It's a common misconception that once your employees leave work for the day, what they do outside of work is nothing to do with you as their employer. Actually, if an employee's actions outside the workplace impact your organisation, their colleagues, or affects the way they do their job, employers can intervene. It may even be necessary to take disciplinary action to protect your staff, uphold your company values and minimise reputational damage. Below are some typical scenarios of where you may be required to…
What should you do if an employee has been charged with a serious criminal offence for something that has happened outside of the workplace? Can you terminate their employment on the grounds that they will no longer be available for work? And what about the reputational risk to your business? Each case should be decided on its own merits and in some situations, it may be fair to dismiss an employee. However, there’s no automatic right to dismiss an employee because they’ve been charged with…
We've all been touched by cancer in our lives - in fact, more than 700,000 people of working age are living with a cancer diagnosis. And in these times, it can be difficult to know what to say and do. According to international research by Macmillan, 6 in 10 people with cancer now return to work. This trend means that colleagues, managers and employers are also increasingly likely to face cancer in the workplace. However, people who have finished treatment tell Macmillan they have difficulties…
Many people want to show up for their marginalised colleagues, but don’t know where to start, or if they’re doing it right. From changing your approach, educating yourself, carrying out microaffirmations, and using your privilege; here’s how can you be a better ally at work. What is allyship? Allyship at work is about taking responsibility to support your colleagues, customers, and network who have a different identity to you. Allies endeavour to drive systemic improvements to workplace policies, practices, and culture to create a more…
I’m sure you’re well aware of the term ‘The Bradford Factor’. Created in the 1980’s by Bradford University School of Management, it’s become synonymous with employers who are keen to find a simple and expedient management solution to the disruption caused by employee absence. For the uninitiated, the Bradford Factor is based on the theory that short, frequent, unplanned absences are more disruptive to businesses than longer periods of absence. Using a mathematical formula, it takes the number and frequency of absences to produce a…
According to a recent review completed by the government, NHS, and Public Health UK, 3.2 million people in the UK between the ages of 16 and 59 regularly take recreational drugs. That equates to 1 in 11 UK citizens. In the same report, it found that 1 in 25 adults consume Class A drugs. As a direct result of this type of drug use there’s also just under 3,000 deaths per year. Whilst these statistics primarily focus on illegal drug use, there’s also an increased…
With more and more cases being won in Employment Tribunals, citing menopause as a reason for unfair dismissal, companies really should be talking more about menopause. It’s highly likely that menopause will be included in the Protected Characteristics list for discrimination in the very near future, so that’s another reason why companies should be talking to all of their employees about menopause. It cannot go on being a taboo subject. Menopause in context Lots of research has been going on recently to gauge how many…
Queen Elizabeth’s funeral takes place on Monday 19th September. To mark this sad occasion, the day is a public holiday in the UK. Are your employees entitled to a day off work? How do you handle this leave for part-time employees? What can you do if your business needs to open? How do you deal with new employees starting on Monday? And how can employers support their employees through a period of national mourning. We explain all. Are your employees entitled to take the day…
Part-year workers are now entitled to a full year paid holiday allowance, after the Supreme Court hands down its long-awaited judgment. The Court endorsed the earlier Court of Appeal judgment meaning employers who previously pro-rated the holiday entitlement for staff working part of the year on permanent contracts will have to change their practices. What was this case about? It had been common practice for employers to pro-rate holidays for part-year workers - usually ‘term-time’ - for many years. It was a perfectly logical and…
We have encountered a period in history that many of us will never forget. Reflecting on what has happened in the employment sector, it is not surprising that 2021 became the year of people resigning from their jobs in huge numbers. But what happens when the employee wants to come back? Working lives have changed dramatically. The advent of furlough and the need for people to work remotely from home has affected the way many people feel about their jobs and their future working life.…
