Student Dependent Visa Guidance
Recent changes to the UK’s student dependent visa have limited the opportunity for family members to accompany most student visa holders to the UK as dependants. In this guide, we explain the revised rules and eligibility requirements for dependant family members of international students, and detail the application process for those who may qualify as […]
Sexual Orientation Discrimination: A Guide
Sexual orientation is one of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. The Act protects lesbian, gay and bisexual people from direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation at work. These rules also apply to anyone who is perceived to be lesbian, gay or bisexual or experiences discrimination because they associate with gay people. These […]
Time Off for Dependants: UK Employer Guide
Employers have to give their employees a reasonable amount of unpaid time off work to deal with emergencies, such as caring for a relative who is ill. Mishandling requests to take off work for dependants can result in morale issues, and potentially tribunal claims, making it important to deal with these issues fairly, lawfully and […]
Received a Civil Penalty under the Immigration Act?
If your business has received a Civil Penalty under the Immigration Act, it is important to seek legal advice early on the options open to you. Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible to negotiate a reduction in the amount you owe, or you may have grounds to mount a successful appeal to cancel […]
Understanding Holiday Entitlement for Employers
Holiday entitlement refers to the legal right of employees to take paid time off work for rest and recreation. In the UK, the Working Time Regulations 1998 govern holiday entitlement, setting the minimum standards for workers’ paid leave. Under the regulations, most workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday a year as a statutory […]
Using CCTV as Evidence at a Disciplinary UK
Some employers may be surprised to discover that video footage captured by CCTV can constitute personal data under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This means that there are certain rules that must be followed when processing this data, especially in the context of using this footage as evidence of an employee’s misconduct. The following […]
Verbal Warning at Work Procedure
Verbal warnings are one of the potential outcomes of a workplace disciplinary procedure. For employers, it is important to understand how they should be used to avoid falling short of your obligations through a disciplinary procedure. In this guide for employers, managers and supervisors, we explain the process that should be followed when issuing a […]
Shared Parental Leave: Complete Employer Guide
With Shared Parental Leave (SPL), parents can opt to share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of pay between them in the 12 months after their child is born or, if adopted, placed with the family. In this guide, we summarise the rules on SPL and how employers can approach […]
Disciplinary Policy: What to Include
Following fair and lawful disciplinary procedures is vital to ensure disciplinary issues are dealt with properly. If you get this wrong, you may face tribunal claims. Fundamental to any fair and compliant disciplinary procedure is the disciplinary policy. This should act as the formal reference point to ensure employees are aware of the conduct standards they […]
Types of Employment Contracts
An employment contract is an agreement outlining the conditions of an individual’s working relationship and arrangements, including rights, responsibilities, working hours, salary, any benefits, and holiday entitlement. It should preferably be in a written format and signed by both the employer and employee to act as a binding agreement and setting out the legal obligations […]