Morbid obesity could be considered a disability under EU law, according to the European Court of Justice. The Advocate General (AG), of the ECJ, has stated that, while EU law does not generally prohibit discrimination on the ground of obesity, morbid obesity may come within the meaning of ‘disability’ under EU law. The AG’s opinion in the case of Karsten Kaltoft v Billund is not binding. However, the ECJ is due to rule on the case and if the full court agrees the UK could…
Resent research indicates a relationship between shift work and several medical conditions... Type 2 diabetes Ovarian cancer Cardiovascular diseases Obesity Shift work can also contribute to strain of marital, family, and personal relationships. These may not be the only medical conditions attributed to shift work as research is still continuing. What is shift work? The Working Time Regulations 1998 as amended lay down the legal requirements on how working time is organised Shift work is an employment practice designed to make use of, or provide…
More than four million workers are part of an Auto Enrolment workplace pension scheme, according to recent figures from The Pensions Regulator (TPR). More than 21,000 employers have now told TPR how they have met their duties in their compliance declaration. The figures also showed that 8.6 million employees were now members of qualifying pension schemes. Over 4.44 million workers were not members of qualifying schemes, but many of these will have workplace pensions with previous employers. The Pensions Regulator’s Executive Director of Auto Enrolment, Charles…
Keeping good Health & Safety records is the only way to stay on the right side of the law. But which ones should you keep and how long should you keep them? Certain types of record should be kept to comply with the Health and Safety Policy of the company advice on matters of health and safety. In addition, specific records must be kept as a legal requirement which is embedded in specific pieces of legislation. Keeping good health and safety records is important for…
Flexible working hours have been opened up to more workers than ever - and being unprepared could hurt your business. Many employers are not aware of this, or even considering how this will impact on their business. But it could fundamentally change the way some organisations are run. Previously, an employee needed 26 weeks of continuous service and the responsibility of caring for children under 17 years of age, or disabled children under 18 years of age. All other employees were excluded from the statutory…
A lack of understanding about legal obligations could see as many as 5,000 small employers face fines, according to research. A survey from Creative Auto Enrolment of over 500 SME employers revealed that 24% believe they have "hardly heard anything" from the Government about Auto Enrolment - and a quarter believed they have had "minimal communication". SMEs can be fined between £1,000 and £5,000 for not complying with the law. But over a third said the problem was lack of understanding about the new law. David…
Having employee problems during the World Cup? It’s unsurprising. As with any sporting event, there are a few employment issues that organisations should be aware of during the World Cup. Here’s a how to deal with some likely employment issues without everything kicking off… Sick days Make your sickness absence policy clear to your employees. Sending out a mass communication saying that it/’s not acceptable to miss due to hangover and they will get a formal disciplinary. Holidays During events like the World Cup, you…
The regulations around Maternity and Paternity leave can be complex leaving employers unclear on what their obligations are. We have put together some of our most frequently asked questions to simplify it for you. How much leave are pregnant employees entitled to? Every pregnant employee has the right to take up to 52 weeks leave regardless of length of service. This is made up of 26 weeks' ordinary maternity leave and 26 weeks' additional maternity leave. What are they entitled to during maternity leave? An…
The way in which allergens are labelled on pre-packed foods is changing because of new regulations. The Food Information for Consumers Regulation (EU FIC), which is due to come into force in December 2014, introduces the requirements for food businesses to provide information about the allergenic ingredients used in any food that they sell or provide. There are 14 major allergens that must be declared whenever they are used at any level in pre-packed food, including alcoholic beverages. The 14 allergens include: 1. Eggs 2.…
The World Cup is fast approaching and, as we all know in HR, absenteeism will probably increase - with fans staying up late to watch the live games. There’s will also be lot of hangovers at work after celebrations or commiserations. New research from YouGov for Wolters Kluwer has revealed that one in four 25-34 year old men said they may take an unauthorised absence from work for next month’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil. 13% of UK workers are tempted to pull sickies for…
