Is there a sick note culture in the UK?
On Friday 19 April, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced intentions to tackle, what he believes, to be a sick note culture in the UK. But is this an accurate reflection? The reality of sickness absence It is a topic of debate reflecting attitudes towards the legitimacy of sickness absence, but it shouldn’t be […]
Full changes to Flexible Working Confirmed!
For those of you who have been following this area of development closely, you will know that for a long time, we have only had confirmation that flexible working will become a day one right, despite when the legislation was passed, it would bring in several changes. However, on returning from the Easter break, it […]
Changes to employment rights – holiday, working time records and TUPE
The Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 have brought about key changes to employment rights which were brought into force on 1 January 2024, however they will not effect most practices until later in the year. These changes have been outlined below along with key information: Holiday pay and calculation Further to […]
Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023
A statutory instrument was introduced in December which confirms that the right to request flexible working will become a day one right for employees, with effect from 6 April 2024. Currently employees the requisite length of service is 26 weeks. Consequently, any request submitted on or after this date will be governed by the new […]
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 […]
Mental Health Guidance Update
Acas has published new guidance this month regarding reasonable adjustments to support mental health in the workplace. Under the Equality Act 2010, mental ill health can be considered a disability, which means that in those cases where it does, an employer is legally obliged to make reasonable adjustments. Reasonable adjustments could be to the job role, working […]
Suffering a detriment for the purpose of victimisation
What is the case about? In accordance with the Equality Act 2010, victimisation is defined when one person treats another person to a detriment either because that person has carried out a protected act or the first person believes the second person has carried out, or may carry out, a protected act. A protected act […]
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 […]