Affairs at Work: Employers’ Guide
While most relationships at work won’t cause problems, it’s best for employers to be prepared and have provisions in place to ensure any affairs at work or workplace relationships don’t have a negative impact on the organisation. It’s also important that employees understand the expectations on them if they are in a personal relationship with […]
KIT Days: Employer Guide to Keeping In Touch Days
Employees on maternity leave have the right to take up to ten optional keeping in touch days without impacting their maternity entitlements. This guide for employers details the rules on keep in touch days, also known as KIT days. What are keeping in touch (KIT) days? Keeping in touch days allow employees on […]
Direct Discrimination at Work (HR Guide)
Direct discrimination refers to when someone is treated less favourably than others because of a protected characteristic, such as age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation. Under the Equality Act 2010, direct discrimination is unlawful in employment, education and the provision of goods and services. Employers therefore have a duty to ensure […]
Unlawful Deduction of Wages
Employees are protected by law from unauthorised payments being taken from their pay. If an employee can show that an employer has unlawfully taken money out of their wages, they may be able to take legal action to recoup the money. However, if you as an employer believe you are owed money from an employee […]
Capability Dismissal: Employer Guidance
A capability dismissal refers to an employer terminating an employment contract on the basis of the employee’s underperformance or ill-health. Employers are permitted to lawfully dismiss employees due to poor performance, but in doing so they must follow a fair process. This means, among other requirements, that the employer has to have a reasonable belief […]
Workforce Planning: Strategies for Employers
Workforce planning is the process of analysing and forecasting an organisation’s current and future staffing needs to ensure the right people are in the right roles at the right time. It allows employers to identify skills gaps, anticipate future workforce demands and align staffing strategies with business objectives. Strategic workforce planning requires collaboration between HR, […]
Reasonable Adjustments: Employers’ Guide
Under the provisions of the Equality Act 2010, employers have to make reasonable adjustments at work to ensure individuals with a qualifying disability are not significantly disadvantaged when compared to other workers. In practice, there are many misconceptions about what reasonable adjustments are and when they must be provided, potentially exposing the employer to legal […]
Employee Assistance Programme: HR Guide
An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a workplace initiative designed to support employees with personal or professional issues that may impact their wellbeing, productivity or performance. Typically funded by the employer, EAPs provide confidential services such as counselling, mental health support, legal advice and financial guidance. The programmes can be delivered via telephone, online resources […]
Mental Health Discrimination at Work: Employer Guide
Mental health discrimination at work refers to when an employee or job applicant is treated unfairly because of a mental health condition. Under the Equality Act 2010, employers have a legal duty to prevent discrimination by reason of a mental health condition that can be classed as a disability, and to make reasonable adjustments to […]
Voluntary Overtime Pay Rules
Voluntary overtime can offer an effective way to resource surges in work or to address staffing issues. However, employers must ensure they are managing overtime correctly, including giving employees their full entitlements to overtime pay. In this guide for employers, we look at the rules relating to voluntary overtime pay, including how voluntary overtime differs […]