News: Govt pursues shares-for-rights scheme despite lack of support

 The government has decided to press ahead with its plans for ‘employee-owner’ contracts despite a lack of support among either employers or employees. A consultation by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills revealed that most organisations would choose not to take up the new rights, which were announced by Chancellor George Osborne in his […]

Talking Point: Will shared parental leave work?

"Shared Parenting Matters." And the author of this statement? Not a parenting charity, but the government in a consultation paper.   And indeed, the concept took a step closer to reality last month after the government unveiled its proposals on the practical implementation of shared parenting leave.   But the plans, which are designed to […]

News: Starbucks’ move to cut staff benefits sparks fresh concern

Starbucks’ decision to cut paid lunch breaks, sick leave and maternity benefits has sparked concern among staff that they are being forced to help subsidise the coffee chain’s potential tax bill increase. According to the Guardian, on the same day last week that the House of Commons’ public accounts committee branded the firm’s tax avoidance […]

Ask the Expert: How can I keep my job with an undiagnosed disability?

The question I have developed a disability that requires a few reasonable adjustments in the workplace.   Access to Work has agreed to fund an assistant for me, which would be the most expensive.   But at the end of April, I was sent home from work after several meetings between my union and employer, […]

Legal Insight: The compulsory retirement age issue

At first glance, the retirement situation of Hungarian judges might not seem to be the most pertinent of cases for UK employers.  But a recent decision made by the European Court of Justice provides interesting guidance on compulsory retirement ages and age discrimination issues.   Previously in Hungary, judges, prosecutors and notaries were required to […]

News: Industry publishes code of conduct over workplace pension charges

The workplace pensions industry has bowed to political pressure and published a code of conduct relating to the disclosure of schemes’ fees and investment costs, which will come into force next year. The voluntary code, which was launched today, is intended to ensure that such disclosure is consistent in an attempt to make it easier […]

News: Coulson wins legal costs appeal against News Group

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson has won his appeal against a High Court ruling that News Group Newspapers does not have to pay his legal costs. Coulson, who is facing trial next year on charges related to his alleged involvement in phone hacking while at the now defunct Sunday paper, sued NGN […]

Blog: Shared parenting leave – Is it really a win-win?

The latest government proposals in respect to encouraging a ‘family-friendly’ workplace seem to have met with general approval both from business and employee groups. Under the proposals, unveiled last week by the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, from 2015, after the first two weeks of a mother’s maternity leave, the remaining 50 weeks can be […]

News: Suspended civil servant sues Dept for Transport

A civil servant who was suspended following the West Coast mainline rail franchise fiasco is to take legal action against the Department for Transport over the way that she was treated. Kate Mingay, the DfT’s director of commercial and technical services, was one of three officials suspended in early October, after the government changed its […]

Blog: How to deal with the pregnancy issue – legally

I have recently been contacted by several women who feel they have been unfairly treated by their employers because of pregnancy and maternity issues.  It seems that this is an area of employment law that many employers fall foul of, possibly unintentionally.    Pregnant employees or those on maternity leave have many key rights in […]

News: Employers flout discrimination law for migraine sufferers

Employers may be flouting disability discrimination legislation by failing to make reasonable workplace adjustments for employees who suffer from migraines, a charity has warned. According to a survey conducted by the Migraine Trust, a worrying three out of sufferers who work said that their employer had not made any changes to try and ease their […]

Ask the Expert: What benefits are included under a TUPE transfer?

The question  I am currently working on a TUPE project and need some help on issues relating to terms and conditions of employment.   Under TUPE law, I understand that an employee transfers under the terms and conditions of their employment. But my question is how do you determine what is contractual or not if, […]

News: MPs call for action over recruiters’ worker expenses schemes

A group of MPs stepped up pressure on the government today to crack down on the travel and subsistence expense schemes being imposed on temporary workers by some recruitment agencies in order to cut their tax bill. To this end, the five, who were led by Labour MP Michael Connarty, introduced an Early Day Motion […]

Legal Insight: Have you renewed your foreign worker sponsorship licence?

A major retailer was fined £115,000 earlier this month for employing foreign students who were breaking the conditions of their visas. At the present time, it is unclear whether the supermarket chain’s sponsorship licence is likely to be revoked or suspended too, however.   You may also remember the press coverage at the end of […]

Blog: The HR Headmistress – Adrian Smith and the social media issue

The number of problems that arise from the use of social media has, in recent years, increased dramatically. Facebook now has over 1 billion users, more than 500 million people are said to be tweeting and over 100 million professionals are connecting with each other on LinkedIn.   Every day more and more users of […]

Blog: Five ways to ‘master the moment’

In an instant, you can change your mind. You change the impression you had of someone, or you decide something is not a good idea after all. Politics is full of these moments. General David Patraeus had to resign after being caught in an extra-marital affair. In a moment, questions arose about his military judgment. If […]

News: 2013/14 to see surge in executive pay battles, warns report

Shareholder opposition to executive pay proposals is expected to hit a peak during 2013 and 2014 as a growing number of long-term incentive plans come up for renewal. According to a report by KPMG, the so-called 2012 “shareholder spring” was, in fact “something of an illusion”, even though 10 “serious” revolts over the renumeration packages […]

Blog: Why a JJB Sports’ director lost his unfair dismissal claim

The case A Manchester employment tribunal’s decision to reject a claim of unfair dismissal in a case involving a former company secretary at JJB Sports Plc has been upheld.   Jonathan Ashby maintained that he’d been made redundant without warning or consultation.   But an appeal tribunal sitting in London at the end of last […]

News: Greencore workers win temporary pay cut claim

More than 400 workers at a Hull factory are expected to receive up to £1.2 million after their employer refused to revert back to premium pay rates and enhanced holiday pay following a temporary suspension. According to Unite, the staff at Greencore had agreed to the temporary suspension from June 2010 to October 2011 “in […]

Blog: Employed or self-employed? How to get it right legally

HR professionals at the BBC have had a busy few weeks. The director general, George Entwistle, resigned and was controversially paid a year’s salary (twice his notice period, apparently).   The director of news and her deputy were asked to “step aside” pending the outcome of an internal review into the handling of the Jimmy […]