Flexible working changes – a smorgasbord of opinions on right to request

From today, 20 million people (according to BIS) now have the right to request flexible working from their employer. BIS have said that over half of businesses who allow flexible working see improved relationships, 40% report productivity boost and 38% see drop in staff absence. The salient points: The change affects those who have over […]

No progress on race inequality in leadership, report finds

Racial inequality in UK management is no better now than it was in 2007, a new report has claimed. The proportion of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people in top management increased by just 0.5% between 2007 and 2012, according to the report by Business in the Community’s race equality campaign Race for Opportunity. […]

You thought pensions auto-enrolment was the last of it? Sick pay is next

One of the biggest conundrums facing successive governments in recent times has been to cut the enormous spend on welfare benefits. The recent introduction of auto-enrolled pensions is enlightening and, I believe, points to what HR will have to handle at some point in the future.  Conceived under the previous Labour administration and introduced under the […]

Female contractors ‘in minority’ compared to men

The proportion of women working as contractors is less than half that of men, new figures have shown. According to official data, obtained by professional services consultancy Procorre, there are just under 1 million female contractors currently working in the UK, representing 8% of working women, compared to 2.5 million men, who represent 15.5% of […]

Queen’s Speech 2014: Pension reforms take centre stage

Sweeping reforms to pensions were at the centre of this year’s Queen’s Speech. In the final speech before the 2015 election, legislation on ‘collective’ workplace pension schemes was announced, with a Bill that will enable employees to pay into a collective pension fund shared with other workers that aims to cut costs and “pool risk” […]

How should HR deal with mentoring arrangements?

Mentoring can take place in different ways – either internally within a business (senior staff mentoring junior staff), staff providing mentoring to external beneficiaries and the employer bringing in mentors from outside the business to support staff.  All of these possibilities have different implications, benefits and risks to the employer. Perhaps the main benefit to […]

Diversity and recruitment – a necessity for the modern organisation

For any HR professional or hiring manager, the recruitment process can sometimes appear time-consuming, but in fact it is incredibly simple. When on a journey to find the right talent for your business, it is essential that you find the best person for the job, someone who can contribute positively and add value to your […]

Should whistleblowers receive rewards or awards?

Whistleblowers serve private and public interests when they raise concerns about wrongdoing but how do we recognise those who choose to come forward? Should we offer financial rewards or awards of a different nature? Policies and procedures for whistleblowing are becoming increasingly common in both the public and private sector. In the UK we tend […]

Covert recordings – admissible as evidence?

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (“EAT”) has held that secret recordings of private deliberations made in the course of grievance and disciplinary proceedings can be admissible in evidence. There has been a steady stream of EAT level decision in this area, and this case, Punjab National Bank (International) Ltd & ors v Ms S Gosain UKEAT/0003/14/SM, […]

When can I discuss things ‘without prejudice?’

Employers often want to chat with employees “off the record” so that they try and negotiate an agreed departure by persuading an employee to leave both quickly and amicably, and therefore save the need to carry out the full dismissal procedure.  Often such chats are seen as a less formal route and if a deal […]

Protected beliefs and the case of the democratic socialist in the DWP

The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) prohibits direct and indirect discrimination and harassment in the workplace on the grounds of religious or philosophical belief. Prior to the Act coming into force, the Government made it clear that the Act was not intended to cover political beliefs. However, a recent Employment Tribunal decision has cast doubt […]

Introducing the CV Blind interview

The recruitment process is a crucial stage of any employment relationship. Ensuring you end up with the best person for the role depends upon having the right systems in place, from the initial job advert through to final interview. Organisations are continuously looking to innovate in this area, and whilst some tend towards abstract questions […]

Vaping in the workplace: employers go full steam ahead

Ever since the smoking ban came into force in 2007 the number of those turning to alternative means to keep their nicotine cravings calm in public spaces has been on a steady increase. However, more recently many are ditching the patches and gum in place of picking up pen-like devices known as e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are […]

Do employees have to be paid for ‘sleepovers’ and travelling time?

Summary: The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) recently clarified the correct approach to determining what hours are to be paid at the minimum rate of the National Minimum Wage (NMW). The EAT found that a claimant who had to perform ‘sleepovers’ in the homes of care service users was entitled to the NMW for all the […]

Government-backed mediation pilots – one year in

One year in, Anna Shields, Director of Consensio, looks at how successful a Government-backed mediation scheme has been to date. In June 2012, the Government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) launched and funded a pilot project to increase the use of mediation in the workplace. The long-term aim of this initiative was to […]

Understanding the changes to parental leave arriving in April 2015

Getting to grips with the new concept of shared parental leave (SPL), which is due to be introduced in April 2015, involves more than a technical understanding of the new procedure.  The social engineering behind SPL begs us to consider not only why this scheme is being introduced but also the wider cultural benefits. I […]

Are tribunals making it easier for claimants to bring claims out of time?

Historically, time limits for bringing claims in the Employment Tribunal, particularly the three-month time limit in relation to unfair dismissal claims, have been strictly enforced by Employment Judges.  However, the recent case of Norbert Dentressangle Logistics Limited v Mr Graham Hutton UKEATS/0011/13/BI casts doubt on whether this is still the case. This poses the question: […]

Companies cannot ‘unquestioningly’ accept OH if they say a worker isn’t disabled

A judgment this week from the Court of Appeal in the case of Gallop v Newport City Council held that employers cannot simply ‘unquestioningly’ accept the opinion of an occupational health practitioner that an employee is not disabled. This case reminds employers that, although at the end of the day only an Employment Tribunal can […]

The new Immigration Bill – guidance for employers

The government’s ongoing aim and intention to reduce net migration from hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands a year continues, with the announcement of the new Immigration Bill. In practice the Bill will first require Royal Assent and we are therefore unlikely to observe the impact until after Spring 2014. On 10 October 2013 […]

Are the parents on your side?

Companies keen to support parents, create a legacy that lasts and engage their workforce can sign up for our free webinar on 4th December. When HR debates parenting it has tended to be about maternity/paternity leave and flexi-working.  It’s time the debate moved on. Whereas most employers seem to behave as if parenting stops when the […]