Latest News
National Minimum Wage Rates 2024 (UK)
22/11/2023 – From April 2024 NMW rates will increased again, and the main rate will be expanded to 21 and 22 year olds – our article covers all of the increases and the increase in the accommodation offset.
HR & Employment law update for employers
14/11/23 – In our latest briefing we look at what the Labour party, many believe are a government in waiting, will mean for the employment and employee relations landscape, with articles covering fair pay agreements, the abolition of the ‘2 year rule’ and a summary of their green paper on employment rights. We’ll also cover an often asked question from SME employers, whether to spend hard earned cash on enhancing employee benefits & we’ll wash up with a dismissal over a coffee and a sandwich – the importance of honesty in the employment relationship.
What would a Labour government mean for UK employment law?
31/10/2023 – What would a Labour government mean for UK employment law? …. our article sets out the main changes proposed in Labour’s green paper ‘A new deal for working people’.
National Minimum Wage Rates 2024 (UK)
22/11/2023 – From April 2024 NMW rates will increased again, and the main rate will be expanded to 21 and 22 year olds – our article covers all of the increases and the increase in the accommodation offset.
HR & Employment law update for employers
14/11/23 – In our latest briefing we look at what the Labour party, many believe are a government in waiting, will mean for the employment and employee relations landscape, with articles covering fair pay agreements, the abolition of the ‘2 year rule’ and a summary of their green paper on employment rights. We’ll also cover an often asked question from SME employers, whether to spend hard earned cash on enhancing employee benefits & we’ll wash up with a dismissal over a coffee and a sandwich – the importance of honesty in the employment relationship.
What would a Labour government mean for UK employment law?
31/10/2023 – What would a Labour government mean for UK employment law? …. our article sets out the main changes proposed in Labour’s green paper ‘A new deal for working people’.
Intro to Employment Law for People Managers
Our Introduction to Employment Law programme is designed for people managers, covering the origin and enforcement of employment law, demystifying the risks in common employment scenarios and building
Labour to scrap ‘2 year rule’ for unfair dismissal
19/10/2023 – Currently only employees have a right to bring an unfair dismissal claim, and then only once they have clocked up 2 continuous years of service. Under their New Deal for Working People, Labour have said that they will scrap the qualifying period altogether – what could this mean for employers?
Senior banker dismissed over coffee and sandwich expense claim
17/10/2023 – a senior analyst at Citibank specialising in financial crimes, and he was sacked for lying about an expense claim he submitted following a conference in Amsterdam – the case reminds us of the ‘reasonable responses’ test followed by employment tribunals.
Labour to introduce sector ‘fair pay agreements’ – major change for employers
Angela Rayner champions “fair pay agreements”, starting with the social care sector. What are they, and why should employers be concerned? Our article looks at the agreements and the increasing role of trades unions employers should expect.
Could you be accidentally employing an illegal worker?
10/10/2023 – Current fines (max £15K for first offenders) will increase in 2024 to a maximum of £45K for the worst of first offenders and £60K for repeat offenders – and that is per illegal worker. Our sister site’s article covers the topic in more detail (link in this article)
September 2023 – HR & Employment law update for employers
Our Sep 23 HR and employment law update looks at 2 tribunal cases involving disability discrimination, and a range of employer updates – this newsletter is available in video and written form for your convenience.
Unfair dismissal and disability discrimination – Borg-Neal Vs Lloyds
When an employee used an offensive term in a training session, Lloyds fired him…and ended up on the wrong end of a tribunal ruling, finding he had been the subject of an unfair dismissal and discrimination on grounds of his dyslexia…..
£64,000 award for menopause discrimination
15/09/2023 – An employment tribunal awarded £64K to a Direct Line employee who, it judged, had been the victim of discrimination on grounds of her disability, which arose from the menopause. The case highlighted the critical importance of obtaining and listening to professional HR advice when dealing with dismissals. We look at what the employer did wrong…..
August 2023 – HR & Employment law update for employers
29/08/2023 – In our latest HR and employment law update we’re profiling our due diligence topic for September, which is sexual harassment….and so I couldn’t not mention that kiss!
Care Home Dismissal of Manager Costs £100K
10/08/2023 – Over the weekend the Daily Telegraph reported on a recent tribunal case involving a £100K award against a care home. The case highlighted the critical importance of obtaining and listening to professional HR advice when dealing with dismissals. We look at what the employer did wrong…..
Dismissing a Foreign Worker on a UK Visa – Risks and Mitigation Strategies
04/08/2023 – What happens when we need to terminate the employment of a foreign worker with a UK work visa? We looks at the legal risks and mitigations, and give our top tips for employers.
HR & employment law update for employers – July 2023
28/07/2023 – This month’s HR and employment law update covers redundancies, restrictive covenants, holiday pay, sexual harassment and the launch of our new combined payroll and HR service via JCHR.uk.
Sexual harassment and McDonalds
20/07/23 – Sexual harassment in the workplace is generally committed by older more experienced men on younger female staff. Following the BBC’s investigation into McDonalds, we look at why the MCDonalds attempts to prevent sexual harassment may not have worked, and what employers can learn.
Planning to make redundancies?
18/07/2023 – Redundancies must be carried out under a fair consultation procedure. myHRdept’s short article for employers looks at the key stages of the redundancy process.
Restrictive covenants – enforceable, or a waste of paper?
30/06/2023 – Well-drafted restrictive covenants are enforceable, but the full context is relevant. myHRdept considers a recent Appeal Court case in which an employer sought to enforce restrictive terms following a long period of garden leave.
myHRdept Employment Law & HR Update June 2023
17/06/2023 – June 2023 employment law & HR video update from myHRdept is here, with case law updates including latest news on new employment legislation running through parliament and this month’s focus for you due diligence training, bullying…..
Dealing with workplace bullying
06/06/23 – Workplace bullying poses a significant threat to employee well-being, organisational culture, and overall productivity. In this article, we will look at workplace bullying, its manifestations, impacts, and we’ll consider how to prevent it.
myHRdept Employment Law & HR Update May 2023
26/05/2023 – May 2023 employment law & HR video update from myHRdept is here, with case law updates including absence, redundancy and tech trends in HR, and myHRdept’s May training offer…..
What does AI mean for HR and L&D?
