In the modern age we can sometimes think we have left racism in the past, that we now live in a ‘post racial’ society. Tony Blair apologised for the slave trade in 2007. The US elected a black president in 2008. And just this year (2018) the Prime Minister appointed Sajid Javid to the post of Home Secretary – the first Asian and first person from a Muslim background to hold one of the ‘Great Offices of State’. But amid such progressive headlines stories of…
Disability discrimination can be a tricky subject, particularly the issue of what is and is not a disability and whether or not, you, as an employer, actually know about an employee’s disability. This is a case about whether or not the employer had “constructive knowledge” of an employee’s disability. The case started back in 2008 and therefore concerns the now-repealed Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), but has implications under the Equality Act (which replaced and extended on the DDA). The case directly hinges on the duty on…
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” These poignant words are those of Annelies Marie ‘Anne’ Frank (1929–1945). She changed the world, but sadly did not live to see the impact. Anne talked about improving the world and there’s no doubt that almost every free-thinker, scientist and inventor originally intended only good to come from their work. Sadly, history is littered with examples of new sciences and ideas intended to improve lives that have instead…
“They have been at a great feast of languages, and stol’n the scraps.” William Shakespeare – Love’s Labour’s Lost, Act 5, Scene 1, 32-39 The English language is the most spoken in the world, utilised by the United Nations as one of their two main languages, and more widespread than any language in history, including Latin under the Roman Empire. April 23rd, widely considered both the birthday and date of death of William Shakespeare, marks international English Language day, recognising the rich cultural history and…
We are heading towards wedding season again, with the Royal nuptials between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle set to herald the start of the season proper on 19 May. The UK has seen a rise of 1-in-3 couples choosing a mid-week wedding during the past seven years, with the most popular day being Thursday. Couples are shunning the traditional Saturday as they seek to save money, secure availability for key roles (such as photographers and catering), and take advantage of cut-price deals. With this trend…
Following a significant ruling arising from a dispute in Belgium, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) conclude being on call at home does count as working time. So here’s a quick briefing on the law, the case, the ruling, and what employers here in the UK should do next. What is on call working? The definition simply defined in the working time regulations is: “Any period during which the worker is working at his employer’s disposal and carrying out their activity or duties.”…
With the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) coming into force on 25 May 2018, many employers may be worried that they do not fully understand all the new rules surrounding the Personally Identifiable Information (PII) about an individual they hold and process. The new legislation will have a huge impact on employers, particularly on their Payroll (and HR) departments. If the new rules aren’t followed, businesses could face eye-watering fines. To make it easier, we’ve highlighted some of the potential risk areas your business…
Poor attitude, poor behaviour, poor standards of work and high levels of absence are the most common issues our clients have with their employees. One underperforming employee could be costing the company as much as 20% of their annual salary, and having just one underperforming employee can lower moral within the rest of the workforce, affect your relationships with customers and damage the company reputation. So here are five simple steps to help you manage under performing employees and reduce the impact they can have…
With the number of sexual harassment cases currently in the news, you may be under the impression that such claims and allegations only occur in Hollywood, the media or Parliament, but think again. These cases may well be prominent, and have highlighted issues that may or may not be prevalent in the workplace, but is your business or organisation protected? And do you have the right support/policies in place? A UK-wide problem Recent media exposure of film directors such as Harvey Weinstein, actors such as…
Following the ruling removing tribunal fees for claimants, we’re taking an in-depth look at four key questions the ruling raises. In this fourth-and-final blog from Employer Services Manager Andy Weir, we look at the potential consequences for employment law adjudication post-Brexit: 4. With Britain’s most senior Judge Lord Neuberger requesting more clarity from the Government about how UK law will be developed after Brexit, will previous ECJ rulings be interpreted for these claims? The Great Repeal Bill is likely to be “one of the largest…
