Discounting Disability-Related Sickness Absence
When an employee takes too much time off sick, you would usually follow your organisation’s disciplinary procedure, issuing warnings and, if attendance doesn’t improve, potentially dismissing them for incapacity. But while ill-health incapacity is potentially a fair reason for dismissal, employers must also ensure they are not unlawfully discriminating against someone on the grounds of […]
How to Measure Performance
Effective performance measurement helps companies identify their strengths and weaknesses, top high performers, areas for improvement, and helps set benchmarks with historical data. Gaining a competitive advantage by achieving a certain level of business performance is the primary prerequisite for the successful operation of a company in the long term in today’s highly competitive environment. […]
Do You Need a Period Policy at Work?
There is undoubtedly a general stigma in the workplace surrounding periods and menstrual health. For employees, talking to their manager or employer about period issues can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. Many may also be concerned about looking ‘weak’ or unreliable if they take time off work because of their period. For those women that struggle on […]
Confidentiality in the Workplace
It’s an unfortunate reality for business owners that employees are a potential source of commercial risk. While it’s rare that a breach of confidentiality at work will occur intentionally, even an honest mistake can result in severe consequences. This makes it business-critical to take certain measures to protect your commercial interests, such as using confidentiality […]
Mobile Phone Policy At Work
Mobile phones at work can easily become an unwanted distraction and have a negative impact on productivity. When employees are spending too much time on their device, it’s likely they’re wasting their working hours and creating other issues, such as underperforming and encouraging others to use their phones during work too. But employers cannot ignore […]
Annual Leave Carry Over: Employers’ Guide
Workers in the UK are generally entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid annual leave each year. But what happens if someone doesn’t take their full statutory entitlement within the year? In this guide, we explain the annual leave carry over rules and the impact of changes to the rules following the pandemic. Carrying over […]
Changing Employment Contract
A contract of employment is an agreement between an employer and an employee or worker that is legally binding. The contract may be negotiated orally or in writing, but it is advisable to have a written document in place, signed by both parties, stating the terms of the agreement, to reduce the risk of disputes […]
How Employers Can Help With Cost of Living Crisis
The rise in inflation, interest rates and national insurance, along with the incoming price cap shift on energy bills is a significant cause of worry for many workers across the UK. That’s not even taking into account the increased costs that commuting motorists are paying to fill up their cars. It’s a myriad of factors […]
Making an Employment Tribunal Claim
Almost all legal cases about employment are dealt with by an employment tribunal. It decides upon employment disputes between employees and their employers surrounding issues such as unfair dismissal, redundancy, and discrimination. But there are also many other types of employment claim they can deal with. If you have an unresolved issue at work and […]
Smoking at Work Policy
Smoking is banned in the UK inside all enclosed workplaces, workplace vehicles and public places. In England, legislation came about through the Health Act 2006, which effectively bans smoking in all enclosed workplaces and public places, with some narrow exemptions. The provisions on smoke free workplaces covers tobacco in cigarettes, pipes and cigars and herbal […]