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…
In April 2018, the regulation on the provision of personal protective equipment became more complex for employers. Do you fully understand your obligations when providing employees with PPE? If you’re unsure, we’ve created an employer’s guide to PPE to help you. In the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, regulation 4 states an employer’s obligations. ‘Every employer shall ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided to his employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work…
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…
When the imminent changes to off-payroll working were first introduced, I have to admit, there was a lot of terminology to take in. One article would refer to the changes as IR35. Whereas other articles would described it as off-payroll working. This led to some debate amongst Moorepay colleagues. We were of course keen to understand, what exactly is the difference between IR35 and off-payroll working? What is IR35? IR35 is the abbreviated term for the intermediaries legislation. It came into force in April 2000.…
The off-payroll working (IR35) rules in the private sector are changing on 6 April 2021. HMRC recognises that businesses are facing challenges due to COVID-19 and are therefore providing lots of information and support to ensure businesses have plenty of time to prepare for the changes coming into effect. Have you started planning for this change in legislation? If you haven’t, we urge you to start now. Not sure where to begin? Fear not. This blog will give you an overview of what’s changing and…
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…
As the UK enters the seventh month of lockdown, the quality of people’s mental health is deteriorating at a concerning rate. More than two thirds (69%) of adults are reportedly feeling worried about the effect the virus is having on their life. According to a survey by the Samaritans, just over 1 in 10 callers reported experiencing suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harm during the first week of lockdown. It is perhaps not surprising that such a dramatic change to the way we live has…
