Santa is coming to town – the HR nightmare before Christmas
Annabel Kaye provides this tongue-in-cheek memo for employees from an employer brave enough to risk a Christmas party. Dear employees: We are organising the annual Christmas party, and a Mr Klaus has agreed to be our entertainer. After last year’s party (by the way, congratulations on the baby, Miss Smith) we thought it would […]
Ask the expert: P45 – which date should be shown?
The experts, Adam Partington and Esther Smith advise on which date should be shown on this employee’s P45. The question: P45 – which date should be shown? A one month’s notice period has been served to one of our employees who has been working with us since last one year. We are confused as to […]
Ask the expert: Restrictions on taking annual leave?
This time the experts, Esther Smith and Martin Brewer give their advice on what restrictions can be placed on employees taking annual leave. The question: Annual leave restrictions? Is it possible for us to specify in our contracts that the employee can only take as much holiday as they have accrued? I know that […]
The bribery act – what is a gift too far?
Next April will see the implementation of the Bribery Act which will consolidate existing laws on bribery and reform criminal law to create a set of specific offences designed to combat bribery in the public and private sectors. While the Act provides a much more effective legal framework to combat bribery it also presents HR […]
Employment Law takeways for November
Employment law takeaways: our bitesize legal updates for busy HR professionals, provided by Suzanne Horne of Morrison and Foerster. This month, it’s mostly maternity and dismissal, but there’s something to be said for football too… Gisda Cyf v Barratt – Dismissal by post only effective when employee reads the letter or has reasonable opportunity to […]
Ask the expert: Internal job post -applications after closing date?
The experts, Adam Partington and Esther Smith advise on whether late applications can be accepted in an internal job post. The question: Internal job post – applications after closing date? My employer listed a job on the internal recruitment website; for a position which I applied; I know for a fact I am the […]
US employee may have been fired illegally due to Facebook comment
In what could prove to be a precedent-setting case on both sides of the Atlantic, the US National Labor Relations Board has accused a company of illegally firing an employee after she criticised her boss on Facebook. The Board, a US federal agency, which oversees union elections and investigates claims of unfair labour practices, claimed […]
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 […]