Shared Parental Leave & Pay Guide
Employees may be entitled to Shared Parental Leave (SPL), as well as Shared Parental Pay (ShPP), if either they or their partner have had a baby or adopted a child. What is Shared Parental Leave? SPL enables eligible mothers, fathers, partners and adopters to choose how to share time off work after their child is […]
Employment case law update December 2020
A number of key employment law cases of significance for employers have recently been decided. Settlement agreements, COT3 & misrepresentation Cole v Elders Voice In November 2020 the Employment Appeal Tribunal handed down judgment upholding an appeal in the case of Cole v Elders Voice. Mrs Cole’s employment transferred to Elders Voice under the Transfer […]
Dismissing an Apprentice (Employer’s Guide)
There could be a number of reasons why you may be considering bringing an apprentice’s employment to an end. Before taking action, it helps to understand your rights and responsibilities, and those of the apprentice, to avoid potential disputes over the dismissal decision or process. The following guide provides important practical advice for employers looking […]
What is the Frontier Worker Permit?
What is the frontier worker permit and how do you apply? Frontier workers are individuals who work in one country while their primary residence is in another. EU freedom of movement has enabled frontier workers to come and go between the UK and EU member states without being subject to immigration control. Under new rules […]
Employee stealing from work?
If you suspect an employee stealing from work or misusing company property without permission, it is likely to come as a shock. Any action you take in response to stealing from work must be fully considered and based on factual evidence to avoid falling foul of legal issues. It is also likely you will have […]
How to Get a Working Holiday Visa for the UK
A working holiday visa allows people from overseas between the ages of 18 and 30 to come to the UK to work and travel for a period of two years. Following changes in UK immigration law on 1st January 2021, the T5 Youth Mobility Scheme visa, formerly called a Tier 5 visa, enables individuals who […]
Tier 2 General Visa Guide
The Tier 2 (General) visa is now closed to new applicants, and has been replaced by the Skilled Worker route. This article relates to the requirements for the old Tier 2 visa. If you are making a new visa application, you should apply under the Skilled Worker route. What is the Tier 2 (General) Visa? […]
Employment case law update November 2020
A number of key employment law cases of significance for employers have recently been decided. Unfair dismissal Chemcem Scotland Ltd v Ure UKEATS/0036/19/SS In Chemcem Scotland Ltd v Ure, the Employment Appeal Tribunal upheld the decision of the first tier in finding that the acceptance of a repudiatory breach does not have to be expressly […]
Treated Unfairly At Work: What Are Your Rights?
What should you do if you are being treated unfairly at work? In most cases, employees will be expected to try to resolve issues informally with their employer first. But what does this mean, and what are your rights and legal options if you want to make a complaint about unfair treatment in the workplace? […]
5 Tips on Choosing Your Immigration Lawyer
How do you choose the best immigration lawyer? Here are a few tips to help you through the process of finding a good immigration solicitor. [toc] 1. Get recommendations It’s likely at least one person in your network has needed an immigration solicitor at one point or another in their life. Ask your friends […]
Gross misconduct & fair dismissal
Gross misconduct refers to conduct, actions or behaviour from an employee that is sufficiently serious to justify instant dismissal. Responding to allegations of gross misconduct and taking disciplinary action against an employee is fraught with legal risk. While it may be instinctive in some circumstances to dismiss an employee immediately as a result of gross […]
DBS check guide: documents, costs & processing times
As an employer, it is important to understand what level of DBS check you can request by law when recruiting someone. You should also know the cost of a DBS check, what DBS check documents need to be provided by a prospective employee, how to check documents during the current pandemic, and how to identify […]
What is a contingent worker?
Employers are increasingly turning to more flexible arrangements to engage workers beyond the traditional permanent employment contract. Among the alternatives, using contingent workers may offer organisations a more agile and cost-effective solution to meeting specific skill needs without the long-term commitment of recruiting permanent employees. What is a contingent worker? Contingent workers are individuals who […]
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (How to Claim)
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended until 31 March 2021. The Chancellor has effectively reverted the scheme back to the August provisions, namely, that the Government will cover 80% of furloughed employees’ wages for businesses affected by the COVID-19 restrictions. Employers will be required to pay national insurance and pension contributions. Government contribution up […]
Job Support Scheme (Employers’ Guide)
The Job Support Scheme (JJS) has been postponed until the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) closes, at the earliest. The CJRS is due to close on 31 March 2021. Further guidance on the new scheme was issued on 22 October, which amended and enhanced a number of the initial features. In a pragmatic change, the […]
Face Covering Workplace Rules
On 24th September 2020, rules that were previously seen to be advisory regarding face coverings at work became enshrined in law. It is now compulsory to wear face coverings at work for certain roles and indoor places, such as shops or cinemas. The change was brought in by the government following scientific evidence that Covid-19 […]
False accusations at work: HR help
Employers are required by law to deal with complaints or grievances at work fairly and lawfully. Handling such issues, however, becomes further complicated if you suspect the employee may be making a false allegation. False accusations at work can relate to any kind of untrue claim of wrongdoing made by an employee. While some accusers […]
Reasonable travelling distance: employer guide
If you are relocating to new premises, or asking an employee to move to another office or branch, you will need to understand how you can legally request a move. This includes exactly how far you can expect an employee to travel to their new place of work. However, the employment law rules relating to […]
How Long Does A DBS Last?
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is a criminal record check that an employer can request as part of their recruitment process, in this way ensuring that they are only recruiting suitable people into their organisation and for the job role in question. This is especially important when the person will be working with […]
Employment Law Reasonable Travelling Distance Rules
If you are relocating to new premises, or asking an employee to move to another office or branch, you will need to understand how you can legally request a move. This includes exactly how far you can expect an employee to travel to their new place of work. However, the employment law rules relating to […]