It remains to be seen whether COP26 will be a success, much in the same way that it is difficult to measure what impact movements such as Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain have had on the environment and people’s behaviour. With the summit underway and policy announcements emerging, Charlie Thompson considers current and potential future overlap between employment law and the environment.
Our awareness of environmental issues continues to increase, as do our expectations on businesses to show that they are operating responsibly. Indeed, under proposed plans, large employers will be required to show how they intend to move to a low carbon future, in line with the UK’s net-zero target.
It is not just shareholders, investors and customers who will be concerned. Employees and prospective employees are increasingly likely to grill companies about their strategies in relation to the environment. Those employees, becoming increasingly sceptical and cynical towards “greenwashing”, are likely to have high expectations of their employers.
As things stand, what are some of the key employment law considerations when it comes to the environment?
Directors’ duties
Company directors are subject to duties under the Companies Act 2006. One of these is to promote the success of the company. This requires the director to have regard to matters such as “the likely consequences of any decision in the long term” and” the impact of the company’s operations on the community and the...
Every couple of years, the same false stories come back. A claim that an election was rigged before a single vote was cast. An old video of violence, stripped of its date and place, presented as b...