77% of SMEs predict turnover increase in 2022
Have you downloaded your free SME Business Survey report yet? More than three quarters of SMEs predicted their turnover is set to increase over the next 12 months, according to our SME Business Survey. The second annual SME Business Survey, which we launched last year during the pandemic, showed that despite a second year of […]
Register for our Employment Law Seminar 2022
We will be hosting a virtual Employment Law Seminar on 23rd March. Back by popular demand, our Employment Law Seminar will cover recent and forthcoming changes to UK employment law during the session, which will explore the recent changes to the immigration rules and discuss the topic of COVID – 19. We will also provide […]
The importance of welfare meetings: advice and guidance for line managers
Welfare meetings are generally held with employees who have a health condition, illness or injury which is either having a significant or long-term impact on their performance or attendance. They most commonly occur when an employee has been on sickness absence for a prolonged period although they may also be valuable for employees who are […]
The importance of welfare meetings: Advice and guidance for line managers
Welfare meetings are held with employees who have a health condition, illness or injury which is having a significant impact on their performance or attendance. They most commonly occur when an employee has been on sickness absence for a prolonged period. They may also be valuable for employees who are in work but are managing […]
Building contractor fined for failing to comply with health and safety regulations
A sole trader has been fined by the HSE for failing to plan, manage and monitor construction work being carried out under their control. Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard how Rytis Tamasaukas was carrying out extensive refurbishment works to extend a detached property in Chigwell, Essex. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out six site […]
Will companies be able to ask staff to self-isolate if they have COVID-19
On the 21 February 2022, two years on from the start of the pandemic, the government announced its plan for England, for how we are to live with COVID-19 going forward (the devolved governments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own COVID-19 plans). It now means that the responsibility for how to live […]
10 ways employers can support those affected by the war in Ukraine
The war in the Ukraine is deeply worrying and upsetting for everyone worldwide and many people will be feeling great anxiety about the unfolding situation and what may happen next. For employers, there they will also want to do all they can to support their employees’ safety, but how? Firstly, there may be employers who […]
Absences due to ill-health (long term)
There is no legal definition of ‘long-term’ absence so it is up to the employer to decide at what point such absences need to be formally reviewed. Often a trigger procedure that alerts you once an employee has been absent for an unbroken period is put in place, typically set at four, six or 13 […]
Health and Safety at Work: Why do we bother with Health and Safety?
In this webinar, Dom Greenwood, our Senior Health, Safety and Environmental Manager looks at how businesses can create a safer workplace, reduce accidents, and breaks down the misconceptions of why we need Health & Safety. Dom will explore the main parts of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and why they are important. […]
The Health and Social Care Act Coronavirus Amendment will be revoked
In February we brought you the news that Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, believed it was no longer proportionate to require vaccination as a condition of deployment, when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccination. Since then the legislation has been further amended after the decision was taken to allow […]
Health and Safety at Work: An introduction to mental health first aid
We all have mental health, just as we all have physical health. Mental ill health though can strike at any time and can affect people from all walks of life and after the year we have all had, the cases in mental health in the workplace have risen. In this webinar, Dom Greenwood, our Senior […]
Why employee retention is key to success and what you can do to improve it
Many employers have faced substantial challenges with recruiting staff. Unemployment levels of UK citizens is generally at its lowest, meaning there are fewer candidates in the job market than ever before. The impact of Brexit, the subsequent change in immigration rules and the pandemic has also meant that attracting overseas talent is even more of […]
COVID – 19 – managing the workplace safely
The government’s COVID-19 announcement yesterday (21 February 2022) confirmed the end of all COVID-19 restrictions which will gradually take effect between now and 1 April. It will mean that moving forward the responsibility for how to live with the virus will be placed on individuals rather than the government and their interventions that we have […]
Pimlico Plumbers Ruling: Do you need to review your annual leave policy?
Claiming backdated holiday pay outside the usual tribunal time rules You may well remember a case going back and forth through the various courts relating to Pimlico Plumbers. It is a long-standing and complicated case that has dealt with employment status and rules around claiming backdated holiday pay. The claimant (Gary Smith) was unsuccessful in […]
Why employee retention is key to business success and what you can do to improve it
We have been hearing that many employers, have faced substantial challenges with recruiting staff. Unemployment levels of UK citizens is generally at its lowest, meaning there are fewer candidates in the job market than ever before. The impact of Brexit, the subsequent change in immigration rules and the pandemic has meant that attracting overseas talent […]
Care worker added to the list of shortage occupations
UK Points based immigration system – update to the shortage occupation list As you know, Brexit saw the end of the free movement of people, which meant that the way in which UK employers recruited from outside the UK significantly changed. It meant UK employers needed to use a new points-based immigration system to recruit […]
Consultation to revoke COVID-19 vaccination legislation
Do you operate in the health and social care sector? Back on 31 January, Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced his belief that “it is no longer proportionate to require vaccination as a condition of deployment’” when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccination. As a result, the department for […]
Are you budgeting for the upcoming changes?
Statutory rate increases In early January, the Department for Work and Pensions proposed what the new rates of pay will be for the annual increase in April. These are expected to be as follows: The rates of Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay, Statutory Shared Parental Pay and Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay […]
10 Trends Which Will Shape Your HR Strategy
Each year, we look at the key trends that will shape HR strategies for employers, due to policy changes, social, economic, and political factors. It is likely that developments in HR policy will continue throughout 2022 and as we continue to adapt the way in which we work because of the pandemic, we must also […]
Seven things to do if COVID-19 restrictions in England end early
The latest COVID-19 development on 9 February raises the question of whether all COVID-19 restrictions will end early for England, including the requirement to self-isolate when positive. At present, we are working to measures being relaxed when the Regulations expire on 24 March, however, it was announced yesterday that the requirement to self-isolate may end […]