11/05/2023 – A great HR or L&D platform can engage your employees, save you time and money. Are you using the right systems for your business? Read on for Amy Mellor’s analysis of 5 key technology trends in 2023 for HR and L&D
£135,000 for disability discrimination
10/05/2023 – A disabled employee, who had been asked to stop breaking wind, has been awarded over £135,000 for disability discrimination, myHRdept looks at what the employer did wrong in this case
HR update from HR Ops Director Jessica Whelan
10/05/2023 – HR update from HR Ops Director Jessica Whelan – I thought I would take a minute to look at common recent HR issues being raised by our clients, and recently we’re seeing increasing enquiries around absence and redundancy management.
myHRdept’s entrepreneurs
26/04/2023 – each month we’ll profile one of our fantastic entrepreneur contacts, this month its founder and owner of Chobham Adventure Farm Bean Chapman.
myHRdept Employment Law & HR Update April 2023
17/04/2023 – April 2023 employment law & HR video update from myHRdept is here, with case law updates including vicarious liability and protected characteristics, appraisals and how to make them better, and myHRdept April training offer…..
Vicarious liability (and how to avoid it)
11/04/2023 – How can employers protect themselves from vicarious liability claims? Our article covers practical steps for employers & support available, and urges employers to develop a vicarious liability strategy.
What’s wrong with our appraisal?
07/04/2023 – With some exceptions, jobs in the modern economy are more agile now, and an annual cycle of setting and reviewing objectives is rarely seen as effective. myHRdept’s article looks at trends, takes a look at what could be assessed and considers essential complementary processes.
Dismissing employee with protected characteristic
05/04/2023 – If it’s reasonable to conclude a protected characteristic isn’t linked to misconduct, employers may discount the PC for disciplinary purpose – here an employee with PCs was fairly dismissed following a meltdown at work – what can employers learn from this case?
National Minimum Wage Rates 2023 (UK)
03/04/2023 – From 1st April 2023 NMW rates increased again, and the over 23 rate is now £10.42 per hour, a nearly 10% increase on the 2022 rate. Our article contains all the applicable rates from 2023 including the new accommodation offset rate & other statutory pay increases for SSP and family leave.
myHRdept’s entrepreneurs
22/03/2023 – Each month we’ll profile one of our fantastic entrepreneur clients, this month its coach Allan McGregor….
myHRdept Employment Law & HR Update March 2023
09/03/2023 – March 2023 employment law & HR video update from myHRdept is here, covering case law (and what employers can learn), HR processes and of course the new national minimum wage and statutory rates coming into force in April.
The importance of new employee ‘onboarding’
08/03/2023 – Poor onboarding contributes to early leavers – a good onboarding process should start from the moment the job offer is made. Our article looks at the issue of ‘onboarding’ and the support we can provide to employers seeking to improve their own onboarding processes.
National Minimum Wage Rates 2023 (UK)
03/04/2023 – From 1st April 2023 NMW rates will increase again, and the over 23 rate will be £10.42 per hour, a nearly 10% increase on the 2022 rate. Our article contains all the applicable rates from 2023 including the new accommodation offset rate & other statutory pay increases for SSP and family leave.
Dismissal procedurally unfair
07/03/2023 – Even if you have a potentially fair reason for dismissal, it’s important to ensure the process followed is robust and objective, a lesson demonstrated in Webb Vs London Underground. What went wrong, and what can other employers learn from LU’s mistakes?
myHRdept Employment Law & HR Update February 2023
10/02/2023 – February employment law & HR video update from myHRdept is here, covering nuisance grievances, HR audits and training needs analysis (TNA) together with a great February offer for myHRdept clients.
Training Needs Analysis – Building a Training Plan
09/02/23 – This February myHRdept is offering customers 50% off a Training Needs Analysis…but what is a TNA, and why should all employers have one? Our article looks at what a TNA is, how we can help employers build one, and what the benefits are.
It’s just banter, isn’t it? Or is it harassment?
08/02/2023 – Banter & humour can build camaraderie and make an enjoyable place to work, but it can be difficult to judge where the line is between friendly banter and harassment. Our article looks at when one person’s banter can be another’s harassment.
myHRdept’s entrepreneurs
07/02/2023 – Each month we’ll profile one of our fantastic entrepreneur clients, this month its Rob Howard of Accurise. Rob shares his thoughts on the highs and lows of his career, and gives some sage advice for would-be entrepreneurs.
HR and employment law update January 2023
26/01/2023 – Our HR and employment law update, for the first time in video format, covers myHRdept developments and an employment law update.
Is this the end of trade unions in the UK?
24/01/2023 – 2022 was a mammoth year for strike action compared to 2016, but not a patch on 1979, when 41 million days were lost to trade union strikes, but in the 1980s new anti-union laws contributed to a slide in trade union membership – are we seeing history repeat itself?
Absence Management Masterclass
The myHRdept Absence Management Masterclass is for developing and experienced people managers who would like to improve their knowledge of managing absence and attendance in the workplace. Understand
Discrimination and Harassment Training
Discrimination and Harassment training is for all employees and managers, covering the essential knowledge needed to help your employees understand, recognise and prevent discrimination and harassment in the
People Management Training
The myHRdept People Management Training Certificate is for new and developing people managers, prioritising the fundamental knowledge and skills that will be needed when managing a team. LEGAL FOCUS:
Management Training Courses & Pricing 2023
06/01/2023 – Description of myHRdept management training dates.
UK Employment law 2023
21/12/2023 – Our article looks back on 2022, reflecting on a turbulent year for the UK’s employment market. We take a look forward to changes we might expect next year for HR & employment law.
National Minimum Wage Rates 2023 (UK)
19/12/22 – From 1st April 2023 NMW rates will increase again, and the over 23 rate will be £10.42 per hour, a nearly 10% increase on the 2022 rate. Our article contains all the applicable rates from 2023 including the new accommodation offset rate & other statutory pay increases for SSP and family leave.
Bad behaviour at the staff party. Ho Ho Ho!
29/11/2022 – It may not seem like it, but it is the season to be jolly. The trouble is that for employers at least, the Christmas party comes with worries that someone, somewhere….and there’s always one….is going to cause a problem.
What do Christmas puddings and the latest vacancy statistics tell us about UK unemployment in the months ahead?
14/11/22 – What do Christmas puds and the latest vacancy stats show for UK unemployment? A 2-year recession, falling job ads and global job cuts suggest trouble ahead….our article looks at the latest information and predicts the impact on UK unemployment rates.
How to combat ‘Quiet quitting’ in the workplace?
The new workplace buzzword is ‘Quiet quitting’. Made more popular recently amongst tick-tockers that have equated thousands of views by showing people how to handle workplace issues.
Preparing for recession & redundancies
17/10/23 – What should organisations be doing to prepare for a recession & possible recession-related redundancies? Based on our 20-years of HR and payroll outsourcing, our article gives our top tips for leaders, and is an essential read for those who may have to plan for redundancies.
Right to work checks from 1st October
23 Sep 2022 – From 1st October 2022 employers will need to make physical checks of right to work documents, and should keep copies of the checks made in order to make out their due diligence defence.
