News: Redundancies to leap as employers bid to cut staff costs
Amid warnings of a deteriorating economic situation, UK employers are shifting their focus towards making voluntary redundancies and outsourcing loss-making services in a bid to cut staffing costs. Sir Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, told MPs on the Treasury Committee today that the economic situation had now worsened to such an extent […]
Ask the Expert: What should I include in a data protection policy?
The question I need to write a Data Protection policy for both staff and clients. What are the key legal points that I need to bear in mind and how can we best undertake enforcement – internally at least? The legal verdict Esther Smith, a partner at Thomas Eggar Before […]
News: MPs accuse Beecroft of employment “policy by parable”
The man behind the controversial ‘compensated no fault dismissals’ proposals appeared before a committe of MPs yesterday and got a hostile reception. Entrepreneur Adrian Beecroft appeared before the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill committee theoretically to discuss proposed new legislation, but instead found himself having to defend his stnace on previous recommendations. Opposition MPs questioned […]
Ensuring collaboration works
With new and updated HR legislation coming into effect all the time, HR departments need to stay on the ball to remain compliant. Mistakes in this area can have serious consequences and a negative impact in both a regulatory and employee well-being sense. As a result, it can help if HR executives put their […]
Talent Spot: Michael Doolin, HR director at DHL’s Tradeteam
“I swore blind I wouldn’t end up doing what my father did and, 34 years later, I am,” laughs Michael Doolin, HR director at DHL’s Tradeteam. His father had been a shop steward before moving into industrial relations, which meant that there had been lots of very dull-looking manuals hanging around at home that had […]
Beecroft fire at will proposals stung by dismissal
Fire at will proposals proposed by the Beecroft review look to be dismissed themselves following a ‘call for evidence’ by the government. Venture Capitalist Adrian Beecroft had proposed allowing employers to fire staff without explanation in return for a basic pay-off. Out of 135 responses by businesses, 38% called for the plan to […]
Blog: how to comply with fire safety at work
In light of the recent news that Asda have been fined more than £55,000 for fire safety breaches they might have wanted to have a closer look at how to comply with fire safety. Having an affective fire action plan in place can help your company to evacuate quickly and safely and help to minimise […]
Equal pay tribunals could lead to near £20k of audit and legal costs
A review of all staff wages must be carried out by a company after it has lost an employment tribunal claim over equal pay, according to equalities minister Lynne Featherstone If a tribunal rules that a worker has been discriminated against because of their gender, that firm would be compelled to examine employees’ salaries, an […]
Living Leader Learnings: The Redundancy Challenge
The Company: Insurance Company The Challenger: Group HR Director My company is in the process of introducing a series of job cuts across the workforce, and some of the members of my team will be involved. I want to communicate with them directly and prepare them, though I know other board members are not planning […]
Legal Commentary: Has dishonesty by an employee been sanctioned by the Court of Appeal?
The recent decision by the Court of Appeal – Cavenagh v William Evans [2012] EWCA Civ 697 – to come down on the side of the former director of a company who was made redundant after deliberately taking money from his employer, to which he knew he was not entitled, has set a precedent which […]
Ask the Expert: How do I end non-contractual arrangements?
The question I’m looking for advice on the steps to go through when ending non-contractual arrangements. I’m working on the basis that, for expediency’s sake, the safest approach is to follow the same process as for contractual terms, but any advice would be much appreciated. Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar […]
Cable’s plan to pay off unwanted employees must carry a duty of care, warn experts
Employers will be able to offer settlement agreements before a formal dispute arises and will be legally protected from this offer being used as evidence in an unfair dismissal tribunal case, under new legislation proposed by Business Secretary Vince Cable. In his opening speech at the second reading of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill, […]
News: Former Olympus CEO gets £10m unfair dismissal payoff
Former Olympus chief executive, Michael Woodford, who was sacked for blowing the whistle on a £1.7 billion fraud scandal, will receive a payoff of £10 million. Woodford, who left the Japanese consumer and medical camera manufacturer after only two weeks, will receive the pay-out following his agreement to an out-of-court settlement last week. He […]
News: Income tax and national insurance integration hits delays
The government has delayed a consultation on possible options for integrating the operation of income tax and National Insurance Contributions. The consultation was originally due to start after the March Budget, following discussions with employers and other groups. But due to the technical challenges involved in the move – and the potential disruption […]
Ask the Expert: Is being rude to a colleague’s mum grounds for a disciplinary?
The question An external agent, a non-employee, has raised a grievance against a colleague of mine, a first line manager, claiming that she was unsympathetic and cold during a telephone conversation, in which the external agent had asked if her son could leave site immediately to attend a funeral (his grandfather’s). My colleague had […]
News: Case for no-fault dismissals unproven, say experts
Experts from all areas of business have agreed that, while the benefits case for introducing compensated no-fault dismissal is unproven, there is a strong risk that it could damage employment relations. The coalition government’s request for evidence on the controversial measure, which was put forward by venture capitalist Adrian Beecroft earlier this year, is due […]
News: BA cabin crew sue for loss of travel discounts during strike
A number of cabin crew living outside of England are seeking compensation from British Airways for indirect racial discrimination over its withdrawal of travel concessions during strikes two years ago. According to the Guardian, the claims are being heard at an employment tribunal this week, where five air stewards are looking for redress of up […]
Legal Insight: Expect the unexpected when hiring
Most HR departments already have efficient recruitment policies in place that outline the whole process, from the initial decision to hire through to making an appointment. If this sounds like you, you may be feeling quite smug that you’ve got the process more or less sorted out – and in part, you could be right. […]
News: Former Olympus CEO settles unfair dismissal case out-of-court
Former Olympus chief executive Michael Woodford has reached an out-of-court settlement with his ex-employer for unfair dismissal. Woodford was sacked just two weeks after his appointment on blowing the cover on a $1.7bn accounting scandal at the Japanese company. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, but the Financial Times has reported […]
News: 60% of workers plan to watch Olympics – with or without consent
More than half of employers plan to enable their staff to work more flexibly during the Olympics – which is just as well as nearly three out of five employees intend to watch Games, with or without consent. According to the initial findings of a joint survey undertaken by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and […]
