this wrong.
- The Doctor Explains - What can employers do to help prevent health issues impacting at work?
David Hossack and Sarah Gilzean talk to Dr Sigi Joseph and Dr Jane Catley about the importance of health and wellbeing in the workplace and the simple steps that employees and employers can take to reduce the impact of ill health at work.
- Supreme Court rules that definition of "woman" in Equality Act refers to biological women only
David Hossack talks to discrimination expert Sarah Gilzean about the recent decision in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers and the impact of the case for employers and service providers.
- Dismissal for "Unwise" Facebook posts found to be discriminatory
David Hossack talks to Sarah Gilzean about Higgs v Farmor's School where an employee was dismissed for expressing her beliefs on social media and how employers can justify taking action in these circumstances.
- Fingerprint and facial recognition systems: What do employers need to know?
In our latest podcast, David Hossack speaks to Alan Delaney, Employment Lawyer and Melissa Hall, Data Protection Lawyer about the use of biometric recognition systems with employees. The podcast includes learnings from previous ICO enforce…
- April employment law changes and the latest on the Employment Rights Bill
In our latest employment law podcast, David Hossack speaks to Hayley Johnson about various recent changes to employment law, including the introduction of neonatal leave, as well as discussing where we are with the Employment Rights Bill.
- Protecting workers from algorithms
David Hossack is joined by Joe Atkinson, a lecturer in employment law at the University of Southampton, to discuss a report he has co-authored calling for a new generation of rights to protect workers from the rise of "management by algori…
- Can an employer sue a trade union for defamation in relation to inaccurate tweets?
David Hossack and Sarah Gilzean are joined by Litigation Partner, Richard McMeeken to discuss a recent case where the interpretation of a trade union's tweets led to a defamation action being brought by the employer in the context of a wor…
- Endometriosis: What is it and what should employers know about it?
As we mark International Women's Day on 8 March, Sarah Gilzean talks to Consultant Gynaecologist, Dr Lucky Saraswat, about endometriosis, the legal risks that can arise in the workplace and the simple steps that employers can take.
- Return to Office Mandates Raise Prospect of Legal Disputes
In this week's podcast, David Hossack and Caroline Maher discuss the increasing number of employers issuing return to office mandates and the legal issues which arise from this.
- Cases of workplace burnout are on the rise: why is it happening and how can employers reduce the risk?
In this week's employment law podcast, David Hossack and Elise Turner are joined by special guest speaker Fiona Lewis of the charity SAMH to explore the topic of burnout in the workplace, why it happens, the potential effects, the relevant…
- The Employment Rights Bill - the practical steps you can take to prepare
In our latest podcast, Alan Delaney and David Hossack discuss how employers can take steps now to prepare for the significant new rights set to be introduced by the Employment Rights Bill.
- What to expect in employment law in 2025
Innes Clark and David Hossack discuss the key changes to employment law that employers should be aware of including all the latest on the Employment Rights Bill.
- Conflict, Culture and Collaboration - make workplace culture your New Year's Resolution
In our final podcast of the year, Lindsey Cartwright and David Hossack discuss the CIPD Good Work Index and how a positive culture can reduce conflict in the workplace.
- What makes a belief "protected" under the Equality Act 2010?
In our fortnightly podcast, David Hossack and Kerri McGaff discuss the Employment Appeal Tribunal case of Thomas v Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and another, in which the EAT considered whether "English Nationalism" c…
- Can employers require employees to download work-related apps to their personal phone?
In our latest Employment law podcast, Elise Turner speaks to David Hossack about the case of Alsnih v Al Quds Al-Arabi Publishing and Advertising, in which it was found that an employee was unfairly dismissed for refusing to download a wor…
- UK Employment Tribunal award statistics - 2023/2024
In our latest podcast, David Hossack and Innes Clark discuss the recently published annual UK employment tribunal award statistics, including the highest awards made.
- What can employers learn from the equal pay case against Next?
In our latest employment podcast, Sarah Gilzean talks to David Hossack about the recent case against Next in which 3,500 women won their equal pay claims when the employer was unable to justify the pay difference on the basis that they wer…
- Supporting Disabled Workers with Hybrid Working
In our latest employment podcast, David Hossack speaks to Hayley Johnson about new guidance published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission on Supporting Disabled Workers with Hybrid Working arrangements. Hayley signposts the practic…
- Workplace Accidents: Key Steps for Employers
In our latest employment podcast David Hossack is joined by Jenny Dickson, Health and Safety expert and Chair of Morton Fraser MacRoberts to consider the practical steps that need to be taken by employers in the aftermaths of accidents at…
- A look at SOSR dismissals in the context of covid vaccinations - what does an employer need to do to show a fair dismissal?
In our recent podcast, David Hossack and Fiona Meek look at the recent EAT case of Masiero & others v Barchester Healthcare PLC, where the EAT concluded that the dismissal of the Claimants for refusing to comply with the mandatory covid va…
- Sexual harassment changes are imminent - are employers ready?
With the law set to change in October to put the onus on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, David Hossack and discrimination expert Sarah Gilzean discuss what employers need to do to comply.
- Contracts of apprenticeship in Scotland and the risks of terminating early
Care should be taken if an employer is considering dismissing an apprentice, as a higher legal threshold applies for terminating a contract of apprenticeship in Scotland compared to other employees. In our latest podcast, Nikita Sandhu dis…