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 […]
Government minister threatens strike law changes
The case for reforming strike laws will become “very pressing” if public sector workers press ahead with industrial action at the end of the month, a Coalition Government Minister has warned. Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude told BBC 1’s Andrew Marr show on Sunday that such legislation was kept “under review”, adding that a mass […]
Ask the Expert: Can I change the job offer for a pregnant candidate?
The question We recently offered a full-time role to an applicant who has now indicated that she may be pregnant. She is considering not joining us because of this. We have no problem with her pregnancy, but the role offered could be strenuous in the later months of pregnancy. We want to consider other […]
Blog: The value of early intervention
Mary is an established member of her team, with good social and professional relationships with her co-workers. Her boss has managed the unit with a fair degree of success (neither perfect nor imperfect), and everyone knows where the boundaries are and what is expected of them. Boss moves on with fond farewells. New boss […]
Legal Insight: Qantas of solace – Would Oz’s dispute resolution model work in the UK?
Qantas’ unprecedented decision to ground its entire fleet of aeroplanes during a recent industrial dispute has provoked huge debate across both the country and the world. The clash, the response of the Australian national airline’s management to it and the subsequent decision of national workplace relations tribunal, Fair Work Australia, to order an end to […]
Update: UK worker loses race discrimination claim against Chinese telco
A UK worker has lost his case against a Chinese telecoms company that he sued for race discrimination after claiming that 49 workers in Basingstoke were axed and replaced with Chinese nationals. Judeson Peter, a customer support engineer who was paid £48,000 per annum by Huawei Technologies, accused the firm of making him redundant because […]
Redknapp to stand trial in January for tax evasion
Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp will stand trial in January for allegedly evading tax on £180,000 of his earnings. Redknapp is accused of two counts of cheating the public purse between 2002 and 2007 when he was at Portsmouth Football Club. He will stand trial alongside former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric, both of whom […]