Managing the impact of Brexit
This is a recording of our webinar on “Managing the impact of Brexit” recording in October 2016. It’s hard to believe but it’s now three months since the momentous Brexit vote. Brexit still appears in the news headlines on a daily basis, and whilst most of us would welcome a clear way forward, it would seem […]
Modern Slavery Statements
In this webinar we discussed how Modern Slavery Statements affect you, and what you need to do to comply. The businesses that are affected are organisations, or those in any group structure, that are a corporate body or a partnership; carry on a business, or part of a business, in the UK (even if incorporated […]
Managing those with Caring Responsibilities
It is estimated that three million UK workers – one in nine employees – are providing some form of care to an older, disabled or seriously ill person, and this number is expected to rise. Caring impacts heavily on employees, but if not managed properly can also seriously affect employers through increased and often unpredictable […]
Pension Auto Enrolment Webinar
In this webinar we revisit the latest status with Pension Auto Enrolment, including reminding you of your responsibilities, the compliance issues and penalties. We will also discuss the eligibility criteria for auto enrolment and what steps need to be taken by you as an employer. To find out more about On-Site HR Support or any […]
Employment and the 2017 General Election
The country is gearing up for voting in the general election on 8 June. But what do the main political parties promise to do for employment if elected? As not many of us actually read each party’s campaign manifestos, we’ve outlined the policies most likely to impact future employment in the UK. Brexit and immigration […]
Recruiter email accusing jobseeker of lying on CV sent to him by mistake
A shocked jobseeker inadvertently received an email revealing that a recruitment company believed he’d lied on his CV. Pedro Da Silva had applied for a job as supply chain manager in Birmingham. But he received an email saying he was ‘bull s***ing’ on his CV. CV details didn’t match candidate’s LinkedIn The recruiter at Russell […]
Employee sacked after posting comments about employer on Facebook
An employment tribunal has upheld an employer’s decision to sack a long-serving employee over comments she made on Facebook, which were in breach of her employer’s social media policy. The employee, Mrs Plant, had worked for API Microelectronics Limited as a machinery operator for 17 years. She’d had no disciplinary issues during that time. During […]
McDonald’s UK zero-hours workers could switch to fixed contracts
McDonald’s 15,000 UK zero-hour workers could change to fixed contracts with a minimum number of set hours each week. This followed staff complaints that not having guaranteed weekly employment meant they struggled to get approved for mortgages or loans. Trialing new contracts The fast food chain has been testing out the swap to fixed-hours contracts […]
Flybe fined £70,000 for breaking PECR rules
Flybe must pay £70,000 in fines for breaching the Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulations. The UK airline sent marketing emails to over 3.3 million people, despite choosing to opt out of receiving such correspondence. The company sent the emails last year, to update its records prior to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), on 25 May 2018. However, while […]
Could a barista visa save UK hospitality after Brexit?
As UK hospitality starts to panic over how it will find workers after Brexit, could a ‘barista visa’ become the solution? Over 508,000 EU nationals work in retail, wholesale, hotels and restaurants in the UK. Migrant workers make up 14% of the hospitality industry’s workforce. But once Britain leave the EU, many migrant workers may […]
Union’s new hit squad challenges umbrella companies
The union Unite has launched a tribunal appeal targeting umbrella companies, the first under its new Strategic Case Unit. The case involves Unite member Russ Blakely, who worked as a pipefitter on an NHS funded project last year. The main contractor for the project was Kier Fascel was the mechanical contractor. Background to the case […]
Think tank recommends changes to sick pay
A new think tank report suggests statutory sick pay should increase from 28 weeks to 52 weeks. In a bid to cut the sickness benefit bill from £23 billion, the report also recommends employees be allowed to take ‘wellbeing days’ off work, at very short notice. Tackling the sickness bill The report, by the Institute […]
Uber granted right to appeal last year’s ruling
Cab firm Uber has been given permission to appeal a ruling made in 2016, that its drivers have worker status. The Employment Appeal Tribunal will determine whether the Uber drivers are ‘workers’, and therefore entitled to receive the National Minimum Wage and holiday pay. Background to the Uber case Two drivers originally brought the case […]
Employers increase salaries and benefits to attract staff
At least four in 10 employers have raised some salaries in the hope of attracting suitable candidates, according to a survey by the Recruitment & Employment Confederation. The survey of 600 bosses revealed that 80% had re-advertised a role after failing to recruit anyone. Furthermore, 24% said they’d had to lower job requirements in order […]
Employment tribunal awards compensation to ex-BHS employees
Former BHS staff have won significant compensation for their employer’s failure to consult with them. The London tribunal concluded that the company had failed to consult on the employees’ dismissal, and awarded 110 BHS head office staff up to 90 days’ wages each. The company should have followed the correct redundancy process. Despite BHS going […]
Dealing with politics in the workplace
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement of a general election on 8 June, how should employers tackle political campaigning at work? It’s inevitable that discussions between employees will at some point turn to the general election. Some will have very strong views, which could lead to tension. When politics and the workplace mix, it can cause […]
Grammar error costs dairy company millions
A simple missing comma recently earned some U.S. truck drivers a substantial payout from their employer. Oakhurst Dairy lost a multi-million-dollar court case over the ‘Oxford comma’, used between the last two items in a list. The drivers were suing their employer for four years’ worth of unpaid overtime that they argued the company owed […]
Challenges of remote working highlighted in BBC interview
The challenges of remote working were perfectly highlighted during a recent BBC discussion on South Korea, when the interviewee’s two young children unexpectedly interrupted the interview. Robert Kelly, an associate professor at Pusan National University in Busan, had been answering serious questions via Skype on the ejection of the country’s president. However, suddenly a toddler came […]
Prime minister delays tax rise for self-employed
Prime minister Theresa May has agreed to delay controversial legislation that would have increased national insurance contributions for self-employed people. Her announcement comes after a number of senior MPs publicly criticised the government over the proposals. But delaying the vote until the autumn has sparked suggestions that the government are simply trying to soften the […]
Employment tribunal decisions now available online
Members of the public can now view employment tribunal decisions in England, Scotland and Wales on the Government’s website. Before this new service was launched, people could only view employment tribunal decisions if they personally attended the offices in Bury St Edmunds for Welsh and English decisions, or Glasgow for Scottish decisions. Decisions available to […]
