Employers can now apply for the government grant under the Job Retention Scheme, through an online portal that can be found at this link. HR-Inform are now pleased to offer a dedicated toolkit to help you to manage this procedure.  The toolkit, available here, is regularly updated with all new content being placed on the site to assist staff with furloughing employees. It coincides with our FAQs on the Job Retention Scheme, which are under constant review in line with new government guidance. To offer further assistance to employers who are making use of the scheme, the site now offers a…

The coronavirus outbreak, and all expected April changes to employment law, make this a very busy time for employers. We at HR-Inform have been hard at work to make sure you have everything you need to manage this period.  Our detailed employment law resource on managing coronavirus issues at work  is updated daily and includes a significant number of frequently asked questions. The government has now provided further information on the new Job Retention Scheme, which can allow employers to access a grant to pay 80 per cent of employee wages by placing them on furlough. More information on…

The coronavirus outbreak continues to cause widespread issues across the UK. We at HR-Inform have been hard at work to make sure you have everything you need to manage this.  The situation is changing daily, with new guidance being issued from the government as they introduce further measures in response to the outbreak. Out detailed employment law resource on managing coronavirus issues at work  is updated daily and includes a significant number of frequently asked questions. It outlines the latest information surrounding self-isolation, managing employee concerns, how organisations should…

The April changes to employment law are just around the corner and we have made some key changes to the site to help get you ready.  From 6 April 2020, statements of employment particulars will need to be issued to employees and workers from day one of their employment or engagement, and contain additional information. We have now updated all of our model contracts with these new details as required by law, which are available for downloading at this link. Existing employees will not have the automatic right to receive a new statement. However, if they request one, or there is a change to…

Winter is now in full swing and with it comes the potential for significant disruptions to business operations.   With summer still months away and February just starting, we may see increased levels of bad weather over the next few weeks. This can impact upon your employees’ ability to get into work, and even lead to the closure of the workplace. The first thing you should remember is that you have a legal duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of your employees. It is therefore important that employees are not expected to go to potentially dangerous lengths in order to make it…

The New Year is often a time for change and 2020 will be no different. Therefore, it is important to have an understanding of the host of employment law changes that will come into force over the next 12 months. CEO pay ratio reporting will become effective as of 1 January 2020, meaning certain organisations will need to compare their CEO’s most recent remuneration against that of their full time-employees. This information will need to be included in any future director’s remuneration reports. April in particular is set to be a busy month with new laws around employment contracts being…

With Christmas a matter of weeks away organisations across the UK are likely to be getting into the festive spirit, however there are several pitfalls to consider to ensure the season passes as smoothly as possible. Most organisations choose to decorate the workplace in some fashion to mark the occasion and although Christmas is traditionally a Christian holiday, it is important to ensure the working environment remains inclusive and does not discriminate against those of a certain religion. For many individuals, the annual Christmas party is the highlight of the season. However, in order…

As the end of 2019 draws ever closer, those with a January-December leave year may need to encourage staff to utilise any untaken annual leave before it’s too late. Employees are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks paid annual leave each year, which works out as 28 days for those who work a 5-day week. Utilising annual leave entitlement has been proven to be a great way to combat workplace stress, which is mentioned in our how to guide on managing burnout. Remember that you don’t have to allow staff to carry over their annual leave unless sickness or maternity impaired their ability to use…

With a recent study revealing over a third of UK workers actively look for a job with greater flexibility, it seems that now is as good a time as ever to embrace flexible working. Flexible working arrangements can range from a change in hours to a period of home working and if you’ve never really thought about it before it is unlikely that you will have a specific policy in place. Thankfully, we have several template policies available on flexible working, home working and flexi-time. Generally, employees with at least 26 weeks’ continuous service are entitled to make a request and we have…

Estimates suggest nearly 1 million disabled employees fall out of work, or change jobs, each year due to a lack of support. However, the resources available on HR-inform could prevent this from happening in your organisation, providing you with access to a wealth of underutilised talent.  Remember that disability is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 and affected individuals mustn’t experience detrimental treatment as a result. Our employment law resource on disability discrimination outlines several key points when it comes to this. Disabilities should not be used…

