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 […]
Practical Guide to Employee Relations
Effective employee relations benefit organisational culture, morale and performance. Employee relations are the relationships between employers and employees. These relationships determine how you handle certain situations, for example, issues with pay and benefits, managing conflict and providing a healthy work-life balance. Organisations which effectively manage staff relations are more likely to achieve employee engagement, which […]
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 […]
Alternatives to Pay Rises: Retain Talent
A high staff turnover can be an operational challenge for employers. A proactive approach to retaining talent can help to reduce the risk of losing valued workers and having to recruit to replace. But for employers facing rising costs and many other challenges as the economy re-adjusts post-pandemic, giving pay rises may simply not be […]
Can Staff Take Time Off Work for IVF?
In this guide for employers, we consider the current position in employment law relating to fertility treatment, including whether workers are allowed time off work for IVF and how and why employers should look to create a supportive environment for workers undergoing IVF. Implications of IVF treatment IVF is a type of fertility […]
Social Media Screening in Recruitment
Social media has changed how people and businesses interact, presenting both opportunities and risk. In the context of recruitment, employers routinely use social media platforms to advertise vacancies and to promote their employer brand. It has also become increasingly common practice for employers to use social media screening to find out more about job candidates. In […]
Dealing with Conflicts of Interest at Work
In this guide for employers, we consider the risks associated with conflicts of interest at work, and the steps you can take to manage conflicts of interest and to mitigate legal and commercial risk. What are conflicts of interest at work? A conflict of interest arises where an employee’s personal interests are at […]