HR development workshop 5th October 0930 – 1230
Our HR development workshop is intended for practicing HR professionals and other people managers whose roles have a substantial HR remit – the workshop will take place in Maidenhead on 5th Oct 2022 and we are inviting a limited number of external HR guests to attend.
How can employers support staff during a cost of living crisis?
30/08/2022 – As the cost-of-living crisis continues, how can employers support their staff with rising costs? myHRdept looks at 5 practical HR options that will enhance staff welfare without adding to fixed costs.
An Employer’s Guide to Millennials
15/08/2022 – Millennials will soon make up 75% of the workforce, and yet many older employers struggle to understand them. Our article, written by one of our own Millennials & Head of L&D Amy Mellor, gives an entirely new perspective & is an essential read for employers.
Can employers enforce a compulsory retirement clause?
26/07/22 – Whether or not employers can really enforce a compulsory retirement clause is a question we’re often asked. We have helped draft retirement clauses for employers, even though the general situation in the UK (since the introduction of age discrimination laws) is that it is difficult to objectively justify a particular retirement age.
mourning myHRdept co-founder Paul Hellmuth
20/06/2022 – This week we are mourning Paul Hellmuth, the inspiration behind myHRdept, Paul died on Thursday 16th June 2022.
A recession is (probably) on the way – our top tips for employers
23/05/2022 – What should employers be doing to prepare for recession? The economic indicators would suggest a recession is on the way, but what should employers be doing now to prepare for the worst?
‘Voluntary’ redundancy leads to tribunal claim
17/05/2022 – Why did Mrs White successfully sue her employer for unfair dismissal having accepted voluntary redundancy? More importantly, why did she win? myHRdept looks at the learning points from this important appeal tribunal case.
Outsource HR …. Or recruit in-house HR?
13/05/2022 – This week we spoke with 2 SME CEOs, one looking to outsource HR, the other in-sourcing HR. Which is right? With a recession on the way, we consider the relative merits….
Sexual harassment at work – it’s closer to home than I thought
05/05/2022 – Preventing sexual harassment at work – how can employers make sure that it isn’t happening in their own back yards? The answer is to raise awareness of sexual harassment and in particular its most common manifestations. At the same time we should encourage employees to report incidents and train managers in how handle both low level and more serious sexual harassment allegations.
HR Recruitment – The top 5 mistakes employers make
21/04/2022 – HR Recruitment – In addition to our 20 years in HR outsourcing, we’ve recruited everything from HRD to HR admin roles, for ourselves and our clients – here are the top 5 mistakes employers make when recruiting HR….
Why can’t we do a ‘P&O’?
07/04/2022 – HR processes are a pain in the backside, ask any business owner, and that’s exactly what they’ll say, except they’d probably be a bit ruder. So why aren’t we all more like P&O ferries, happy to toss aside employment laws and HR processes?
April 2022 employment law changes
03/04/2022 – April 2022 sees changes to UK employment laws with increases in minimum wage, statutory payments and the redundancy pay cap, in addition to the end of the IR35 ‘grace period’. We’re offering a free employment law compliance checklist, and a free 20 minute HR consultation for new customers.
National Minimum Wage Rates 2023 (UK)
19/12/22 – From 1st April 2023 NMW rates will increase again, and the over 23 rate will be £10.42 per hour, a nearly 10% increase on the 2022 rate. Our article contains all the applicable rates from 2023 including the new accommodation offset rate & other statutory pay increases for SSP and family leave.
P&O action not ‘fire and rehire’. It’s just ‘fire’
18/03/2022 – The early press (led by Downing Street’s statements) misbranded this as P&O using ‘fire and rehire’, but this was wrong, I saw no intention of rehiring in P&O’s 4 minute video announcement. In sacking 800 employees with neither notice, nor consultation, the Company has broken pretty much every rule in the employment law book.
“You’re fired!”…is fraught with HR risk…but is an Alan Sugar-style dismissal always unethical?
05/03/2022 – To sanction the Alan Sugar ‘you’re fired’ approach to dismissals is controversial, nevertheless, many employers will prioritise decisiveness over process.
New rights for zero hours workers proposed
25/02/2022 – New rights are being proposed for zero hours workers – although stemming from Northern Ireland, employers in the rest of the UK with zero hours staff should take note.
Employee retention – how is it really done?
16/02/2022 – With a reported 1.3m vacancies in the UK, it’s certainly a candidate’s market, and employers are reporting high levels of turnover and significant wage inflation. But is it really possible to proactively retain employees in a jobs market like this one? myHRdept looks at the problem, and possible solutions.
myHRdept is 20 years old today!
14/02/2022 – myHRdept has been providing outsourced HR services to SME organisations for 20 years. These days our team also supports the in-house HR teams of larger organisations, including some global businesses.
My employee doesn’t want to work their notice period – what can I do?
02/02/2022 – What options are open to employers in situations where an employee doesn’t want to work their notice period? myHRdept’s practical tips for employers may just help secure a little more notice from an employee keen to be underway.
‘Return to the office’ mandate from No 10
26/01/2022 – Many companies have already switched to hybrid working, and home working has become mainstream, rather than the preserve of the few, as was the case prior to the pandemic. Some industries and sectors will do well from this economic shift – the delivery sector, housing and construction and their respective suppliers, as people adapt homes and shopping patterns to suit their new working lives.
Employment tribunal claims taking nearly a year to reach hearings
20/01/2022 – The average time for an employment tribunal claim to make its way from the initial form (ET1) to an actual hearing is, currently, 335 days. Add on to that the time it takes a claimant to actually submit the claim form (which can be up to 6 months from the incident in dispute) and that’s the best part of a year and a half.
Is it fair for employers to treat the non-vaccinated differently?
13/01/2022 – Fair or unfair, it’s happening, and employers and governments are increasingly pursuing policies to treat non-vaccinated people differently. Whilst in Canada Quebec is imposing state-wide health surcharges on the non-vaccinated….
DPD drivers not workers or employees
07/01/2022 – Shortly before the Christmas break the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled that DPD driver franchisees were neither workers nor employees, and therefore not entitled to the rights bestowed upon either category.
2022 UK employment law developments
24/12/2021 – 2021 is about to conclude and it’s been another year dominated by Covid-19. The pandemic will continue to have an impact, but what else is coming for UK employers in 2022?
Fire and rehire – why all the bad press?
21/12/2021 – ‘Fire and rehire’ has become a well-known phrase thanks to extensive media coverage. The practice, under which employers terminate the contracts of employees and then rehire them, usually on different terms, is so widespread that ACAS felt it necessary to publish an employer’s guide.
2022 Statutory pay rates announced
16/12/2021 – The new statutory pay rates, applicable from 11th April 2022, are currently awaiting parliamentary approval (but are unlikely to change). Statutory national minimum and living wage increases have already been announced and were covered in our earlier article.
