What Happens When Sick Pay Runs Out
Employees can find themselves without income if their Statutory Sick Pay or contractual sick pay entitlement has been exhausted while they remain unfit for work. For employers and HR professionals, this point in the absence cycle is often sensitive and high risk. Decisions taken immediately after sick pay ends can affect capability procedures, discrimination risk, […]
Adoption Leave: Employers’ Guide
When an employee is going through the process of adopting a child, or having a child through a surrogacy arrangement, they may be eligible for statutory adoption leave and adoption pay, provided they meet the relevant requirements. Most employers are aware of the rights and responsibilities around maternity, paternity and parental leave and pay. What […]
Jury Service Employer: Employers FAQs
In this guide for employers, we outline your responsibilities if an employee has been called up for jury service. What is jury service? Jury service is a public duty. Anyone aged between 18 – 70 can be chosen at random from the electoral register to serve on a jury. Do you have […]
Emergency Leave from Work: Employer’s Guide
It’s a fact of life that employees may need to take time off work at some point to deal with an emergency. This could be time off work for family reasons or time off for medical reasons, or to attend a medical appointment for themselves or accompanying a dependant. Emergency leave from work is a […]
Bereavement Leave 2026: Entitlement, Duration & What You’re Owed
Bereavement leave is a period of absence from work granted to employees following the death of a loved one, to allow them to grieve and manage practical arrangements. When a staff member loses a loved on, employers are in the position of balancing compassion and support while ensuring minimal disruption to operations. This generally means […]
Miscarriage Time Off Work Explained
Miscarriage is a deeply personal and distressing experience, and employers in the UK have an important role in providing support and understanding to affected employees. For employees who have suffered a miscarriage, time off and the support they receive from their employer can be an important part of their recovery. There is, however, no statutory […]
Leave of Absence UK 2026: What It Is, When It Applies
Managing employee absences is a balancing act. Employers have to accommodate legitimate leave requests while ensuring productivity isn’t compromised. But what exactly counts as a leave of absence, and how should employers handle it? In the UK, there’s no single legal definition of a leave of absence; it can cover anything from parental leave and […]
Maternity Leave: Employers’ Guide
Employers have to meet a number of legal responsibilities when an employee is on maternity leave. Managed well, the period of maternity leave can improve morale, provide reassurance to your employees during their absence and contribute to a positive employer brand as a business that values its staff. Failure to meet your obligations and poor […]
How to Reduce Absenteeism at Work
Absenteeism refers to an employee’s habitual absence from work, often without valid reason or prior approval. It can significantly impact workplace productivity, morale and operational costs. Employee absenteeism costs UK employers billions of pounds each year in lost working days, temporary replacement staff and sick pay. For UK employers, addressing absenteeism is an important aspect […]
Can Employers Refuse Parental Leave?
As an employer you are legally bound to consider any request for parental leave made by an eligible employee, and undoubtedly will want to encourage a healthy work/life balance. Equally, however, you will need to ensure that any such request would not be disruptive to your operations or other personnel. In the UK, eligible employees […]