Please note, legislation has been updated in regards to holiday calculations since this article was written, effective for holiday years starting on or after 1 April 2024, so some of this information may be out of date. If you’re a Moorepay client, please contact us if you need guidance. Otherwise, please see this article on the changes for more information. The Court of Appeal has said that the way employers are calculating holiday entitlement is potentially wrong. In a long and detailed judgement, the Court of…
2020 is a leap year which means there are 366 days in the year rather than the standard 365 days. The additional day falls on 29th February. There are lots of traditions and myths surrounding 29 February. For example, the US always have presidential elections in leap years. In addition, there's the myth that it's only acceptable for women to propose to men on 29 February. As well as matters of the heart, there’s another burning question surrounding this day. Are your employees entitled to…
While most of us agree that snow is picturesque, adverse weather conditions can have a catastrophic effect on businesses that do not have contingency plans in place. Consequently, at this time of year it's important to ensure you've completed a risk assessment for winter weather to protect your employees, customers, and the public-at-large. What does the law have to say around cold weather? The HSE’s Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) L24 for the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations (ACOP 12 paragraph 116) explicitly refers…
It’s December. Emily is engrossed in a WhatsApp group about a Christmas night out with the girls. Mark is frantically ordering Christmas presents for his nieces and nephews. And Ahmed is researching things to do in Prague in preparation for his new year getaway. We all know productivity plummets in December. But is the use of mobile phones at work fuelling this disengagement? When it comes to reviewing the use of personal mobile phones at work there are several factors to consider beyond obvious productivity…
Ahh the work Christmas party! A time for colleagues to celebrate the end of the year and enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed setting. Unfortunately, employers can't just hire a venue, provide a turkey dinner and get a good DJ. There's much more to consider to make sure everyone stays safe and has a good time. Last year, sexual harassment complaints soared as global media stories shone the spotlight on accounts of sexual harassment. Think Harvey Weinstein, and the social media #MeToo movement. What's…
If there's anything you can trust about the British weather, it's that it's unpredictable. Therefore it’s vital for businesses to start preparing early for freezing weather and the subsequent increase in employee absences. Extreme weather conditions tend to cause a dramatic rise in staff absences because road and rail disruption, combined with school closures, make it difficult for employees to make it in to work. Effective absence management and flexible working options can help maintain staff productivity and reduce the cost to businesses. Here are…
What can you possibly do in an office around Christmas that puts life and limb at risk? The answer you’re searching for is hanging up decorations around the office. Many people don’t consider the risks attached to readying the workspace for festive fun. Trips/slips or falls, electrical incidents and manual handling/lifting are the top three causes of accidents at work. Therefore, we've created a short guide to decorating the office safely and spotting the risks that are right in front of your eyes. Hanging decorations…
Christmas may be ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, but for many employers it can be a time-consuming and administrative nightmare. Think seasonal trading spikes, an influx of annual leave requests and the challenge of coordinating the Christmas rota. Holiday entitlement and how effectively requests are managed directly impacts employee satisfaction. Getting the basics right is crucial to creating a positive employee experience. We’ve pulled together a list of the top three most commonly asked questions to help you prepare for the festive season from…
'My employee is off sick - what am I allowed to do as an employer?' Questions about sickness absence are some of the most common calls our Advice Line receives. Did you know that sickness absence costs small business around £300,000 a year? The average employee takes seven days of sick leave per year, at an average cost of £550 per employee. Despite the major impact sickness absence has on their organisation, many employers fear taking any action. Why? Because of the myths surrounding what they can and can’t…
Does your annual leave entitlement renew in January? Have you got employees with weeks' worth of holidays still left to take? Can they carry it into next year? Read on for everything you need to know about the importance of employees taking annual leave and the rules for carrying days over. Why is the management of annual leave so important? From a business perspective the impact of getting holiday planning wrong can be significant. I’m sure you remember when Ryanair were forced to cancel 40-50…
