HR Tip: 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. Q: "A number of our employees feel that the Disability Discrimination Act discriminates against healthy people because it requires their employer to give preferential treatment to disabled people. We are inclined to agree. […]

HR tip: Submitting grievances

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 insist that any employee who wishes to submit a formal grievance does so on our official form. Are we alright to do this?" A: No. An employee may submit a grievance in […]

HR Tip: Probation periods and continuous service

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 put new starters on a six month trial period during which we can dismiss them with only one week's notice. Does this period count as part of their continuous service?” A: Yes […]

HR Tip: Multiple sclerosis and DDA

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: “An employee has been diagnosed with MS. It is not obvious to anyone at work at present but is likely to become so as it develops. At what point does she become protected […]

HR tips 2005

All our HR tips from 2005: click on the links to read any of the HR tips. December 2005Losing talent November 2005Publishing discipline and grievance proceduresBanning alcohol in the workplaceRecovering relocation expensesRedundancy and "bumping"Written confirmation of disciplinary sanction October 2005The burden of proof in workplace disciplineEntitlement to benefits during maternity/adoption leaveDefinition of full-time and part-time […]

HR Tip: Appeal against Employment Tribunal decision

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 lost a case of unfair dismissal in the Employment Tribunal. We believe that the Tribunal did not take fully into account the difficulties under which we have to work. Can we […]

HR Tip: Refusal to accept written particulars

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 do I do if an employee refuses to accept the written statement of particulars that I am trying to issue to him?" A: If an employee refuses to accept the written statement […]

HR Tip: Providing prescription spectacles

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: “Our computer operator says that she needs prescription glasses. Do we have to provide them?” A: Yes, if an optician prescribes them specifically for when she is working at a screen. You need […]

HR Tip: Racially based nicknames

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: “Our Glaswegian security guard is called "Jock". Is this race discrimination?” A: I don't know. Ask him. If he is offended by the nickname then yes, it is racial harassment and must cease. […]

HR Tip: Foster parents and flexible working

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 woman has requested flexible working hours to enable her to look after a three year old child. However she is only the foster mother. Does she have any entitlement?” A:  Yes. […]

HR Tip: ‘Forced’ resignations

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: “Rather than dismiss unsuitable employees we ask them to resign. This preserves their dignity. Are we at any risk?” A: You certainly are. A court would construe a resignation made under pressure as […]

HR Tip: Defining ‘theft’

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: “"Theft" is listed in our rules as an example of gross misconduct. We found a man taking some hardwood from our store and told him that we intended to take disciplinary action […]

HR Tip: Job share 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. Q: “We have agreed to allow two of our employees to work part-time on a job-share arrangement. We feel we should set out the arrangement in a contract. What should we include?” A: Each […]

HR Tip: Jury service

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: “One of our supervisors has been called up for jury service. What are our rights in this matter as his employer?” A: You must not prevent the employee from attending otherwise you […]

HR Tip: Meaning of “reasonable”

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: “Legal advice that we read often requires us to be reasonable. What exactly does that mean?” A: A reasonable action is one that falls within the range of actions that a reasonable […]

HR Tip: Delay in accepting an offer

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 wrote to a man we had interviewed offering him a job. After two weeks we had heard nothing from him so offered it to someone else who accepted. Now one month […]

HR Tip: Notice for senior staff

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 notice periods should we write into senior staff contracts?” A: That is entirely up to you and the employee to agree. There is no requirement for senior staff to be put on […]

HR Tip: Withdrawing notice

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: “One of our employees told his manager to "stuff his job" and went home before normal finishing time. We took this to mean that he had resigned with immediate effect. However the […]

HR Tip: Instant 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: “When can we instantly dismiss someone?” HR Tip: Hardly ever. For the worst kind of offence you can dismiss without notice but before doing so you must thoroughly investigate and then conduct […]

HR Tip: Probation periods

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: “Is it a good idea to put new starters on a probation period and, if so, what should we say?” A: If you put someone onto an initial probation period you commit yourself […]