As indicated by the recent spell of sunny weather, British Summer time is officially here and there are a number of unique factors for organisations to consider. The summer months are synonymous with staff booking time off and a holiday policy will be essential in outlining your rules. You will have the authority to refuse requests in certain situations and it is always best to confirm this in writing. Remember it’s important to get holiday pay right and that compulsory and non-guaranteed overtime ought to be included. A recent Court of Appeal ruling decided voluntary overtime should be…

Balancing work and family commitments can be difficult for new parents, and organisations play a key role in supporting staff during this time. Many parents will qualify for maternity, paternity or shared parental leave, allowing them to spend quality time at home with their child, and we have separate policies available for each of these. Statutory pay rates are in place for these types of leave, however some choose to offer enhanced maternity pay to mothers as an added benefit. Recent cases involving Capita and Leicestershire Police have proven that doing so is not grounds for sex…

Commencing on 5 May 2019, Ramadan is an important part of the Islamic faith involving a period of fasting during daylight hours. Consider how these commitments could affect workplace performance and how you can support Muslim employees during this time. Abstaining from eating or drinking during daylight hours can take its toll physically and staff may benefit from flexible working arrangements, such as a change in shift patterns, to ensure they can perform at their best. Our flexible working request acceptance letter may come in handy here. Staff may want to use their annual leave during…

Whether it’s the right to a day off, double pay, or time off in lieu there are a number of common misconceptions when it comes to bank holiday working. As we approach the Easter weekend, let’s get some things ironed out.   Employees often think they have an automatic right to time off work on a bank holiday, however this is not the case. You can decide for yourself whether time off is given in their contract of employment. You will need to give staff time off in lieu (TOIL) for working a bank holiday if you only offer them the minimum 5.6 weeks of annual leave. You are not required to pay…

With the days growing longer and the weather heating up, it’s safe to say Spring is in the air. This means there are only a few weeks left before April’s statutory changes.       National minimum wage (NMW) will rise again from 1 April 2019, giving all minimum wage workers a pay increase. Make use of our designated national minimum wage section and our template letter to inform staff of their new entitlement.   New Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) rules mean qualifying staff will receive £94.25 per week from 6 April 2019. We offer a handy statutory sick pay record sheet to keep on top of SSP,…

With 14 February fast approaching, organisations are reminded to have the right procedures in place to avoid the pitfalls of office romances.   Whilst Valentine’s Day is often regarded as an occasion to celebrate romantic relationships, organisations can be forgiven for being less smitten with the idea. All employees should be reminded to act in a professional manner and abide by your personal relationship policy. With Valentine’s Day falling on a Thursday, staff may decide to take a long weekend off work for a romantic break. Make the most of our checklist on managing holidays to help…

The start of a new year is often a time for self-reflection; presenting an ideal opportunity to plan for the months ahead. There are a host of employment law changes to navigate in 2019 which we are committed to seeing you through. To help with your preparation, we have put together a breakdown of the key employment developments scheduled for 2019. These changes include the annual increases in national minimum wage (NMW) rates and statutory sick pay (SSP), as well as brand new initiatives such as settled status applications for EU workers post-Brexit. As well as looking ahead, January is…

With Christmas just a matter of weeks away organisations should take the necessary steps to ensure the season passes with minimum fallout. For many employees, the highlight of the season is the office Christmas party and organisations should take care to ensure aspects such as the venue and catering options are suitable for all staff, to avoid allegations of discrimination such as against those of a certain age or religion. As certain workplace rules, including alcohol consumption, tend to be relaxed during parties, there is often an increased risk of misconduct and bullying or harassment.…

Recent media coverage has highlighted that employers are failing to protect staff from harassment at work, emphasising the need for improved efforts to rid the workplace of this type of behaviour. Workplace harassment can take many forms and is generally defined as unwanted conduct that relates to an individual’s protected characteristic eg gender, race or age. Common examples include offensive language directed at a certain group, or physical contact ranging from unnecessary touching to physical assault. It may also be labelled as “banter”. For further information on the parameters of…

Increasing understanding of mental ill health, and promoting positive mental health, highlighted as measures to improve employee wellbeing. Mental health problems are estimated to affect one in four people each year, with far-ranging symptoms and conditions impacting each person differently. At any time, it is highly likely an organisation is employing at least one individual whose wellbeing is influenced by mental ill health. Supportive business practices can reduce the length of employee absences, improve morale and promote positive workplace wellbeing. On 10 October 2018, World Mental…