Flow before you go – the new rule for the staff Christmas party!
02/12/2021 – Flow (lateral) before you go will be the order of the day for many staff parties this year, and 52% of employers are not planning on having a party at all…..
Disability in employment, recent cases
19/11/2021 – A disability is a long term physical or mental impairment which has a substantial impact on a person’s ability to do normal day to day things. This is (more or less) the definition contained within the Equality Act 2010, which enshrines discrimination law. Over the years case law has helped us to understand what is likely to constitute a disability, and what isn’t. ‘Long term
Resignations, not redundancies, define a turbulent UK jobs market
16/11/2021 – The number of those moving jobs in the last 3 months is so startling that it’s being dubbed ‘the great resignation’, and is largely thought to be down to individuals reassessing their working lives post the pandemic.
Employment tribunal insurance – benefit, or barrier to progress?
08/11/2021 – I’ve just come off a call to potential new client, where I’ve dealt with (for probably the 200th time this year) the question: “Will you cover our tribunal losses is we lose a case?”
National Minimum Wage Rates 2022 (UK)
28/10/2021 – From 1st April 2022 NMW rates will increase again, and the over 23 rate will be £9.50 per hour, up from £8.91 in 2021. Our article contains all the applicable rates from 2022 including the new accommodation offset rate.
Survey of hybrid workers reveals 60% can no longer cope with office noise
22/10/2021 – A survey of 7000 hybrid workers suggests that 9 – 5, and with it the suit, has gone forever! Our article details the survey’s findings and the particular impact hybrid working has on the young.
More rights for employees – carer’s leave
01/10/2021 – The new right, to up to a week’s unpaid carer’s leave, will apply to any employee seeking to care for a qualifying person, and will be introduced when parliamentary time allows. myHRdept will be working with clients to establish their preferred approach to the new statutory right.
Furlough scheme ends today (30th September 2021)
30/09/2021 – What’s benefited 11.4m people, cost £70 billion, is responsible for tax and NI rises and ends today? Yes, the furlough scheme, which undoubtedly prevented hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of pandemic-related job losses. Yet 1 million remain (until tomorrow) on furlough leave and many sectors, particularly those related to the travel industry, are still struggling and will for a while yet.
1m vacancies, 1.5m on furlough….
15/09/2021 – We have a perfect storm in the labour market & the return of inflation and high taxation – the very real potential to return the boom and bust economic conditions of decades past.
180K tribunal award – but was it the ‘landmark case’ the press is proclaiming?
07/09/2021 – For whatever reason the relationship between Thompson and her boss hit rock bottom prior to her resignation, and her employment has now concluded in the most public of ways. Three conclusions can be drawn from this case for employers…….
9 out of 10 employees admitted to drinking alcohol while working from home.
03/09/2021 – HR publication Personnel Today reported that 9 out of 10 employees questioned admitted to drinking alcohol while working from home, and the OECD reported increased alcohol receipts across many countries including the UK. A UN report found that drugs use increased 400% between 2017 and 2020, leading many to conclude that the number of employees still under the influence of something after a night out, or indeed a night in, must be rising.
Rishi’s ‘return to the office’ campaign thwarted by his own department
02/09/2021 – With the government unable to rely on its staff to lead a return to the workplace, it seems unlikely that private sector bosses will have much scope to follow Rishi’s desire to return to the office, other than on a voluntary basis for those staff who prefer not to work at home. In the meantime with almost all of myHRdept’s clients reporting their intention to stick with a 3:2 or a 2:3 model in order to avoid losing staff to more flexible employers, it seems that hybrid working is not just for now, it is forever.
Temporary UK right to work checks extended until 2022
27/08/2022 – Extended until 6th April 2022, employers can continue to use temporary right to work checks as part of their statutory defense against fines for inadvertently employing illegal workers.
We need a ‘Back to Normal’ taskforce to restore normality in employment
20/08/2021 – As offices remain near empty, what’s it going to take to give employers the confidence to restore normality in employment? The Telegraph called for a ‘Back to Normal’ taskforce to give employers and their employees the confidence to return to the workplace, and we don’t think that’s a bad idea!
Menopause employment tribunal cases rising
18/08/2021 – Tribunal cases are great at pulling in the headlines, but considering 70% of working women will undergo menopause its something of a mystery why we’ve not been talking about it more widely. If the reports that 1 in 4 women experiencing symptoms are considering a change in employment, shouldn’t we be more engaged with the topic, and shouldn’t we be looking at ways to support women undergoing menopause to make sure they don’t leave?
Hybrid working – are we heading for a September showdown?
13/08/2021 – All the signs are that hybrid working is here to stay, but with growing concerns over the economy and city centres, we could be heading for a month of employment discord as employers attempt to reinstate office attendance.
Hybrid working & flexible working requests
11/08/2020 – It seems that new into our vocabulary is the ‘3:2 diet’ and the ‘2:3 diet’, which refer to days per week in the office and at home – A recent YouGov poll suggests that only a fifth of employers will seek to return workers full time to the office, and a plethora of household-named businesses have declared their own hybrid working arrangements …..
Flexible apprenticeships – another white elephant?
09/08/2021 – The government, following an extensive consultation, intends to legislate to create flexible apprenticeship, under which we will see the creation of flexi-job apprenticeship agencies. Will this lead to a popular new form of apprenticeship contract, or will it be another white elephant? Time will tell whether the £7m scheme will prove to be a success.
Minimum Wage Breaches – 191 firms named and shamed
07/08/2021 – 191 firms have been ‘named and shamed’ by the government’s Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) department for minimum wage breaches, although that might seem a little unfair to some whose breaches were technical omissions rather than deliberate acts of employee denial……
1 in 5 firms plan redundancies
06/08/2021 – With 1 in 5 firms planning redundancies as the furlough scheme winds down, myHRdept reminds employers of how to follow a fair procedure.
‘Freedom day’…but what does that really mean for employers?
19/07/21 – ‘Freedom day’ seems a long way off in the context of UK employment as employers struggle with vast quantities of government workplace guidance…
England due to reopen on 19 July, while millions remain furloughed
06/07/2021. This month the state’s contribution to a furloughed workers wages drops to 70% to a cap of £2,187.50 for the month, with employers picking up 10% (up to £312.50) plus the NI and minimum pension contributions. In August and September the government contribution will be 60% to a cap of £1,875 for each month, with employers picking up 20% (or up to £625.) 30th September will be the final day of the scheme, and let’s hope we never have to see another one.
Is flexible working set to become the default?
26/06/2021. If enacted, changes changes to flexible working regulations are likely to allow employees to lodge a flexible working request on day 1 of their employment. There is some suggestion that the default position would be that flexible working should be permitted, with the onus moving away from the employee, who currently has to justify in their request why flexible working will work, onto the employer, who would have to show at the outset their objective reasons for why flexible working would not work.
