Scrolling through social media and coming across a photo of a colleague out socialising is fairly common in this digital age. But when that colleague or employee is signed off as unfit for work it can throw up some difficult questions and challenging situations. In this blog we look at how employers can monitor and respond effectively on such a delicate topic. Appearances of signed off workers may be deceiving Often such issues arise because of what other employees have seen the absent colleague doing…
Employment tribunals and employment appeal tribunals are places you hope to never end up as an employer, and for most what actually happens there is obscure. The truth is far more mundane – “99% boredom, 1% fear” as one lawyer puts it – but it’s important to understand what they are, what they do, and how to approach one should you ever find yourself having to defend a claim in one. So what are tribunals? Employment tribunals are tribunal public bodies in England & Wales and Scotland which…
Historically much of our health & safety laws have been designed to force the issue of healthy working conditions into the workplace, whereas now a high percentage of employers recognise that employees who are healthy and content are much more engaged and productive. In fact, when you think about it, we have come a long way: from the days when many employees contracted life-shortening conditions in work to a society of wellbeing-conscious employers. Take, for example, railway workers. More ‘navvies’ died during the building of…
Despite being launched more than two years ago Shared Parental Leave (SPL) has not been as popular as expected. In this article we look at what SPL offers, why uptake has been far below expected levels, and the proposed changes due to come into force in 2018. What is Shared Parental Leave? SPL was first introduced in April 2015 and provides eligible parents with the opportunity to share the care of their child for up to fifty weeks following birth or adoption. Mothers must take…
Arriving at work on time is perhaps an obvious requirement but a recent study by the Resurgo Trust showed lateness is the top reason young people fail to get jobs. However, there may be other factors outside our control which hamper efforts to get to work: rail strikes, bus and train delays and traffic congestion are only expected to get worse over the next ten years. Whilst the traditional employer approach may have been authoritarian and focused on disciplining employees for lateness, the modern approach…
At the 2005 general election New Labour promised to introduce a new Equality Act to simplify the existing body of legislation governing equality in the workplace and 'promote equality at work'. Following the Equalities Review in 2007 led by Trevor Philips (the head of the Commission for Racial Equality at the time), the Act was enacted in 2010 and replaced: Equal Pay Act 1970 Sex Discrimination Act 1975 Race Relations Act 1976 Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 Employment Equality…
In a country where women hold the two top positions within the offices of state – the Queen and the Prime Minister – is the workplace still a man’s world? New research completed by the Women at Work Index shows that the UK is missing out on approximately £170 billion of economic benefits by not having enough women in employment. Additionally, the World Economic Forum stated: “It will be 118 years before women have the same career prospects as men. No country in the world…
The press has recently reported details of a Rotherham-based firm facing a claim for £425,000 from 56 employees for bypassing the rules when they made changes to the terms & conditions of employment. This story comes as a timely reminder to employers that regardless of whether or not union agreements are in place, or indeed whether any contractual changes are agreed, if the proposed changes affect 20 or more employees the employer is in line for claims running into tens or hundreds of thousands of…
Restrictive covenants are complex clauses, often criticised but never curtailed, and the source of many court cases. So let's explore the history of these clauses and how employers can utilise them effectively. It has long been the principle of English law that: “All interference with individual liberty of action in trading, and all restraints of trade of themselves, if there is nothing more, are contrary to public policy, and therefore void.” Nordenfelt v Maxim Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition Co Ltd [1894] The origin of that…
With forecasters predicting up to four months of stormy weather ahead, Britain could be facing the worst winter in 100 years. Managing your team during a period of disruption can be a challenge, so here's a quick checklist to make sure you've given yourself the best chance of success. With experts EXACTA WEATHER warning Brits to expect a very “exciting” December – even hinting at a potential White Christmas – businesses should be aware of the knock-on effect to operations within their own organisation. So,…
