Let’s (not) go outside
The government is considering extending workplace smoking bans to outdoor spaces where people face significant smoke exposure. Employers face potential fines up to £2,500 for non-compliance, prompting a review of smoking policies.
Court rules victimisation applies to ex-employees
A UK Court of Appeal decision has extended victimisation protections to former employees who made protected whistleblowing disclosures, overturning previous employment tribunal rulings that limited such protections to current staff only.
Corporate control – value add or value laden?
Organisations use corporate value programmes to control employee behaviour and boost commitment, but these initiatives often fail when internal practices don’t align with employees’ personal values and external promises, creating disconnect between corporate expectations and individual beliefs.
Employment law – A drain on the balance sheet?
Employment regulations impose significant costs on businesses, with compliance expenses ranging from £15 billion annually in net burden to £50 billion since 1997. Small and medium enterprises face disproportionate impacts due to limited resources, spending up to two and a half days weekly on regulatory compliance.
What’s the answer? Fleas at work
Employees experiencing flea bites at work have limited grounds to demand working from home, even if pest control treatment requires a 14-day vacuuming ban. Employment lawyers confirm employers have acted reasonably by treating the problem and meeting their legal duty to provide a safe working environment.
Company of the week: AXA PPP healthcare
AXA PPP healthcare, a UK-based provider with 1,800 staff, attributes its low 3% absence rate and high retention to a well-balanced benefits package. The company offers comprehensive perks including private medical insurance available to all staff and families, flexible working options, wellness programs, and enhanced parental leave.
House of Lords confirms TUPE transfer date
The House of Lords has confirmed that TUPE transfers must occur on a specific date and cannot be postponed or rearranged by employer-employee agreement. The ruling, based on the Celtec v Astley case, establishes that transfer dates are legally binding regardless of when parties believe the transfer took place.
HR Zone Briefing #301 – Psychometric Testing Does It Work?
Psychometric testing is examined as a recruitment tool to determine whether it effectively helps organizations find the right candidates. This HR briefing explores the benefits and drawbacks of using personality questionnaires and assessment methods in the hiring process.
Colborn’s Corner: The recruitment lottery
The CIPD’s latest Recruitment, Retention and Turnover Survey reveals how employers increasingly hire regardless of age, sex, or nationality. Yet the underlying demographic challenges persist, raising questions about long-term workforce planning and whether government intervention is needed to address future labor shortages.
Court confirms managers can be liable in discrimination cases
A Court of Appeal ruling confirms that managers can be held personally liable for discrimination they commit and for failing to stop discriminatory acts by other employees. The case establishes that senior managers who foster a culture of discrimination through their actions or inaction may face individual fines alongside company liability.
Death outside working hours – company fined £30k
A company has been fined £30,000 in what’s believed to be the first case of its kind, after a worker was killed in a car accident outside working hours. The worker had completed 11 consecutive days without a day off and worked until 1-2am before the fatal crash, raising questions about workplace fatigue management.
Out-of-date IT hinders HR
A new study finds that 55% of HR managers believe their organizations lack sophisticated technology to support recruitment and employee development, with only 25% feeling their IT systems adequately support strategic HR functions like workforce planning and performance management.
Does psychometric testing work? By Sarah Fletcher
Psychometric testing aims to filter unsuitable job applicants by assessing personality and ability traits relevant to specific roles. Success requires regularly benchmarking criteria to maintain diverse teams and varying skill sets among candidates progressing to interview stages.
Quarterly employment law round-up: April – June 2006
Key employment tribunal cases from April-June 2006 offer important guidance for HR professionals on redundancy procedures and employee consultation requirements. The cases establish strict statutory steps employers must follow when dismissing for redundancy and clarify valid pre-existing agreements under the Information and Consultation of Employee Regulations.
Member’s tip: One minute silence
Organizing a minute of silence in a call centre poses practical challenges. Expert advice recommends against it unless it’s a national event, as it disrupts customer service; if necessary, have agents log off beforehand and allow those wishing to participate to observe silence during breaks away from the call floor.
HR Tip: When to issue contractual statements
Employers must provide written statements of terms and conditions to employees within two months of starting. Issuing these documents on the first day helps ensure compliance and gives employees immediate clarity on employment conditions.
Statutory procedures triple the work but lead to fewer dismissals
New statutory workplace dispute procedures introduced in 2004 have tripled formal disciplinary and grievance cases but reduced dismissals, according to a study of 155 organizations. Early HR intervention appears to be resolving conflicts before they escalate, though dismissal rates fell while overall formal procedures increased significantly.
Over 200,000 Royal Mail candidates to be assessed online
Royal Mail has contracted assessment specialist PSL to design online psychometric tests for evaluating over 200,000 job applicants annually. The tests include a personality questionnaire and sorting simulation to help identify unsuitable candidates from the 125,000 who apply for frontline positions each year.
Briefing: Directors and salaries
Directors are not required to pay themselves a salary if no employment relationship exists, and national minimum wage does not apply in these cases. Directors can receive remuneration as office holders, work as self-employed consultants to their own company, or receive non-executive director fees, each with different tax and employment implications requiring proper written agreements.
Ministers scrap sick pay changes
The government has scrapped plans to require employers to provide sick pay from the first day of illness, citing costs to businesses. The change would have simplified sick pay rules as part of welfare reform efforts to reduce long-term benefit dependency.