Right to work checks stay in ‘covid mode’ until 1st September
25/06/2021 – Normal right to work checks will resume 1st September – HR support and guidance for employers Employers are required to verify that new hires have the
Employment tribunal cases reduce for Q1, & covid judgements roll in
First quarter statistics show a 13% decrease in single claims (9,100) versus 2020, however, the overall trend in the last few quarters is still up, probably due covid-related unemployment and changes to working conditions. The tribunal system is currently sat on 44,000 cases, an eleven year high. With the furlough scheme ending in September, we expect a further peak.
Staff are happy to travel, but not to the office!
24/06/2021. Last week I travelled to London by train for the first time since March 2020. In fact I travelled in twice, once on Wednesday for a client
Update on cyber attack on myHRdept
19/06/2021 Cyber attack on myHRdept on 18th June @ 1.43pm At 13.43 yesterday we became aware that a hacker, masquerading as one of our HR staff, Emma, had
Critical staff shortages as millions languish on furlough
03/06/2021 – Critical staff shortages as millions languish on furlough Michel Roux Junior has cancelled his lunch service because of staff shortages (Daily Telegraph: Michel Roux Jr of
Are you returning to the office?
28/05/2021 – Are you returning to the office? Yep, we are too – soon. And when myHRdept return to the office we’ll be thinking about the practical ramifications.
Right to work checks stay in ‘covid mode’ until 20th June.
21/05/2021 – Normal right to work checks will resume 20th June – HR support and guidance for employers Employers are required to verify that new hires have the
Is our obsession with mental health harming those who really need help?
12/05/2021 Is our obsession with mental health harming those who really need help? We can’t pick up a paper or watch the telly these days without a reference
HR Support for litigation as tribunal claims rocket
05/05/21 Tribunal claims are on the rise and are expected to peak when furlough comes to an end. HR press Personnel Today reports an increase in litigation since
Difficult conversations (and HR support to make them work)
Many serious workplace situations, ending up in a collapse of trust and irreparable relationships, stem from an inherent inability to articulate an emerging problem to the person from whom the problem emits.
April employment law changes – briefing for employers
01/04/2021 – April employment law changes – briefing for employers Changes are afoot, and the key dates are the 1st and the 6th April. The most notable change
Shielding ends today, 31/03/2021
Shielding ends at midnight tonight, but the anxieties of a year of shielding won’t end that quickly.
23/03/2021 – IR35 – Off Payroll Working. New rules from April will extend IR35 to the private sector, meaning that all contractors who provide services to a client
Covid Vaccination Policy
09/03/2021. Covid Vaccination Policy. In an earlier article (Link: can an employer force an employee to be vaccinated) we suggested that employers will be able to encourage employees
04/03/2021 – Furlough scheme to continue until end September In yesterday’s budget the Chancellor announced the extension of the furlough scheme which will now continue in its current
Record number of job applications – our tips for screening applications
09/02/2021 – Screening applications – 300 applicants for a Receptionist vacancy! We’re still very much in the middle of a pandemic, with (fingers crossed) light at the end
Are we ready to return to ‘normality’?
08/02/2021 – Returning to normality, HR implications In March 2020 many of our working lives changed, and will probably never be the same again. Almost a year on,
The 9 things every employer needs to know about discrimination law.
Can you refuse to employ a smoker? It may surprise you, but yes you can – smoking is not one of the 9 ‘protected characteristics’ on which we must not discriminate.
Should employers grant requests to end maternity leave early & to be furloughed?
Why are employers seeing a rise in requests to return early from maternity leave, and to be furloughed? UK maternity regulations entitle mothers to 39 weeks Statutory Maternity
90 days pay for failure to consult (redundancies)
05/01/2020 – Failure to consult award attracts maximum compensation. The Southport Theatre and Convention Centre (STCC) in Merseyside employed 23 staff, and announced its decision to close its
Most clinically vulnerable told ‘not to attend work’ in tier 4 areas.
22/12/2020 – Tier 4 employees on the Shielding list must ‘not go to work.’ While the general advice across tiers remains to work at home ‘if possible,’ the
Employment law timetable 2021
17/12/20 – Key employment law events 2021. Let’s hope we see the back of the pandemic in 2021, and can return to normality. We’re sure we’ll spend considerable
UK National Minimum Wage Rates 2021
16/12/2020 – UK National Minimum Wage rates for 2021. (Click here to watch this article on a video.) From 1st April 2021 NMW rates will increase again, and
Can an employer force employees to have a COVID-19 vaccine?
03/12/2020 – Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, employers are under a general duty to provide a safe and healthy workplace, and that includes taking reasonable
Frontier Worker permit for EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals
02/12/2020 – Frontier workers application scheme opens 10th December A new category of work permit has just been announced and regulations were published last week. The Frontier Worker
Furlough scheme, notice periods & record keeping
25/11/2020 – Employer’s cannot claim furlough for employees under notice…and what comes after furlough? The furlough scheme’s current phase will run until the end of January 2021, and
Brexit – deadlines for settlement status – employers must take note
24/11/2020 – EU, EEA or Swiss employees? Deadlines are approaching – employers (and their staff) must take action If you have EU, EEA or Swiss employees (who are
Extended Furlough Scheme and latest developments 6th Nov 2020
06/11/2020 – Latest furlough news On 1st November the Chancellor announced that the old CJRS (furlough scheme) would not be switched off after all and, would be extended
Furlough scheme extended
1st November – CJRS to be extended until December Yesterday the government announced that, in tandem with a new period of lockdown from Thursday 4th November, the old
Furlough scheme extended until December 2020
CJRS Extended Furlough scheme extended 1st November – Yesterday the government announced that, in tandem with a new period of lockdown from Thursday 4th November, the old CJRS
JSS Open – details on the new Job Support Scheme
1st November – UPDATE – Extended furlough scheme The government announced yesterday that the JSS Open and Closed schemes will be delayed. As the nation enters another month
Job Support Scheme ‘JSS Closed’ commences 1st November
16 October 2020 – Extended Job Support Scheme, ‘JSS Closed’ (for employers required to temporarily cease trading.) (Article updated 23rd October) Earlier in October the Chancellor announced the
23 Oct 2020 – UPDATED JSS
23 Oct 2020 – UPDATED JSS On 22 October 2020 the Chancellor announced significant amendments to the JSS: Employees will now only need to work and be paid
New laws on self isolation for employers and workers
28 Sept 2020 – £1000+ fines for employers and workers for failing to self isolate Under the ‘Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self Isolation) (England) Regulations 2020 a worker
Redundancy best practice principles – a reminder from ACAS
24th September 2020. ACAS, CBI and the TUC issued a joint statement to businesses on 24th September recognising that redundancies may be necessary, but reminding employers in clear
Homeworking for the winter (if you can)
22nd September 2020 – Boris Johnson encourage employers to continue with home working arrangements through the winter in an effort to stem the rising tide of covid 19
Furlough out, Job Support Scheme (JSS) in
25th September 2020 – the CJRS winds down through October with government support reducing to a maximum of 60% of wages up to a cap of £1,875 per
Back home you go….
