2023/24 SME Business Survey – Have your say!
What are your predictions for 2024 and how do you see the next year going for your business? Would you like to explore the key trends and challenges that SMEs are likely to encounter over the next 12 months? Our annual SME Business Survey is back, and this time it is set to be better […]
Disability discrimination claim win for employee with menopause symptoms
As October marks Menopause Awareness Month, with Menopause Awareness Day taking place on 18 October 2023, its important to highlight the recent case of Ms Lynskey vs Direct Line. Ms Lynskey won the claim for disability discrimination when her employer failed to adjust its performance management system. Background to the case Ms Lynskey joined Direct […]
Changes to pension automatic enrolment
Parliament has passed legislation that will reduce the qualifying age for employees to be automatically enrolled in a pension scheme. As it stands, employees must be between the ages of 22 years and state pension age, but with the introduction of the new Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023, the age at which eligible […]
Significant Holiday Pay Case Ruling
Yesterday (4 October 2023), The Supreme Court (SC) delivered its judgement in the case of Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and another v Agnew and others. This is a case that challenges the current legal position that an employee must bring a claim for unpaid holiday pay within three months of […]
Ethical veganism is a protected belief
In a pivotal legal development, the Employment Tribunal (ET) has officially recognised ethical veganism as a protected belief under section 10 of the Equality Act 2010. In the case of Casamitjana v The League Against Cruel Sports, the Employment Tribunal (ET) acknowledged the status of ethical veganism as a protected belief under section 10 of the […]
Dealing with unexpected absences
Unexpected absences can often present challenges for employers, and – September has not begun as expected! Not only has there been significant disruption with major technical issues with the UK’s air traffic control systems, but Gatwick airport has been hit by further disruption in recent days due to staff shortages. This hasn’t only impacted holidaymakers returning […]
How to become an age friendly employer
In our latest hot topic, we take a look at how organisations can become age-friendly employers, by supporting young adults into their first employment, helping older workers to stay in work for longer, or supporting employees’ transition to retirement. We will consider how your business can bring in a more diverse age group and the […]
Key Payroll Updates for August 2023
Find out the latest updates which may impact your organisation’s payroll team, including mileage rates, tax incentives, neonatal leave and pay, paternity leave and pay, and student loan interest rates. Mileage rates Trade Unions and the RAC Foundation are calling for the Government to increase mileage rates in light of the cost-of-living crisis and the […]
Uber’s AI may racially discriminate drivers
Uber’s integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) facial recognition for driver verification has sparked controversy, alleging racial discrimination against drivers. This case has not yet been heard in tribunal; however, it is a noteworthy topic as technology continues to rapidly integrate into working practices. Two unions are supporting two separate cases against Uber on this matter. […]
Employment Bills – A-Z for employers
There are several Bills which are likely to impact employers over the coming months. Here we provide an A-Z guide on each of the Bills to help you to easily navigate the changes which may impact your organisation. If you require support with updating your company handbook and policies, our expert team can provide ongoing […]
Employment Law Update: Strikes (Minimum service levels) Act 2023
At the end of last month, parliament passed the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, and it has become the Strikes (Minimum service levels) Act 2023. This new piece of legislation mandates employees working in certain sectors to provide a minimum level of service when there is strike action. The sectors that the legislation will apply […]
A Guide to Using Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology that is rapidly reshaping various industries. AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are capable of learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. As AI becomes increasingly mainstream, this powerful tool presents significant opportunities for employers to improve people management practices and enhance their business […]
Building the skills and capabilities of your workforce
The COVID-19 pandemic, and changes to UK immigration rules, have both significantly contributed to the challenges that many employers are facing with regards to recruiting and skill shortages. At the time of the pandemic, many businesses needed to re-prioritise tasks and focus on how the business could survive the period of uncertainty. Naturally, it meant […]
Lone workers: what are the employers’ responsibilities?
In recent times, the landscape of work has undergone a significant transformation, with remote working becoming the norm for many employees in the UK. As the number of people working from home continues to rise, so does the importance of addressing the unique challenges to employers regarding ‘lone workers.’ The Rise of Remote Working in […]
Key Announcement – The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023
On 19 July 2023, the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill was given Royal Assent, and passed as law. It will be known as the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023. The announcement setting out the legislation has some significant deletions from what was originally contained in the Bill. This includes the removal of the entitlement […]
Payroll Update – July 2023
Ethnicity pay reporting It has been announced this month, that following a Government consultation on ethnicity pay reporting, the Goverment will not be mandating it for organisations. The consultation was introduced initially because it ws felt that greater transparency was needed in this area and felt it needed to be aligned with mandatory gender pay […]
Can it be reasonable to dismiss on written evidence alone?
The case The case of Charalambous v National Bank of Greece looks at whether a Disciplinary Manager must meet with an employee before deciding to dismiss. Mr Charalambous was accused of data breach because he was alleged to have breached the company’s data security policies. The hearing found him guilty and he was dismissed for […]
Consultation closed: Holiday pay and entitlement
Throughout the past year, we have brought you various updates on calculating holiday pay and entitlement for part-year and irregular hours workers. Following the Supreme Court judgement in Harpur Trust v Brazel, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has concluded a consultation. The aim of which was to seek views from employers, professional […]
Operating a 4 day work week
We’ve been exploring the pros and cons of a 4 day working week, and looking closely at how employers are approaching this arrangement. You can read this month’s Hot Topic on the subject, and its accompanying webinar recording. As part of our webinar last month, ‘The pros and cons of adopting a 4 day work […]
Impact Report 2022-2023 for LGBTQ+ Inclusive Societies
Open for Business is a coalition of businesses which aims to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion worldwide. It includes businesses such as Deloitte, LinkedIn, Virgin, Lego and Microsoft, to name just a few. The charity’s mission is to “exist to improve the legal and social situations of LGBTQ+ people around the world by using the influence of […]