We live in an age where image is everything. With the advent of social and professional networking sites, it has become more important than ever for candidates to present their best side to potential employers. So how can candidates survive being discriminated against just by the way they look online and how can employers make sure they are getting the right candidates? According to recent LinkedIn research 98% of professionals do not want to see photographs on CVs or Resumes in the UK and USA.…
Recently, the BBC reported the shocking news that a woman fell into an open lift shaft at a Birmingham Coffee Shop. It will be some time before the events leading up to the accident in Birmingham are known, but reports indicate that the doors, on an upper level, were able to opened without the lift car being in position. While there should be numerous safety features built into modern lifts that should prevent this type of accident, this shows how important it is for businesses…
It’s the biggest change to Health & Safety legislation since the 70s… Now, serious breaches in Health & Safety legislation can lead to bigger fines and heavier prison sentences. With magistrates having much more power to issue heavier fines or even jail sentences, employers are now likely to face much harsher penalties for these breaches. It is vital that employers are aware of the sentencing which follows any prosecution… What has changed? Magistrates have been given the power to use jail sentences in addition to…
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. If you’re a Moorepay client, please contact us if you need guidance. Otherwise, please see this article on the changes for more information. If your employees earn commission for achieving their targets at work, you need to know if you have to factor this into their payroll. Here are the details. Do employers have to pay commission as part…
Here are a few highlights from the budget which might affect your business: The tax-free Personal Allowance is to rise from £10,600 in 2016 to £11,000, and will increase further to £11,500 in April 2017 The threshold that individuals start paying 40p tax will rise from £42,385 to £43,300 in 2016 and up to £45,000 in April 2017 Class 2 National Insurance contributions for the self-employed to be scrapped Petrol duty will be frozen, saving motorists £75 a year and will have been forzen now…
Fire safety experts have called for immediate action from employers in charge of properties to prevent more loss of life. The fire safety guidance for residential care premises has now been updated by the National Association for Safety and Health in Care Services (NASHiCS) and the Chief Fire Officers Association. Many of the points in the new guide are applicable to all employers in charge of properties. The news comes after a series of fires in residential homes caused serious accidents in the UK. The…
After Harrison Ford broke his leg on set, the latest stage for a Star Wars follow up will be a high court room, with a Disney subsidiary facing charges for four safety breaches. What can businesses learn from this spaceship slip up? “May the 4th be with you” … or in this case, 8 days after the 4th when a high profile 'Star Wars’ Health & Safety court case will take place. Towards the end of 2015, movie fans from all over the UK were…
Starbucks recently became the subject of media attention when a female employee suffering with dyslexia has won a claim for disability discrimination. The claim rose arose from her employer’s failure to make reasonable adjustments for her dyslexia. But what can employers learn from this? Having been being wrongly accused of falsifying documents, the employee brought proceedings in the Employment Tribunal. She successfully argued that, although she had made mistakes, the employer discriminated against her by failing to take into account that these errors arose from her…
With The National Living Wage due to come into force in April 2016 many employers are worrying about how they will cope with the increased wage bill. With an estimated 2.7 million people expected to directly gain as a result, one thing to be mindful of is the fact that many people will feel more motivated to work as a result of the increase in their pay. A more motivated and happy workforce is proven to lead to increased productivity and a decrease in sickness…
Sickness absence costs small businesses around £300, 000 a year. The average employee takes 7 days off work sick per year at an average cost of £550 per employee per day. Whilst absence cannot be eliminated, after all we all get sick once in a while, managing absence in a fair and consistent way can reduce costs and add value to the business. Here are 5 simple steps to help you improve absence within your organisation. 1. Ask the right questions when they call in…
