Apprenticeship Levy Explained: Benefits & Challenges
The apprenticeship landscape has changed significantly over recent years, providing greater opportunities for individuals to combine work with study to gain skills and knowledge in a controlled environment, and for businesses to benefit from recruiting and developing talent. The Apprenticeship Levy, introduced in April 2017, is a UK government initiative designed to increase investment in […]
Monitoring Employees: Guide for UK Employers
Monitoring employees can be an effective way for employers to safeguard their staff from unsafe working practices or the threat of crime. Monitoring can also be used to ensure that staff are conducting themselves in accordance with workplace rules and, in limited cases, to prove misconduct in the context of disciplinary action. The use of […]
4 Day Work Week Pros & Cons
The 4-day work week is a workplace model that condenses the traditional five-day schedule into four working days without reducing employees’ pay. It is designed to improve work-life balance, boost employee satisfaction and enhance productivity. The approach has gained attention in the UK as organisations explore flexible working arrangements to adapt to changing workplace expectations. […]
Managing Personal Relationships at Work: Employer Guide
Personal relationships at work refer to close connections between employees, which can include friendships, family ties, or romantic and intimate relationships. Such relationships can arise naturally due to shared workspaces and experiences. While these connections can have positive effects, such as boosting morale and teamwork, they can also create challenges if not managed appropriately. With […]
Return to Work Interview: Employers’ Guide
Conducting a return to work interview is an essential part of an organisation’s absence management programme. Having a focused discussion with a returning employee is shown to help reduce unnecessary sickness absence and helps the returning employee transition back into the workplace environment with greater ease and with the necessary support from their employer. Return […]
Dealing with Unauthorised Absence from Work
Unauthorised absence from work can have a significant impact on your business, both in financial and operational terms. Given that these types of absence usually take place unexpectedly, it can be difficult to pre-empt or prevent this type of absence, or to make arrangements for temporary replacement staff to mitigate any disruption that might be […]
HR Policies: Essentials for UK Employers
Managing people takes time, energy and expertise, but by putting in place clear guidance on what you expect of your employees and what they can expect from you in return, this can help you to concentrate your resources on running your business. This is where HR policies come in. As an employer, it is important […]
Return to Work: Essential Guide for Employers
Returning to work after an extended period of leave, such as long-term sick leave or maternity leave, can be a daunting prospect for employees. Having the full support of their employer can help to ease an employee’s concerns and address any practicalities, making this transitional period back into the workplace more likely to result in […]
Time Limit for Disciplinary Actions: Employer Guide
The ACAS Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures states: “employers and employees should raise and deal with issues promptly and should not unreasonably delay meetings, decisions or confirmation of those decisions.” In practice, most disciplinary matters are dealt with promptly, typically within a matter of weeks, while more complex or difficult cases – […]
Continuous Employment: Guide for UK Employers
Continuous employment refers to the length of time an employee has been employed by the same employer without a significant break in service. It’s an important concept in UK employment law as it determines eligibility for various statutory rights and benefits, such as redundancy pay, unfair dismissal protection and statutory maternity or paternity leave. For […]