HR tip: Custom and practice – starting time being changed
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question: "Our contracts of employment state that our office hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, but our previous general manager has, for the last three years, allowed everyone to leave at […]
HR tip: Implied contractual terms
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question: "What are implied terms?" HR tip: Express terms are those that have been explained to the employee, for example by being set out in the offer letter, contractual statement or employee handbook. […]
HR tip: Dyslexia – a disability?
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question: "Is dyslexia a disability under the Disability Discrimination Act?" HR tip: An employee is protected by the Disability Discrimination Act if he or she has a physical or mental impairment, which has […]
HR tip: Demands for contractual statements
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question: "An employee has demanded a copy of his contract of employment although he was issued with one when he joined us some years ago. What should we do?" HR tip: There are […]
HR tip: A new fair reason for dismissal
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question: "I always understood that there are five reasons for fair dismissal, but have just been told that there are six. Is this so?" HR tip: Yes. For many years the five reasons […]
HR tip: Heavy lifting and sex discrimination
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question:"Our warehouse staff are required to carry out a great deal of heavy lifting, so as a result we tend to recruit only men. Is this a problem? We may be discriminating but […]
Credit crunch leads to increase in county court judgments
County court judgments have risen by 500% over the past two years, signalling further corporate distress in the UK and a rise in company insolvencies. According to the latest Business Credit Index, published by the Credit Management Research Centre (CMRC) at Leeds University Business School, the early signs of financial stress in the corporate sector […]
HR tip: Making notes in disciplinary hearings
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question:"In a disciplinary hearing I find it difficult to listen, think, and make notes, all at the same time. Any suggestions please?" HR tip:Don't do them all at the same time. Listen until […]
HR tip: Reinstatement and re-engagement in tribunals
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question:"If, as seems likely, we lose a case of unfair dismissal at an upcoming employment tribunal, and the tribunal requires us to take the employee back, are we obliged to do so? And […]
HR tip: New recruit fails to arrive
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question:"We recruited a man and waited for him to serve his notice with his current employer. However he has failed to turn up to work. What can we do?" HR tip:Contact him and […]
HR tip: Employing husband and wife in same unit – sex discrimination?
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question:"A woman has applied for a job in the same small section as her husband. We are not comfortable with this. Can we do anything?" HR tip:No, it would be a breach of […]
HR tip: Does raising standards require new contract?
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question:"We recruited a supervisor who left after six months' service. We now discover that the standards of both behaviour and productivity dropped during the period he ran his section. We need to bring […]
Resigned or dismissed? How the law sees it
When there is confusion as to whether an employee has resigned or been dismissed, how is it seen in the eyes of the law? Barrister Charles Price explains. It is often not clear whether an employee has resigned or was dismissed, and it has been held in law that where an employee is told […]
Laying down the law: Legislation roundup
The April legislation amendments are upon us again. Matt Henkes takes a look at the changes you need to know about. As the 6 April regulatory implementation date approaches, it's time for HR to make a last quick check that it's not going to trip over some hidden snag. With a number of easily […]
Sexual harassment laws introduced with just three weeks’ notice
New anti-sexual harassment rules are to come into force on 6 April, despite only being laid down in Parliament two weeks ago. HRZone.co.uk has learnt that on 14 March, women and equalities minister Harriet Harman used a statutory instrument, that does not require a debate in Parliament, to introduce the rules which impose on employers […]
Ask the expert: Aggressive behaviour during disciplinary hearing
An employee was asked to attend a disciplinary meeting after threatening to kill another colleague; yet during the meeting he became aggressive and was escorted out. Esther Smith, partner at Thomas Eggar, and Martin Brewer, partner at Mills & Reeve, advise on what should be done next. The question: Following being suspended from work, […]
Employer-induced sickness: Is dismissal still fair?
Can it ever be fair to dismiss an employee for sickness incapacity when the employer has caused, or at least contributed to, that ill health? The Court of Appeal says 'yes', as employers everywhere breathe a sigh of relief. Junaid Haroon explains. The case This is a rather sad case. Suzanne McAdie had worked […]
HR tip: Changing terms and conditions of employment
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question: "If I change someone's terms and conditions of employment, do I have to issue a new contract?" HR Tip:There is no need to do this, though you must confirm the change in […]
HR tip: Modest pay increase
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question:"An employee, along with several others, received only a modest pay increase this year because his section performed badly. He complained at the time but was given a clear and full explanation. Now, […]
HR tip: Disabled employee and sickness benefit
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Question:"One of my employees is a disabled person who has been off sick for several months and has now exhausted his contractual sick pay entitlement. Because he is disabled do I have to […]