What’s the answer? Teletoddler

Alanna King gets legal guidance this week from Martin Brewer, a Partner with the employment team of Mills & Reeve and Helen Badger, employment law expert at Browne Jacobson on whether to allow an employee to access a nursery web link whilst at work. The question:I have been asked by an employee to allow access […]
What’s the answer? TUPE with less than 12 months service?

Chris Burgess gets legal guidance this week from Martin Brewer, a Partner with the employment team of Mills & Reeve and Helen Badger, employment law expert at Browne Jacobson on whether TUPE rules apply where employees have less then a year’s employment service with the same employer. The question:We are a small company of 16 […]
Off the record: Dealing with employees on long-term sick leave

Sick pay malingerers can be a real drag especially with cases that are dubious and over the long-term cause administrative headaches and a serious dent in productivity and the bottom line; Daniel Isaac, partner in the employment team, at City law firm Withers explains how to deal with ill-health. There are two types of employee […]
What’s the answer? Worker covering maternity leave is pregnant

Linda Hunt gets legal guidance this week from Helen Badger, employment law expert at Browne Jacobson and Martin Brewer, a Partner with the employment team of Mills & Reeve on how to deal with a succession of pregnant employees. The question:We have someone covering for an employee on maternity leave, they have only been here […]
What’s the answer? Maternity leave and redundancy… continued

Helen Badger, employment law expert, Browne JacobsonThere is no specified period for which an employee has to work for her employer after maternity leave before an employer can dismiss on the grounds of redundancy. However, an employee on maternity leave or due to return from maternity leave does have some additional protection over and above […]
What’s the answer? Maternity leave and redundancy

An HR Zone member gets legal guidance this week from Vanessa Di Cuffa, Solicitor at Mills & Reeve and Helen Badger, employment law expert, Browne Jacobson on whether it is legal to make an employee redundant whilst on maternity leave. The question:“We have a marketing administrator going on maternity leave at the end of May. […]
HR Tip: Custom and practice

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: “Although our contracts of employment require people to work nine to five Monday to Friday they leave at about 4.00 pm on Fridays. Can we bring them back to a 5.00 pm […]
What’s the answer? Docking pay/paying late

Michelle M gets legal guidance this week from Helen Badger, employment law expert at Browne Jacobson and Martin Brewer, a Partner with the employment team of Mills & Reeve on the law regarding pay. The question:“Can an employer dock an employees pay by £5 for turning in their timesheet late? “Also, can the employee be […]
HR Tip: 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. Q: “A man has applied for a job. If he gets it he will be the only man in a workroom of forty women. This seems hardly fair. What should we do?” A: […]
What’s the answer? Pay during probation

Rameni Caussy gets legal guidance this week from Helen Badger, employment law expert at Browne Jacobson and Martin Brewer, a Partner with the employment team of Mills & Reeve on the law regarding the obligation to pay an employee dismissed while in the early stages of their probationary period. The question:“We have a situation where […]
Comment: The impact of age discrimination laws on service related awards

How will new regulations outlawing age discrimination affect service related award schemes? Amanda Shaw, head of HR at Cottrills, comments on the Employment Equality (Age) Regulation 2006 draft paper. Until now, there has been no legislation dealing with age discrimination in Great Britain. This will change in October 2006 when legislation will be introduced outlawing […]
What’s the answer? Notice periods

Karen Beardsley gets legal guidance this week from Helen Badger, employment law expert at Browne Jacobson and Martin Brewer, a Partner with the employment team of Mills & Reeve on the law regarding notice periods. The question:"Can anyone help on the law regarding notice periods? Do we have to give notice to someone who has […]
Gaynor’s Thoughts: Happy redundancies – a life changing opportunity

Roy Gaynor, Managing Director of management consultants' training and support network, Navisys Academy recounts his experiences as a head of HR, when he had to make redundancies and reflects on what he learned about the process from those that lost their jobs. I was once the head of HR at an engineering company that employed […]
Off the record: Dealing with an office romance

Daniel Isaac, a principal in the employment team at City law firm Withers LLP explains how to manage two employees whose affair is affecting their work. With long working hours, workplace romances are on the increase. In the US, many employers have policies forbidding romantic relationships at work. These are less common in the UK […]
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 […]