22nd Sep 20: Return to homeworking imminent…. Boris Johnson is expected this afternoon to encourage employers to continue with home working arrangements in an effort to stem the
CJRS Scheme heads towards its final month
03/09/2020 CJRS Scheme heads towards its final month With September comes the penultimate month of the Covid Job Reduction Scheme, the CJRS launched by the government in March
Employment Appeals Tribunal rules against reinstatement/reengagement order
02/09/2020 Employment Appeals Tribunal rules against reinstatement/reengagement order Sure as eggs is eggs there are a lot of tribunal cases on the horizon and the case of Kelly
1st August – furlough scheme changes and shielding comes to an end
30/07-2020 1st August changes to furlough scheme and the end of Shielding (probably) Furlough scheme July was the last month for the furlough scheme in its current guise
Holiday quarantine – employer options if employee needs to quarantine
29th July 2020 – Employer’s rights when employee has to quarantine after a holiday abroad UK government requires people holidaying in particular countries to quarantine at home for
Covid safe workplace
28/07/2020 Guidance for employers – Covid safe workplaces To bring workers back to work employers must ensure that the workplace is Covid safe. Employers must carry out a
We haven’t really had time to write much in the way of insightful content this week because we’ve been so busy with redundancy programmes, but we thought we’d
Employee engagement – Staff Attitude Research from myHRdept
To know is to understand Throughout my career in HR, I have observed the essential components of a successful business – the right product at the right price,
Furlough scheme & redundancy update
(24 June 2020) Earlier this month the government announced the new rules and the detail for part time working under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) which will
Redundancy template letters & advice
(3rd June 2020) The furlough scheme closes to new entrants from 10th June and from August onwards employers will start contributing to the costs. It was inevitable that
Last call for furlough, no new furloughs from 10th June
(2nd June 2020) As expected last week the Chancellor announced changes to the furlough scheme: From 10 June only employees previously furloughed may continue to be furloughed –
Furlough – time to return to work? (25 May 2020)
We know that the furlough scheme will extend to the end of October, with employers starting to share some of the cost of the scheme from August. We’re
Alcoholism at work – spotting it and providing support (15 May 2020)
Alcohol sales during lockdown have increased by a third and our assumption has to be that a lot of it is being consumed by employees with more time
Redundancy template letters & advice
For a limited period we are offering non-myHRdept clients support with their redundancy programmes, subject to our availability. Our Covid Redundancy Service comprises of: 2 X 30 minute
Staying in touch during furlough leave & thinking about future staffing
7th May 2020. We’re expecting a lot of employee nervousness when it comes to returning to work and employers with customer facing businesses will have their customer’s concerns
COVID-19 Client Support Hours (myHRdept)
myHRdept clients have support packages that generally include a mix of support hours and site visits in addition to time available for creating employment contracts and staff handbooks
CJRS, key points at April 30th plus furloughing, unfurloughing and reinstating former employees
There’s an enormous amount of information for employers flying around at the moment, so we thought it might be useful to take stock and sum up some of
Should I re-employ (and furlough) a worker who left me after 28th February?
28 April 2020 – should I re-employ (and furlough) a worker who left me after 28th February? It’s a desperate conundrum at the heart of which are former
How to unfurlough staff
23rd April 2020 – How to unfurlough staff It may seem premature to think about unfurloughing staff, but some of our clients are already transforming – pubs, breweries
CJRS – 30th April – Taking Stock – Holidays, Bank Holidays, Furlough Notification and Furlough Fraud
30 APRIL – TAKING STOCK Changes last made to the Employer’s guidance on 23rd April have been in place and unchanged for a whole week, the portal has
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – If it’s not on .gov, it’s not true!
If it’s not on .gov….it’s not true! I cannot possibly estimate the hundreds of hours my team and I at myHRdept have spent trying to convince employers that
Job Retention Scheme (Covid-19)
15th April 2020 We have updated our employer’s Q&As based on the government guidance published on 15th April. This is article is for general guidance only and is
Furlough template letters
25th March 2020 We have had multiple requests for furlough template letters and redundancy template letters since publishing our earlier articles on furloughing staff and other options to
The F Word – How to furlough employees and workers
Updated 24th March to reflect our current understanding. On Friday 20th March the government announced that it would be providing various measures to assist employers to continue to
Briefing template to secure reduction in staff working hours
We have posted this briefing template to try to help the numerous businesses who are struggling to reduce staffing costs because of COVID-19. While we hope the briefing
Coronavirus holiday & leave questions
11th March Some employers want to keep staff at work and are worried that COVID-19 absence will prevent them from fulfilling orders. Others want to minimise staff attendance
Government Guidance for Employers – Coronavirus
5th March 2020. The government has published its guidance on COVID-19 for employers and businesses. This follows the ACAS guidance published last week. Amongst the material: A useful
February 2020 employment law and HR briefing
So we know that 2020 – 2021 is going to harbour some monumental changes for HR and employment law (see our earlier newsletter) and this edition of myHRdept
Employee fairly dismissed for event outside of work….
It’s not always fair for an employer to dismiss an employee because of something they’ve done outside of work, but in the case of Lafferty Vs Nuffield Health,
Coronavirus – Guidance for employers
ACAS has published advice for employers on a possible widespread outbreak of Coronavirus. We’ve been here before of course, but something does feel altogether more threatening about the
From April – new employees must receive written terms of employment on DAY 1
Statement of terms From April 6th 2020, as a result of the Good Work Plan, the Government will be extending rights to a statement of written particulars to
Employment law developments from April 2020 and beyond….
We’ll be busy during the rest of 2020 with a number of HR and employment law changes and in this article we look at some of the more
New points based immigration system set to cause chaos for low paid sectors
19th February 2020 Announced today the new points based system due to come in in January 2021 will cause huge concerns for any sector currently reliant on low
National Minimum Wage Rates 2020
From 1st April 2020 NMW rates will increase again with the 25+ rate moving from £8.21 to £8.72, a rise of 6.2%. Other increases range from 4.6 to
Pregnancy and maternity rights to be extended
* 54,000 women lose job because of maternity leave * ‘Special protection’ period to extend to 6 months after maternity leave The government has announced plans to extend
Can an illegally working employee enforce employment rights?
