Redundancy consultation may be scrapped
UK workers may lose the right to be consulted over redundancies following an appeal by the US Government to clarify EU law. The EU Court of Appeal has asked the European Court of Justice to rule whether employers need to consult with staff before or after deciding to make them redundant, following an appeal by the […]
Working with children blacklist ruled ‘against human rights’
Legislation that blacklists people convicted of certain crimes from working with children and vulnerable adults without allowing them a ‘right to be heard’ first is in breach of human rights law, the High Court has ruled. The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, which introduced a “vetting and barring” scheme, also allowed for the creation of […]
HR ineffective at conflict resolution
Although workplace conflict is on the up as a result of the stress caused by increasing workloads, less than one in five employees would turn to the HR function to bring about a resolution. According to a study among 1,000 UK workers commissioned by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), some 87% of […]
Employment law round-up: Interesting developments in 2010
It’s been a busy year so far for employment lawyers. While we can’t cover all the changes that have happened in one article, here are a few interesting developments, plus ideas for ones to watch for in the near future. Fit notesThe Government suggested these would save British industry £240 million by getting us all […]
Ask the expert: Best way to move monthly payment?
This time the experts, Esther Smith and Martin Brewer give their advice on how to change from advance pay to arrears pay. The question: Changing from advance to arrears pay Employees are currently paid one month in advance on the 1st of the month. Obviously this can cause all sorts of recoupment problems if […]
The employer’s guide to maternity and paternity law
For all HR practicioners, dealing with maternity well is essential for talent retention, engagement and attraction as well as complicance with employment law. However with the new paternity rights as well it’s clear you need to make sure you work with your employees to help them fulfill their parental responsibilities as well as their careers. […]
Ask the expert: Providing a reference – what’s our duty to the employer?
The experts, Adam Partington and Esther Smith advise on whether a reference given should be updated to take account of a recent disciplinary hearing. The question: providing a reference – what’s our duty to the employer? About a week ago, we supplied a reference to a prospective employer of one of our employees. Our […]
Director who withheld £11k banned from running business
The director of a recruitment firm has been banned from running a similar business for seven years after withholding wages from staff. Christine Lewiss from Trimmingham near Norwich ran two recruitment firms, Rail Recruit UK Ltd and Rail Recruit UK Projects Ltd, which supplied employers with rail workers. The action was taken against her following […]
Employers warn extending paid maternity leave will add £2.5bn in payroll costs
Employers have reacted with dismay to a European Parliament vote extending paid maternity leave from 14 to 20 weeks, warning that the legislation will add £2.5bn in payroll costs and deter them from hiring new staff. Under the terms of the Pregnant Workers Directive, maternity leave will be extended to 20 weeks on full pay. Currently […]
The ultimate guide to the Equality Act
Michael Slade, managing director of employment specialists, Bibby Consulting & Support (previously mhl support) explains how the Equality Act may affect employers. 1 October 2010 saw the implementation of the Equality Act 2010. This is both an important and extensive review in the area of discrimination and equality. Periodically, employment law is codified and […]
Agency worker directive ‘not for review’
The coalition government has lost its standoff with the CBI and the TUC over attempts to water down legislation giving 1.3 million agency workers the same employment rights as permanent staff. Employment relations minster Ed Davey said that the government would not proceed with any amendments to the regulations, which come into force in October […]
Ask the expert: Extension of probation period
This week the experts, Martin Brewer and Esther Smith advise on how to deal with extending an employee’s probation period. The question: Should a meeting to extend an employee’s probationary period be treated as a disciplinary meeting, i.e. have the right to be accompanied etc. or does their lack of one year’s service preclude that? […]
Maternity leave: A practical guide
Maternity leave is a topic constantly being discussed on HRzone.co.uk. This handy guide is a first-stop-shop for reference – but experienced members and experts are always ready to answer your questions in detail over at Any Answers. This article deals with the statutory entitlement to maternity leave. Your business may have contractual or discretionary provisions […]
Ask the expert: Notice period holiday
The experts, Neil Gill and Esther Smith advise on whether it can be made compulsory to take remaining holiday when serving notice. The question: Notice period holiday Can employers include a clause in their employment contracts which states that any outstanding holiday entitlement must be used up during notice periods? For example, if an […]
Equality Act: It’s recruitment, but not as we know it…?
We consider what changes will need to be made to recruitment in reality in the light of the equality act. Fergal Dowling, Partner in the Employment team at law firm Irwin Mitchell warns recruiting is tough enough as it is but now there are more things to look out for than ever before. The advice […]
Equality Act: What wasn’t enforced
There has been a lot of talk about what changes the Equality Act will bring to HR and recruitment professionals. However, there were a few items the coalition government held back on – and it is these more controversial elements that perhaps say more about the Act than what was enforced this time. One of […]
Equality Act: pre-employment health questions – what difference will it make?
The changes in the law concerning pre-employment healthcare questions have proved some of the most divisive out of all of the Equality Act adjustments. The moves outlaw medical examinations and healthcare questions prior to employment, and the changes are also designed to strengthen protection of disabled workers and applicants. The new provision prohibits employers asking […]
Equality Act comes into force: overview
The new Equality Act came into force on 1 October. As well as ‘harmonising’ much of the discrimination law into one single act, there are other changes HR need to be aware of. Worryingly, research from Eversheds reveals 75% of HR professionals surveyed fear that the Equality Act 2010 will lead to an increase in […]
National minimum wage rises as Ed Miliband commits to ‘living wage’
Ed Miliband has alarmed business groups by committing to the introduction of a “living wage”, after government figures indicated that changes to the existing national minimum wage would already cost organisations £48 million. As of today, Friday 1 October, the minimum wage will apply to low-paid workers aged 21 rather than over 22 for the […]
HR confused over agency worker regulations
Only 19% of HR professionals have a clear understanding of the forthcoming Agency Worker Regulations, while a worrying four out of five have no idea what the consequences of non-compliance would be. According to a survey of 100 HR decision-makers in UK companies who regularly use temporary staff, three out of five did not even […]
