Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in his 2023 budget that he will be introducing reforms to help people back to work, including the expansion of free childcare hours. Parents in the UK can face high childcare costs, with net costs representing nearly 30% of the average wage for a couple with two children. There are around 435,000 parents in England with children under 3 who are not in work due to caring responsibilities. This group is made up disproportionately of women. Mr Hunt is quoted stating…
Well, there’s a question and a half! But what does it actually mean? As everyone is aware, although the saying is ‘great minds think alike’ not everyone thinks in the same way. In other words, although people may have very similar traits, no two brains function in exactly the same way. Someone who is ‘neurodiverse’ has a brain which works in a different way from the ‘average’ or ‘neurotypical’ person. This can manifest itself in many ways; a difference in social interaction, different ways of…
It’s no secret that King Charles’ passion for sustainability and social responsibility has led him to establish various charitable organisations. Charities like the Prince’s Foundation and the Prince’s Trust are aimed at creating a better world for people of all backgrounds. The Turquoise Mountain foundation, one of his most prominent efforts, has made significant strides in protecting heritage and communities worldwide while promoting economic development. With the founding of Duchy Originals in the 1990s, King Charles prioritised improving soil fertility, biodiversity, and human health, setting…
There is no doubt that the cost-of-living crisis will have an impact on the HR and employment law issues organisations need to address and manage. Employers and employees are under increased pressure due to the substantial increase in costs. But what if that increase in pressure leads to breaches of procedures or misconduct, do employers have to take the cost-of-living crisis into account? Performance management Employers could be faced with an increase in misconduct or gross misconduct issues. Issues could include an employee fraudulently obtaining…
HMRC have said that they are being more reactive and proactive this year in NMW compliance. With a dedicated Proactive Enforcement team, it's a reminder to all employers to make sure your wages are water-tight. They are sending ‘nudge’ letters, reminder letters, offers of ‘health checks’ and actively visiting business of all types in these regions over this year. What's new? HMRC have told various advisory businesses that they are planning to re-visit a number of previously investigated large businesses (that have had investigations /…
At least 40% of businesses have harnessed artificial intelligence within their organisation. Usage is rapidly increasing. So, when using Chatgpt in HR & payroll, are we at a momentous crossroads or jumping off a cliff? We're using ChatGPT in HR, payroll and every other facet of life currently, but it wasn't always the case. Thirty years ago (assuming you were rich enough), you consulted your 20 volumes of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. This offered 500,000 topics in 40 million words. We took AA roadmaps on holiday…
A recent case highlights the importance of clearly worded employee contracts, and the implications for a business if it can be interpreted in more than one way. A case has reached Tribunal which shows just how complicated holiday calculations are if the employee is not simply salaried with no additional pay / varied hours. In this situation, an employee disputes their basic hours - which could mean their employer has breached National Minimum Wage regulations. About the case In January this year, L Lloyd vs…
Yes it’s that time of year again - the payroll year end is fast approaching! Here’s everything you need to do to prepare for it. Payroll year end ties in with the tax year end, which this year is 5 April 2023. The deadline for getting your ducks in a row (i.e. doing all of your paperwork) is 31 May 2023. Quick checklist Send last FPS to HMRC Report your expenses and benefits Prepare for new tax year and the first payroll run Send P60…
It’s teeny-tiny, hold it in the palm of your hand, kinda have to squint to see it sometimes. When we think discounts, we think bigger is better. Well, not in this case. Check out our app update that’s going to have you saying, “less really is more.” The Sunday roast countdown has begun. You’re blitzing through the aisles of Sainsburys, supermarket sweep style, charging towards the lights of the self-checkout. A sigh of relief, you’ve made it. As you frantically hurl spuds at the scanner…
Employment relationships are all about mutual trust, confidence and loyalty. Sometimes though, you may want to back instinct with evidence. Monitoring staff is nothing new. However, with increasing home/hybrid working, business use of social media, and readily available monitoring devices and systems, more organisations than ever are considering it. Here’s some aspects we frequently encounter. CCTV CCTV can reassure staff about security and safety. But using it to monitor work can cause problems. You can, but staff normally need to be aware of its use…
