Ask the Expert: How do I ensure that shift workers get the right holiday?
The question We have a team of 24/7/365 shift workers working four days on, four days off, 12 hours each shift. Using the calculation on the Direct.Gov website (5.6 weeks entitlement x 3.5 shifts worked per week = 19.6 12 hour shifts annual entitlement), the team is entitled to 19.6 shifts off per year […]
Finding and keeping disabled workers
Organisations facing cost pressures in today’s challenging economic environment would do well to explore the business case for employing disabled people. Exceptional characters such as Stephen Hawking, David Blunkett and Richard Branson would appear to prove the point that it doesn’t make sense to simply exclude them in the mistaken notion that they have nothing […]
High Court rules in Government’s favour on pension change
The High Court has ruled in favour of the Coalition Government’s decision to link public sector pensions to a lower inflation measure than used to be the case up until April. Trade unions had brought a judicial review into the legality of the Government’s switch from using the Consumer Prices Index rather than the faster-growing […]
Asset-based pension contribution crackdown could put off large employers
Changes introduced in Tuesday’s Autumn Statement to restrict tax relief on asset-backed contributions to pension schemes are likely to make them less attractive to large companies. The new limits on tax relief for asset-backed pension contributions were set out in draft clauses of the Finance Bill 2012, but came into effect from the date of […]
Negative attitudes towards disabled workers “more damaging than disability itself”
Just under two thirds of workers avoid people with disabilities because they are unsure of how to act around them, while a third view them in an actively negative light. These are the key findings of a survey undertaken among 3,000 UK adults by BT. The study also revealed that among those who had […]
Appeal Court ruling on equal pay claims could open floodgates
A landmark Court of Appeal decision could now pave the way for a raft of equal pay claims by both private and public sector workers seeking to pursue compensation. Three appeal judges ruled yesterday that claims made by 174 former female employees of Birmingham City Council could be heard in the High Court as well […]
Round-up of Chancellor’s key Autumn Statement pronouncements
Public sector pay rises are to be capped at 1% for two years, the Chancellor announced today in his Autumn Statement. The cap will follow straight on from a two-year-long pay freeze for public sector workers and is only likely to inflame anger over the Coalition Government’s proposed changes to pensions. Among other things, the […]
Legal Insight: Limiting the cost of a national walk-out
The country is bracing itself for the biggest walk-out since the 1926 General Strike. This Wednesday, up to three million public sector workers are expected to take industrial action against changes to their pension scheme. A wide variety of institutions will be directly affected, including schools and colleges, courts and public offices, hospitals, airports […]
Christian worker sues after alleged bullying by Muslim colleagues
A Christian airport worker is suing her former employers for unfair dismissal after speaking out against what she claimed was a campaign of “race hate” by Muslim colleagues. According to the Telegraph, Nohad Halawi, who worked at Terminal three in Heathrow Airport, attested that she and other Christian colleagues were subjected to bullying and intimidation […]
Update: Auto-enrolment delayed for small businesses
Small businesses are to be given an extra year before they have to start enrolling their employees into workplace pension schemes. The move will apply to firms employing less than 50 staff and is being portrayed as a boost for business. More than 44% of the entire UK workforce – the equivalent of about four […]
Are we ready for an older workforce?
Up until the middle of the last century, when a worker retired, the expectation was that they would not live for long afterwards. Sadly, this situation is still true in a minority of cases, although most have much longer to enjoy their retirement than in the past. In 2011, people born in 1946 will […]
Ask the Expert: Do internal applicants have any comeback if someone external gets the job?
The question I have recently had a situation at work where an opportunity for promotion arose internally. Three internal candidates applied, but before their interviews took place, rumours began to circulate about the existence of an external candidate. All three candidates were interviewed and subsequently rejected and the external candidate was offered the job. […]
Legal Insight: The Swedish derogation unmasked
It has been estimated that implementing the Agency Workers Regulations 2010, which came into force on 1 October 2011, will cost UK business a total of £1.8 billion. The Regulations entitle the UK’s 1.4 temporary workers to the same pay and benefits as permanent staff after 12 weeks in the same job with a given […]
HMRC looks for more PAYE Real Time Information guinea pigs
HM Revenue & Customs is asking for more employers to join its PAYE Real Time Information (RTI) pilot scheme. The government agency has already recruited 300 volunteers to test drive the system before its initial launch in April and is inviting a further 1,300 to join in July next year, followed by an additional 250,000 volunteers from November […]
Blog: What state is HR in?
Last year, employers faced a sustained increase in workplace unrest as austerity measures, longer working hours, stress and a genuine skills gap took their toll on the UK workforce. A survey among 550 HR professionals, who looked after a combined workforce of over two million, undertaken by law firm Speechly Bircham and the Management Learning […]
Legal Insight: Working through the internship issue
Interns Anonymous recently revealed that 50% of the 647 interns it surveyed had completed at least two placements, with 86% indicating that each had lasted longer than a month. Given the apparent confusion about the legal situation surrounding internships and the fact that their popularity is continuing to mount, it is essential that HR professionals […]
Should HR be regulated?
HR departments play an important role in ensuring that businesses comply with regulatory requirements. By monitoring conformance with industry-specific guidelines, guaranteeing adherence to legislation and keeping paper trails updated, HR professionals help organisations to avoid the penalties and fines that can damage or even destroy reputations. But what about regulation relating to the HR […]
Cable denies creating climate of fear with employment law shakeup
The Business Secretary has denied fostering a climate in which workers will fear for their jobs in the wake of a proposed big shake up of current employment law. During a speech to manufacturers’ organisation, the EEF, in London today, Vince Cable announced a call for evidence on whether the 90-day minimum consultation period for […]
‘Protected conversations’ will create business “nightmare”
Coalition Government proposals to introduce ‘protected conversations’ risk “creating a field day for employment lawyers and a nightmare for businesses”, experts have warned. Among a raft of proposed changes to UK employment law mooted by Business Secretary Vince Cable this morning, one of the most controversial was enabling employers to hold ‘protected conversations’ with staff […]
“Stratospheric” executive pay rises are ‘damaging British business’
“Stratospheric” pay increases that have seen the salaries of top executives at a number of FTSE companies soar by more than 4,000% over the last 30 years are undermining productivity and “damaging” trust in British business. According to a report published by the High Pay Commission following a year-long inquiry, such high growth rates compare […]