‘Sometimes’, appears to be the answer from Okedina Vs Chikale. The conventionally held belief is that if an employee is unable to work legally in the UK they
New Parental Bereavement Leave
Bereavement leave will be introduced in 2020, the government has now announced, but employers should establish a suitable policy in 2019. Our article covers the detail. As the
Can an illegally working employee enforce employment rights?
Can an illegally working employee enforce employment rights? September 2019 ‘Sometimes’, appears to be the answer from Okedina Vs Chikale. The conventionally held belief is that if an
1,500 caught in minimum wage spot checks – be aware!
The DTI announced an increase in spot checks to expose breaches of minimum wage regulations in 2007, and ‘high risk’ sectors including small independent employers are certain to
And there’s more..
4th May 2007 With so many pressures and priorities on small businesses is it any wonder that the daunting, and lets face it, apparantly dull and unnecessary task
Unauthorised breaks?
Since our publishing the article below the Court of Appeal has overturned the Employment Appeal Tribunal’s decision in this case, ruling that although the final warning given to
New paternity laws effective April 2010 plus some other important news
6th May 2010 From April 06 2010 the new paternity laws come into being. BUT….they won’t apply in the case of parents of babies born before 3rd April
Good news for small employers
30th March 2011 In an effort to make running a small business or to get a start up off the ground simpler, the Business Minister, Vince Cable, has
Fathers to receive up to 6 months additional paternity leave
1st April 2011 At the moment fathers are entitled to take 2 weeks’ paid paternity leave within 8 weeks of the birth, paid at the relevant statutory rate
Government plans to cap auto enrolment pension charges
13th October 2013 The government has announced that it intends to enforce a cap on the commissions that auto enrolment pension providers can charge members. The Treasury is
Auto enrolment fees cap sparks debate
6th November 2013 On 30th October, we updated you on the Government plans to cap auto enrolment pension charges, and it would appear we aren’t alone in our concerns over
Social media and pre-employment vetting
19th December 2013 With the ever increasing popularity of social media sites, the volume of personal information online grows each day. As an employer looking to recruit new
5 days average sick per private sector full time worker…
31st December 2013 The Times reported today that EU officials are three times ‘sicker’ than the average British private sector workers, who took 5 days of on average
HR outsourcing can make financial & operational sense…. but there are pitfalls for the unwary!
HR outsourcing can make great financial & operational sense…. but there are pitfalls for the unwary! 2nd January 2014 Times remain difficult, and employers are being encouraged by
is the government
10th January 2014 The possibility of extreme weather conditions disrupting business is often a concern at this time of year, but with floods across the UK and snow
National Minimum Wage: Will a minimum wage of £7 per hour impact your business?
17th January 2014 It is estimated that one sixth of British workers are paid the minimum wage. – Around 1.35 million people. Since its introduction in 1999, when
The Confederation of British Industry supports above-inflation NMW change
Sir Michael Rake, President of the CBI has voiced his opinions on the suggested rise in the National Minimum Wage. 21st January 2014 On 17th January, we wrote
recruitment
21st January 2014 You may recall our October article outlining Government plans to cap auto enrolment pension charges, and the subsequent November story concerning the resulting industry debate. Now the story develops
Confederation of British Industry supports above-inflation NMW change
On 17th January, we wrote about George Osborne’s plans to increase the National Minimum Wage to £7.00 per hour by 2015, and the reaction of the Chairman of
Recruitment on the rise – are you getting it right?
29th January 2014 Britain’s bosses are among the most optimistic in the world according to a survey held by PwC; with 61% of UK CEO’s “more confident about
New hire gone wrong?
7th February 2014 With the best recruitment practices in the world, mistakes do happen inside and outside of the probation period. Do we persevere with an unsuitable person, run the
Employment Law 2014 – Small Business
10th February 2014 2013 saw a number of legislative developments in the area of employment law and 2014 will bring many more. In this article we review the
UK Border Agency recruits 10 illegal immigrants and Minister Mark Harper has an illegal cleaner.
5th March 2014 UK Border Agency recruits 10 illegal immigrants and Minister Mark Harper illegal employed a foreign worker as a cleaner. If neither the Government nor its
Tribunal insurance. Comfort blanket, or furry handcuffs?!
11th March 2014 Small employers are often tempted by ‘HR insurance’ offerings providing employment tribunal protection cover. It’s not hard to see why, employment is complex, legal advice
Tribunal claims take a tumble/minimum wage on the increase
13th March 2014 In England a would-be litigant must pay a fee of up to £250 (depending on the type of claim) to list a claim and another
Wages to increase 2.5% this year says OBR
19th March 2014 The real cash value of wages hasn’t increase since 2007, but wages are expected to be on the up this year – this is likely
100,000 extra apprentice places and graduate apprentice schemes announced
20th March 2014 At only £2.65 per hour apprentices offer great value for employers, and yesterday the Chancellor announced funding for an additional 100,000 places, including degree level
Under 21s to be taken out of employers’ NI Contributions
20th March 2014 Employers who employ or engage employees under the age of 21 at or after 6 April 2015 will not be required to pay employer NICs
Compulsory dispute resolution – important change for employers
7th April 2014 From yesterday Early Conciliation applies to pretty much every employment tribunal claim albeit voluntarily for a few weeks. Under the new regime all new claims
2014 wages – hold static or be prepared to increase?
17th April 2014 2014 wages – hold static or be prepared to increase? Conflicting pressures present a dilemma for small employers. Previously in my career I have been
Verbal references….why you should always seek them, but think twice about giving them
19th April 2014 Did you know that if the person you’re giving a reference to on the other end of the phone is making notes on your comments,
Government launches the Health and Work Service, to assist employees return to work after prolonged absence.
20th April 2014 The Health and Work Service will provide occupational health advice and support for employees, employers and GPs to help individuals with a health condition to stay in
£35,000 for failure to protect employee from bullying – grievance procedure flawed
22nd April 2014 Whether or not Labour MP Jim Divine is the sort of chap you’d want round your house (jailed for expenses fraud in 2011, bullied his
Fall in employment tribunals as regulations are tightened
1st May 2014 Minister of State for Education and Business, Matthew Hancock, has reportedly hailed figures showing a fall in the number of tribunal cases in the last
Indian boss beaten to death
And you think you’ve got employee relations problems – CEO killed over working hours 17th June 2014 Fed up of whinging employees complaining about their wages? Think yourself
Legal changes to flexible working requests
Changes in Flexible Working Requests 27th June 2014 Legal changes that will extend the right to request flexible working to ALL eligible employees will come into force on
Can you Adam and Eve it?
