The European Commission has just published its preliminary ‘adequacy’ decision about data protection. It expects to confirm that UK data protection law is regarded as equivalent to the EU’s own (GDPR). This is really good news and will be a major milestone for any organisation with clients in the EU or EEA area. It’s equally important for organisations who have their HQ or other operations based there. As part of the Brexit withdrawal agreement, interim provisions are currently in place. They are due to expire…
This new phraseology doesn’t mean your work environment is filled with poisonous gases. Instead, 'toxic workplace' refers to company cultures filled with poisonous remarks or actions – in short, bullying. Although the Equality Act 2010 gives the definition for harassment as “unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic, which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual”, there is no official definition for bullying within the Act. So what…
The four-day working week was hot on the agenda back in 2019, but it's taken a backseat in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the rise of homeworking and the increasing desire for flexibility, is it time to dust off the idea? The four-day working week comes with plenty of benefits for employees as well as businesses. Let's remind ourselves of these and also ask the question: can the four-day working week help resolve gender pay issues? Reducing the Gender Pay Gap There are…
2021 will see the introduction of life post-brexit, as well as new off-payroll working (IR35) rules, gender pay gap reporting, increased statutory rates of pay... the list goes on. This blog post lists some of the key events and all-important dates to look out for this year. Post-Brexit Immigration System From 1 January 2021, EEA nationals who are ineligible for the EU Settlement Scheme will need to apply for the right to work in the United Kingdom. The government has a points-based immigration system for…
An important belief discrimination case was decided by the Employment Appeal Tribunal in October 2020. The recent Development in Belief Discrimination was between Mrs K Higgs v Farmor’s School. Mrs Kristie Higgs was employed at Farmor’s School in Fairford, Gloucestershire for seven years before being dismissed in 2018. Her dismissal for gross misconduct came after complaints received regarding her sharing two Facebook posts that openly criticised LGBT+ inclusive education. Mrs Higgs shared the posts to around 100 people in her network. The posts openly criticised…
With 2020 thankfully behind us, many of us will be making our New Year’s Resolutions. So, what resolutions should HR be making? There is no doubt that we’re all crossing our fingers for a return to a normal life, both at work and at home in 2021. However, with lots of companies realising that many, or in some cases all, of their employees can work efficiently from home, what does that mean for HR? With this in mind, here are a few New Year's Resolutions…
Your newly recruited employees may be facing their first day with you, from their home. So, how do you make sure your new, remote employees feel welcome? Typical onsite onboarding would include an introduction to the team, a tour of the office, and a meeting with management. A failure to do these things could result in the new employee feeling isolated or uncertain about their new workplace. This is especially pertinent given that new recruits who are going to be working from home are unlikely…
There are various challenges to overcome when managing annual leave over Christmas - whether your annual leave year runs from January to December, or April to March, or some other 12-month period! Christmas often means an influx of annual leave requests and the headache of coordinating the Christmas rota in 2021, of course, is no exception. With this in mind, here's some helpful guidance to help you prepare for the 2021 festive season. Can an employer insist that an employee takes annual leave at a…
The Domestic Abuse Helpline has reported a concerning increase in the number of calls and online requests for help since the lockdown began in March 2020. It’s predicted that for every three months the lockdown continues, an additional 15 million cases of gender-based violence are expected. With more people than ever working from home due to COVID-19, time apart or an escape route away from an abuser may now be a distant hope for some employees. As an employer, you have a responsibility for the…
After more than six months of life in lockdown, there's clear evidence our new way of working may be extended for at least another six months. This year's shift to working from home is beginning to look much more permanent. As a result, the focus of employers has now shifted from the basics of setting employees up remotely, to supporting this longer term transition from office to home. As we well know, motivation and communication are key to employees feeling part of a team. So,…