The Government has set out the consequences, in respect of employment rights, of being unable to agree a Brexit deal when the UK leaves the EU; a BEIS Committee suggests employers with 50 or more employees should be drafted into the requirement to report on their gender pay gap and the Employment Appeal Tribunal declares a refusal to postpone a disciplinary hearing rendered a dismissal unfair. Government sets out implications of 'no deal' Brexit Although the Government maintains that it is unlikely, it has published guidance on the implications on workplace rights if a ‘no-deal’ Brexit…

The Court of Appeal decides that sleep in workers are not entitled to the national minimum wage when asleep, and more employers have been named and shamed for failing to pay the minimum hourly rates to their staff. In other case law, the Court of Appeal also confirmed the position of the ‘interim period’ between an employee’s dismissal and his successful appeal. Court of Appeal rules in landmark 'sleep in' case The Court of Appeal recently decided, in Royal Mencap Society v Tomlinson-Blake, that workers who perform sleep in shifts are not entitled to national minimum wage (NMW) for the…

Recently published Ministry of Justice statistics show a continual increase in the number of employment tribunal claims made since fees were abolished almost a year ago. The long anticipated Supreme Court ruling in a long-running gig economy case has been published, confirming the Court’s agreement with previous decisions that a “self-employed” plumber was in fact a worker. Employment tribunal claims on the increase again The Ministry of Justice has released the latest statistics on employment tribunal claim numbers for the quarter running from January 2018 to March 2018. These statistics…

The long awaited guidance on discriminatory dress codes has been released by the Government Equalities Office. This guidance, entitled “Dress codes and sex discrimination - what you need to know” looks to provide best practice recommendations on how employers can avoid discriminatory dress codes with a significant focus on sex discrimination. The guidance explains that whilst dress codes for male and female employees do not have to be identical, the standards imposed should be equivalent. In addition, it is revealed that it ‘may’ be unlawful to require female staff to wear high heels and it…

This month, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has handed down its judgement on a direct sex discrimination case involving shared parental pay. In other case law, the Supreme Court held there was an implied term in all contracts of employment as to the point that a notice period begins. Shared parental pay was not direct sex discrimination The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has recently decided that paying women on maternity leave more than men on shared parental leave was not direct sex discrimination. The ruling was based on the determination that a woman who has given birth is…

The new national minimum wage rates are now in operation, as are the new rates for statutory maternity pay and other family friendly rates. Other changes will also take place this month. Also, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed that the number of employment tribunal claims has increased by 90% in the last year. April's employment law changes In case you missed it, our article covers the employment law changes taking effect this month. These changes affect the national minimum wage, statutory rates such as statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay, employment tribunal awards,…

New employment tribunal awards announced The Government has revealed the new maximum employment tribunal awards to take effect from 6 April 2018, and the Supreme Court hears Pimlico Plumbers’ latest appeal in its long-running employment status case. Also, see our new content on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including policies, ‘How to’ guides, letters and forms. Unfair dismissal compensation to increase The Government has confirmed that the maximum compensation award in unfair dismissal claims will increase to £83,682 (or a year’s pay, whichever is lower) from 6 April…

Supporting transgender employees in the workplace Stonewall urges organisations to adopt a zero tolerance position towards gender reassignment discrimination or harassment after a report found many transgender employees hide their gender identity. In case law, the European Court of Human Rights finds an organisation’s covert surveillance at work infringed employees’ privacy rights. Survey shows employees hide gender identity A survey commissioned by Stonewall, a leading LGBT charity, has shown that one in eight transgender employees has reported an attack by a customer or colleague, and “…

Latest statistics show huge increase in Employment Tribunal claims and yet another holiday pay decision  As expected, new Ministry of Justice figures show a significant increase in the number of claims made to the employment tribunal since fees were abolished. In recent case law, a worker was able to claim holiday pay arrears continuing over 13 years. ET claim numbers on the increase The first set of employment tribunal statistics since the abolition of fees has been published and show, as could be expected, a rise in claims. The statistics cover the period of July-September 2017: the…

In his Autumn Budget, the Chancellor confirmed the national minimum wage increases which will take effect from April 2018. Also, a new scheme has been announced affecting care sector employers who may have underpaid their workers. In case law, we have seen conflicting gig economy employment status judgments involving Uber and Deliveroo and a timely Bill has been published to offer further protection to these atypical workers. New national minimum wage rates As part of the Autumn Budget, Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed the new minimum rates of pay which will apply from April 2018. In…