Category: Employment
Jan 2022
Disciplinary Procedure – Key points for Employers
A Disciplinary Procedure is a framework for managers to use to maintain satisfactory standards of conduct and, where necessary, encourage improvement and/or issue formal warnings. A disciplinary procedure generally applies to all employees, regardless of length of service but does not apply to workers or self-employed contractors. If an employer does not follow its disciplinary procedure, an Employment Tribunal can make a finding of unfair dismissal, even where the employer had a fair reason to dismiss an employee. Notwithstanding this, it may not be necessary to follow the disciplinary procedure when managing the behaviour of an employee who has less than two years’ continuous service because such employees generally cannot bring a claim for unfair dismissal. This will always be fact specific and accordingly, employers must take further advice before making such decision.
Jan 2022
Can staff who are afraid of catching Covid-19 refuse to return to work in the office?
Is fear of Covid -19 a protected belief under the Equality Act 2010?
The Manchester Employment Tribunal has recently held that employees cannot use a fear of catching Covid-19 as a reason not to return to working from the office on grounds that it is a philosophical belief protected by the Equality Act.
Dec 2021
Sunak support provides welcome boost to hospitality
£1bn to help fund businesses hit by the latest rise in Covid-19 cases.
Dec 2021
Sick Absence and Fit Notes: Temporary New Rules
Sick absence updates
Some temporary regulations affecting sick absence were published on 16 December 2021 and came into force on 17 December 2021.
Dec 2021
Can my employer refuse my request for Christmas holiday?
Q: My employer has just declined my leave request for some time off over Christmas. The reason they gave was that others had already put their requests in before me and that it would leave them short staffed. I feel this is unfair as I only joined the company recently - is their refusal legal?
A: I’m sorry to hear that, and it must be disappointing for you. Dealing with leave can be quite complicated for both employers and employees - especially when lots of people want to take leave at the same time - like at Christmas.
Dec 2021
‘Tis the season – for a sickie?
Yes, it’s that time of year again; the flu season. Add the Covid-19 virus into the mix and employers can soon find themselves in the middle of a “sickie” epidemic. But what can you do if you think your employees are just in need of a duvet day?
Dec 2021
What do the government restrictions mean for employers and employees? Can your Christmas parties still go ahead?
Further to the arrival of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19, which is said to be "spreading faster than Delta”, Boris Johnson has re-introduced restrictions saying, “It’s now the proportionate and the responsible thing to move to Plan B.”
Oct 2021
Autumn Budget overview
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has delivered his Budget today - the second of the year with the first in March as usual. As well as the Budget, there were results of a spending review, detailing how government will fund public services over the next three years - making this Budget somewhat unusual.
Sep 2021
New rules could mean requests for flexible working are granted on the first day of a new job
If you've always hoped for opportunities for remote working within your job, you'll be pleased to know that might become a reality from day one.
The pandemic has brought many changes to the world we live in - particularly our places of work and those who work in an office.
Jul 2021
Life after Lockdown - Returning to the office
At the press conference on the 5th July, the Prime Minister announced the relaxation of the regulations on the 19th July subject to a review of the latest data on the 12th July. If the regulations are relaxed, then employees will be able to return to the office on the 19th July.