Can you Adam and Eve it!?…Victims of accent bias need legal protection 9th July 2014 This could well be the latest unrecognised discrimination: Geordies, Liverpudlians and Cockneys are
4″ Butterfly terminates contract
11th July 2014 A 38 year old procurement consultant claimed that she lost her job after her employer discovered she had a butterfly tattoo on her foot. Jo
It was a long and humiliating battle
16th July 2014 A priest has been awarded £62,000 after being paid less than £2 an hour for working 65 hours a week at a temple in Birmingham.
Is obesity now officially a disability?
18th July 2014 The Equality Act 2010 details 9 categories of ‘protected characteristics’. These include sex, race, age, sexual orientation and, the subject of this brief update, disability.
Employment high
21st July 2014 The employment rate has hit a record high at 73.1 per cent in the three months to May, according to official figures. The Office for
Conference calls from the fridge
22nd July 2014 A third of Britain’s growing army of home workers have admitted that they worked in their garden during last week’s heatwave. One in five confessed
Half of Britons feel regret
25th July 2014 A recent study commissioned by the financial technology company Kalixa, revealed that half of Britons’ are so unhappy at work that they believe their career
Bullying and discrimination are commonplace
29th July 2014 The professional body for solicitors, The Law Society, appears to suffer from bullying and discrimination in the workplace. A survey of its own employees suggests
Court of Appeal dismisses software company’s attempt to enforce restrictive covenant
30th July 2014 The Court of Appeal in Prophet plc v Huggett ruled that an incorrectly worded restrictive covenant, intended to prevent an employee working for a competitor,
Its not just the 7 dwarves who should whistle whilst they work
1st August 2014 Earlier this week, myhrdept wrote an article covering how bullying and harassment in the workplace were commonplace in some companies (See the story HERE.) Today, we
Small businesses rising hire and hire
6th August 2014 Last month, myhrdept posted an article entitled ‘Employment High’, outlining the employment rate hitting a record high at 73.1 per cent in the three months to
Daylight Savings
Better designed offices could boost both physical and mental health of workers. 11th August 2014 An early night after a hot bath, curling up with a good book
Will care workers have to be licensed?
12th August 2014 Paul Burstow, former care minister, has led a year-long review into the care industry in the UK and has recommended that a license to practice
Can employers ban e-cigarettes in the workplace?
Whether or not to allow e-smoking is a matter for individual employers to decide 12th August 2014 The balance is definitely on the side of etiquette rather than
Equal pay? Maybe for our great grandchildren
14th August 2014 Women will have to wait another 60 years for equal pay if the gender gap continues to close at the present rate. Statistics from the
Mistreatment of Britain’s “invisible workforce”
18th August 2014 According to a recent report, cleaners working in British offices, hotels and public places are regularly subject to bullying, discrimination and under-payment. Almost half a
Number of migrants rises by 50 per cent
29th August 2014 Migrants are being caught in unprecedented numbers, a police union spokesman said yesterday, but they are quickly released, and try to cross the Channel again,
Does clocking off mean switching off?
3rd September 2014 Germany is poised to enact an anti-stress law that would make it illegal for employers to send emails to workers during their free time and
Power of the pension
15th September 2014 More low-income workers are now putting enough away in savings for their retirement than in 2012 – a vindication of the government’s auto-enrolment plan to
New national minimum wage rates apply from 1st October 2014
17th September 2014 New national minimum wage rates apply from 1st October 2014. The National Minimum Wage applies to all employees and workers in the UK and was
Is this the end of the office as we know it?
14th October 2014 A survey of 10,000 workers by O2 revealed more than half thought technological breakthroughs will transform the way we work over the next five to
Has Sir Alan Sugar got it right?
16th October 2014 A new series of The Apprentice has been put back on our screens this week and Sir Alan Sugar has got people talking about effective
Eggs-travagant employee benefits
21st October 2014 The perks available to Silicon Valley staff are already known to be what every employee dreams of. Now, Facebook and Apple are offering female employees
can employees be forced
24th October 2014 A recent case brought to Tribunal stems from an alleged simple act of omission. A Muslim employee claims she was not invited to the Company’s
John Lewis settles £40m underpaid holiday pay….. and tens of thousands of small employers could be at risk unless they act now
24th October 2014 John Lewis is a partnership, but holiday rules apply in the same way as to limited companies and other employers, who should urgently consider their
In the light of the equal pay claim against Asda (going back 6 years), should smaller employers be worried?
27th October 2014 Widely reported this weekend, solicitors Leigh Day are taking a test case on behalf of 400 workers at Asda….and if they win, the case will
Living wage increases to £7.85 (£9.15 in London.)
4th November 2014 The Living Wage Foundation annually reviews the basic costs of living when calculating its Living Wage recommendations, i.e. the amount of money it believes employers
Do you pay overtime, commission or bonuses? If yes, you need to read this article
5th November 2014 Yesterday saw a landmark judgement from the Employment Appeal Tribunal that will have significant implications for employers who regularly provide overtime. The press has covered
Top tips – how to build an employment law compliant HR framework (for smaller business
7th November 2014 HR spotlight – our smaller business top tips for painlessly building an employment law compliant HR system for your business. Building in compliance with employment law
Holiday Pay – The mystery unravelled
17th November 2014 The tribunals have been full recently of holiday pay cases, starting with Williams Vs British Airways and ending with Fulton Vs Bear Scotland, with the
Can employees be forced to cover tattoos and remove piercings?
19th November 2014 It was recently reported that a school teacher was turned away from work at St John Vianney primary school in Hartlepool because she was “covered
Shared Parental Leave: The Basics
1st December 2014 Today, the new regulations regarding Shared Parental Leave (SPL) come into force. The new regulations give parents greater flexibility in how they share the care
Illegal immigrant found working in Commons
6th January 2015 The Times has revealed today that a woman from Sierra Leone has been working in the Palace of Westminster under a forged passport. With all
Older workers want part time jobs, not retirement
15th January 2015 It was revealed this week that half of all those approaching retirement intend to carry on working when they reach their mid-sixties. A national study
The benefits of strategic thinking moving forward into 2015
22nd January 2015 This week, The Times printed a 4 page article on businesses shifting focus to strategic solutions. Laura Doughty, director of strategy and operations consulting and
Fifty shades takes a whole new meaning
3rd February 2015 In recent news we have seen the regrettable Benedict Cumberbatch make a public error whilst attempting to be honourable by highlight the lack of opportunities
Japanese forced to take holiday
16th February 2015 The Times recently reported that Japan is to force workers to take their paid holidays in an attempt to combat a culture of excessive work that has
Employment Law Case Roundup – February 2015
17th February 2015 Out of time at tribunal but claim goes on Nayif v High Commission of Brunei Darussalam Claimants have a three-month time limit to notify Acas
What does a job title mean to you?
25th February 2015 A study has revealed that a staggering one in five employees in the UK are not honest when it comes to stating their real job