The term ‘flexible working’ is becoming a popular one. But what actually is it? Who is doing it? How are requests made? And must you agree to a flexible working request? What is flexible working? Flexible working is a way of working that suits an employee’s needs. It might involve an earlier or later start and finish time to better suit the employee’s commitments outside of work. Or it might be working reduced hours and days, or working from home. Who is working flexibly? In…
Following our comprehensive walk through on harassment, we’re now looking specifically at workplace bullying. Read on to understand your responsibilities as an employer and find out how to proactively avoid and discourage workplace bullying. What is bullying? Although it’s not actually defined by law, ACAS characterises bullying as ‘offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means that undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient’. Which laws govern workplace bullying? Workplace bullying is a complex area because there isn’t one…
Suspending an employee can seem the next logical step when an allegation of harassment has taken place, but employers should be careful and consider the 'law of unintended consequences'. The recent incident between actress Roxanne Pallett and actor Ryan Thomas within the Celebrity Big Brother house highlights how a seemingly innocent act can escalate into a bullying and harassment claim. Roxanne Pallett accused Ryan of deliberately ‘punching’ her in the ribs while he was play fighting with her, and branded him a “woman beater” &dnash;…
Organisations should treat any form of harassment seriously – not just because of the legal implications and because it can lead to under-performance, but because people have the right to be treated with dignity and respect at work too. Employers should foster a fair and inclusive working environment that enables everyone to feel they can contribute at work. The conflict which harassment creates should not be underestimated. Employees can be subject to high levels of stress which can reduce engagement and may lead to higher…
Chairing disciplinary hearings or listening to formal grievances are activities that take lots of managers out of their comfort zone – even many HR managers dislike this aspect of the role. Follow these ten tips to take away the pressure and ensure the best outcome for your business and workplace relationships. 1. Prepare for the meeting thoroughly Prepare thoroughly by reading everything and making notes about what you are going to say. Be that ‘detail’ person even if that’s not your usual style. Try not…
In March the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) published its paper on reforming workplace policies to support fathers balance their parental responsibilities and work – the take up (or lack of it) of shared paternity leave being the particular concern. As employer will be aware, the original two-week statutory paid paternity leave was introduced in 2003 followed by the legislatively cumbersome shared parental leave policy in 2015, which allows fathers to use the paid leave that would have otherwise been taken by the mother. Although…
Back in 2016 a House of Commons briefing noted that 99% of UK private businesses – and thus one third of our workforce – are employed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the paper suggested that limited access to resources make some less likely to implement workplace initiatives promoting a health-based culture for employees. When you consider that full-time employees spend one third of their waking hours in work the importance of evaluating how their health is managed becomes clear, yet the NHS does not yet collect data on employment and health outcomes, despite…
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is expected to impose a massive £500,000 fine on Facebook for failing to secure people's information – and failing to be clear on how people’s data are used by others. This huge fine, one of the biggest ever handed out, is in keeping with a series of recent fines imposed by the data watchdog. You may be aware that Facebook and Cambridge Analytica have been the subject of headline reports and under the radar of the Information Commission’s Office (ICO)…
Our busy, complex lives are increasingly becoming a series of risk management exercises. Think about it: when we leave home in the morning nearly all of us will make sure we lock up. We then unlock our cars and drive away, carefully avoiding any situations that might result in a collision. Many people give up smoking and moderate their diets in the belief that the sacrifice involved will deliver longer term benefits to their health and longevity. Whatever our own personal precautions and priorities, we…
Whether you’re a football fanatic with the three lions flag or, like me, you think the best thing about the world cup is that most fans have left the country for a few weeks, as an employer the world cup is often a time of added worry and strife. To be on top form through the tournament, consider this hat-trick of examples where taking the wrong option could lead to an employment law own goal. 1. Requests for time off Adam has worked for you…
