HR Tip: Refusing SSP
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Q: Can I refuse to pay Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to a man if I doubt that his self-certified sickness was genuine? A: Yes, provided you have carried out a thorough investigation and […]
Immigration: A brave new world?
Reed Smith explain the new rules, effective as of 7 March 2006, governing business immigration. On 7 March 2006 the Government unveiled further detail on its proposals to overhaul the UK immigration rules which been in force for over 20 years. The contents of the command paper entitled “A Points Based System: Making Migration Work […]
What’s the answer? Employee charged with a crime
Sam Bailey gets legal guidance this week from Helen Badger, employment law expert at Browne Jacobson and Guy Guinan, employment partner at Halliwells law firm on whether dismissal is an option. The question:“If an employee has been charged with a crime and we feel it affects our trust in the employee as well as potentially […]
Employment law briefing: Implied contracts of employment
The employment status of temps has been at the centre of numerous cases and much academic debate for a number of years. A recent court decision involving Cable and Wireless has turned the spotlight back on this area of law. Following this closely watched case, what are the exact implications for employers of using agency […]
What’s the answer? Bonus payments during maternity
Amanda Celliers gets legal guidance this week from Helen Badger, employment law expert at Browne Jacobson and Chris Syder, Partner and Head of Employment at the London office of Clarkslegal LLP on the rules governing bonus payments for those on maternity leave The question:”An annual bonus scheme which is made up of a profit share […]
HR Tip: Role of companion
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Q: What is the role of the companion in disciplinary hearings? A: The role of the companion is to hold the hand, metaphorically, of the accused and ensure that their rights are respected. To […]
HR Tip: Contractual Changes
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Q: We have agreed a change in overtime arrangements and thus a change in terms and conditions. Should we issue new contracts? A: No, there is no need to issue new contracts unless […]
HR Tip: New evidence following disciplinary sanction
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Q: We dismissed an employee following a thorough investigation and properly conducted disciplinary hearing. All the evidence pointed to his guilt. Now however we have received new evidence that shows that he was […]
HR Tip: National Insurance Numbers
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Q: What can be done to minimise the problem of missing NI numbers? A: Most employers have difficulty in obtaining a National Insurance (NI) number for every employee. Some new employees are just […]
HR Tip: Right to car parking spaces
These questions are being answered by Learn HR, a market leader in the provision of HR and payroll training and nationally-recognised professional qualifications. Q: We need to use part of the existing staff car park for an office extension and the employees are complaining and claiming that custom and practice allows them to continue using the […]
SOSR dismissal: A managerial prerogative?
Alison Wallace, head of employment practice at Steptoe & Johnson solicitors looks at recent case law which sheds some light on the grey area of dismissal for ‘some other substantial’ reason. Section 98 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 requires an employer to prove the reason for dismissal being either proscribed reasons or for “some […]
Indirect sex discrimination: A clouded view?
A 6ft 10 inch tall graduate recently lost a sex discrimination claim against National Traffic Services, who had first offered him a job and then withdrew it on safety grounds because of his height; Paul Lambdin, Partner in employment at Stevens & Bolton LLP looks at the thorny issue of indirect sex discrimination. The applicant […]
Legal focus: RSI a pain in the neck?
Member, Jo Oxley recently requested some advice on the considerations of taking on a typist who suffers with neck and shoulder problems in response to this we asked Scottish law firm Dundas and Wilson to offer their expert guidance; read on to see their hot tips and pointers. The question: We are recruiting a typist […]
The ‘neurosis’ affliction – screening in the workplace
Carl Laidler, Managing Director of Prevent plc looks at Britain’s obsession with wellbeing and the steady creep towards US style workplace health screening. It is no surprise that levels of neurosis in the UK are increasing when you consider the amount of media coverage dedicated to health. Over the last couple of years you haven’t […]
Information and Consultation – Jaw, Jaw not War, War
Sarah Smith of Bevans solicitors discusses the new Information and Consultation Regulations that came into force in March. If you are an owner, manager or HR manager of a business with more than 150 employees then March was an important month for you and not because it meant that you had a four day bank […]
‘Massive increase in Court Fees to prevent access to justice?’
James Taylor of Bevans Solicitors discusses access to justice. Job satisfaction for Solicitors lies in many areas, but for me, providing access to a civilised system of dispute resolution is high on the list. When I hear tales of the Italian mafia or read of the lawlessness in places like Iraq, I realise what an […]
Bosses fear working time opt-out removal
Employers are keen to hang onto the Working Time Directive opt-out clause; despite embracing new work/life balance initiatives says new research. IRS Employment Review, publishers of the research released today, surveyed 77 organisations covering more than 70,000 people to establish how UK employers organise working hours and their views on the Working Time Directive and […]
Case law: Psychiatric injury and discrimination law
The Court of Appeal has confirmed that an employee can recover compensation for psychiatric injury resulting from an employer's act of race discrimination, even where the employee's reaction is unforeseeable and extreme. Jacqueline McCluskey, Senior Associate at Dundas & Wilson summarises the case and what this means in practice for employers. The Court of […]
Any Answers questions on employment law
To tie in with the launch of HR Zone's new employment law zone, we've highlighted a selection of useful employment law questions that have been answered in the Any Answers area of the site. Does anyone know if equal pay law covers two people doing exactly the same job in different NHS trusts?Helen MathewsRead the […]
Expectant mothers still experience pregnancy discrimination at work
Pregnant women still continue to face problems at work, according to survey results released today during National Pregnancy Week. The survey, which questioned 1200 people, revealed that over a fifth knew an expectant mother who had experienced difficulties at work because of her pregnancy – rising to a third amongst women aged 25-34. Experiences included […]
