NEWS & RESOURCES

Virtual Employment Law Seminar | March 2020

Due to recent events in relation to coronavirus, we presented our Employment Law Seminar virtually in March this year. Throughout the webinar we aimed to make it interactive through audience participation in questions and answers and polls.  We discussed all current and future employment law topics including:

  • Current Issues – Coronavirus, IR35, Jack’s Law, Good Work Plan
  • Upcoming Employment Legislation
  • Interesting Cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Webinar Slides

Parental Bereavement Leave

  • Are we able to give more than two weeks parental bereavement leave?
    Yes, of course, you can even pay full pay if you wish.
  • I have a new starter starting on 1st April 2020, do I need to give them the new style contract?
    No, only starters on or after 6th April 2020. Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, you may of course wish to defer a start date.

Coronavirus

  • I have an employee who is classed as being high risk, should they be self-isolating and what are their entitlements if they do?
    The current advice from the government is that people who are classed as high risk should reduce social contact for a period of up to 3 months. If they choose to self-isolate they would be entitled to statutory sick pay (SSP) from day 1. It may be possible for you to agree for them to work remotely or take paid annual leave.
  • Can I force employees to take paid holiday if we are forced to shut down?
    Whilst you cannot force employees to take their annual leave at this time, you can advise them of the situation the business is in and other potential scenarios.  Unless you give them twice as much notice as the length of leave you wish them to take, i.e. 4 weeks’ notice for two weeks leave.  It is worth checking your employment contract for short time working and lay off clauses which can be utilised in situations like this.
  • What are the arrangements or entitlements for staff on zero-hour contracts?
    In order to minimise the risk of falling foul of the Part Time Workers Regulations (which zero hours will fall under), or of running the risk of a potential discrimination claim, contractual benefits should be the same (pro rata) as for full-time colleagues.Zero Hours employees have a right to National Minimum Wage and paid holiday. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is available to zero hours contract workers as long as:
    – They’ve done some work for you.
    – They follow your rules about reporting sickness
    – They earn on average at least £118 per week (before tax).
    You would need to work out if they have earned £118 or more or less in the eight weeks prior; if they have less than eight week’s service, it would be the average since day one.

Further HR Guidance and Support

For coronavirus articles, webinar recording and frequently asked questions visit our dedicated page, Coronavirus Advice and Guidance for Employers.  You can also visit the  Good Work Plan page for further guidance on key changes to several pieces of UK legislation that are in force from April 2020.

HR Solutions are here to provide you with support and advice on any employment related issues; to find out more call us on 0844 324 5840 or contact us online.

SHARE THIS:

Instagram

GET IN TOUCH

Got questions? Looking for advice?

GET IN TOUCH

Got questions? Looking for advice?

RELATED RESOURCES

Explore our comprehensive library of related resources to gain valuable insights, expert tips, and helpful tools for optimising your HR practices.

Request a Call from an HR Advisor

Our expert HR Advisors are here to assist you. To schedule a complimentary 30-minute call, please complete the form below. One of our advisors will reach out within 24 hours to either conduct the consultation or arrange a suitable time.

SIGN-UP FOR UPDATES

Receive all the latest industry insights, expert tips and exciting updates from HR Solutions, straight to your inbox.

Strategic HR thinking whitepaper

Our latest HR whitepaper offers an in-depth analysis and strategic framework aimed at transforming Human Resources into a pivotal element of business success in the rapidly evolving corporate environment of 2024.

PARTNER REGISTRATION

Register your details below and we will contact you regarding how HR Solutions can support your organisation.

MAKE A GENERAL ENQUIRY

We’re here to assist you with any questions or enquiries you might have. Simply fill out the form below, and our dedicated team will get back to you.

var iframe = document.getElementById('pageurl-general-popup-6'); iframe.src = iframe.src + "?Form_Completion_Page=" + window.location.pathname + "&" + window.location.search.substr(1);

REQUEST A PROPOSAL FROM US

We’re here to assist you with any questions or enquiries you might have. Simply fill out the form below, and our dedicated team will get back to you.

BOOK YOUR PLACE

Please complete the form and one of our team will call you back to discuss your query/booking.

Request your free trial

Register your details below and we will contact you about your 30 day free trial of the HR Knowledge Base.

REGISTRATION FORM

Register your details below and we will contact you about access to the HR Knowledge Base.  As part of your approved industry membership organisation you can get access to the HR Knowledge Base, created by Business HR Solutions, which is the go-to resource for thousands of business owners and managers across the UK.

2023/2024 SME BUSINESS SURVEY

Our latest 2023/24 SME Business Survey sheds light on the intricate dynamics shaping the SME sector and unveils critical insights that can guide businesses toward sustainable success.

IF YOU WISH TO PURCHASE HR ADVICE LINE TIME, PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW.

HR Solutions are here to help. We offer a standard hourly rate package for ad hoc HR advice which means you can pay for what you need, whenever you need it, and then quickly get advice. Our highly experienced advisors are on hand to provide you with practical employment advice to help you manage your workforce.  You can purchase HR Advice Line time now, and the time purchased will be valid for 12 months.