Sarah Gilzean

Partner, Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP

Sarah is a Partner in Morton Fraser's highly rated Employment team. Sarah is an accredited specialist in discrimination law, one of only 12 in Scotland. She is highly regarded in the sector as a discrimination lawyer and is Convener of the Law Society Equalities Law Reform Committee and a member of the Scottish Discrimination Law Association.

Sarah is also an accredited specialist in employment law and has particular expertise in equal pay. Sarah acts for a wide range of employer and employee clients in the public and private sectors. Sarah also has particular expertise in the education sector and regularly advises independent schools in relation to accessibility, discrimination issues and parental complaints. She gives practical, easy to understand advice and is focused on achieving her client's objectives at all times.

She regularly advises both employers and employees in relation to senior exits, TUPE and redundancy, disciplinary and grievance, contractual disputes, whistleblowing, discrimination, equal pay and industrial relations. She appears on behalf of clients in the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal and is regularly asked to speak at conferences and training seminars on employment law and discrimination topics.

Sarah was considered an Associate to Watch in Employment law by Chambers and Partners and was named a 'Star Associate' by Legal 500 in 2022.

Contributed to

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Employees undergoing fertility treatment (eg IVF)

Practice Notes

This Practice Note examines the rights of workers undergoing fertility treatment, including an explanation of the types of fertility treatment available (eg in vitro fertilisation (IVF), intra uterine insemination (IUI), medication and surgery), how employers should treat requests for time off, at what stage the protected period is triggered in respect of pregnancy rights, protection from discrimination, what employers should think about when considering implementing a policy, the latest guidance, current case law and proposals for change.

Employment

Policy—fertility treatment leave (eg for IVF)

Precedents

This Precedent is a policy on fertility treatment leave for an employer to include in a staff handbook or for use as a standalone policy. It explains the employer’s approach in relation to employees undergoing fertility treatment (eg in vitro fertilisation (IVF), intra uterine insemination (IUI) and other treatments) and those accompanying a partner undergoing treatment. It demonstrates the employer’s awareness of fertility treatments and the impact they may have on employees. It sets out the eligibility and terms of any company paid fertility leave, the options for leave required over and above any period of company paid fertility leave (eg annual leave or unpaid leave) and other forms of support available.

Employment