Effective absence management is a year-round consideration for employers, but it can be a particular problem during periods of miserable weather. While it's never fun to think of winter during the height of summer, sensible employers know they need to plan ahead for the darker seasons. Yes winter is coming, and it could be even colder and snowier than usual. Advanced weather models are predicting months of heavy snowfall, with conditions expected to mirror those of winter 2009/10 – the so-called “the Big Freeze”, when…
Research by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to be published September 2016 has found that employees with poor mental health earn up to 42% less than their colleagues. Put another way, for every one pound earned by a male worker without a mental health condition, a colleague who suffers phobias or panic attacks earns 58 pence. The findings have prompted claims of discrimination in the workplace against people with mental health problems, with the commission calling them a “hidden disgrace” and the Men’s Health…
A recent European Court of Justice (ECJ) case has examined the issue of religious clothing in the workplace, but those looking for a definitive ruling in this sensitive area may be disappointed. The ECJ’s decision in Samira Achbita v G4S Secure Solutions, delivered in June 2016, goes some way to clarifying the position. Ultimately, however, the ruling suggests employers should consider whether their own policies discriminate. Religious clothing – background to the case Ms. Achbita worked for Belgian-based G4S Secure Solutions who operated a policy…
