Staff Handbook Template (What to Include?)
An effective staff handbook plays an important role for employers. Its contents are usually binding, unless the handbook specifically says otherwise, which makes it important for employers to get the information right. The handbook should act as a helpful and reliable resource for employees, alleviating the pressure on HR to deal with everyday queries from […]
Return to Work: Guide for HR
If an employee has been absent from work through either illness or injury, especially for a prolonged period of time, it can take them a while to readjust on their return. In some cases, a number of changes may first need to be made to their working arrangements or working environment to help facilitate their […]
How to Create a Sickness Absence Policy
Employers should have in place a suitable and up-to-date sickness policy, designed to promote the health and wellbeing of their workforce through the effective management of absence due to ill health. The following guide provides advice for employers on the importance of reviewing and maintaining their company’s sickness policy. What should a sickness policy […]
Termination of Employment Letter Sample
As an employer, terminating employment by dismissal can be an unpleasant, but necessary, part of your role. Dismissal could be for a number of different reasons, from misconduct matters and poor performance issues, to where an employee’s job role has been made redundant. However, even if you have a lawful reason for dismissal, and your decision […]
How to Respond to a Flexible Working Request
Flexible working arrangements can not only be beneficial for those employees looking for a better work/life balance, but also for the employer’s business. Happier and healthier employees can lead to increased performance and productivity, not to mention reduced absenteeism and staff turnover rates. It is therefore important for employers to understand an employee’s rights when […]
Legal Working Hours & Working Time Regulations
Workers in the UK have certain minimum statutory rights when it comes to UK working hours. These include the right to work no more than 48 hours on average per week, or to opt out of this right if they so choose, and the right to a minimum length of rest breaks. Falling foul of […]
Pre-Licence Priority Service Guide
The Home Office pre-licence priority service gives employers the ability to request a fast-tracked decision on their sponsor licence application when recruiting workers under certain sponsored work visas. With standard processing for sponsor licence applications taking an average of 8 weeks, the ability to expedite a decision can be invaluable for employers looking to move quickly […]
Sponsor licence revoked?
If an organisation with a sponsor licence does not meet the various compliance duties as required under the Immigration Rules, the Home Office has powers to take enforcement action. Where serious compliance breaches are alleged, the Home Office may send a notification letter stating that the organisation’s sponsor licence has been revoked or suspended pending […]
Home Office Sponsor Compliance Visits
UK employers must meet their duties under the prevention of illegal working regime. Sponsor licence holders have to meet additional compliance duties under the terms of the sponsorship licence. The Home Office relies on a range of methods to monitor employers and sponsor licence holders, including UKVI sponsor compliance site visits. During a site inspection, […]
Authorising Officer SMS & Compliance Duties
Among the many compliance duties placed on sponsor licence holders is the requirement to nominate an ‘Authorising Officer’ as one of the key personnel roles. It will be critical for the individual holding this role to fully understand the extent and importance of their duties as the AO, since the Home Office can impose significant […]
ACAS Early Conciliation Form Guide
If a workplace dispute has escalated and the employee is considering making a tribunal claim, there are steps they will need to follow before they can take their complaint to the Employment Tribunal. ACAS rules require a potential claimant to go through the Early Conciliation process before a tribunal claim can be issued. ACAS early […]
Variation Clauses in Employment Contracts
Variation clauses can be effective in affording employers a degree of flexibility when changing employment contract terms and conditions. Employers should, however, proceed with caution before taking steps to vary employment contract terms, both to avoid legal complaints and damaging workforce relations. In this guide for employers, we explain the different types of variation clauses […]
Digital Right to Work Checks: HR Guide
As a UK employer, you are under a duty to prevent illegal working by ensuring that those you recruit, and remain in your employment, have the right to work in the UK and undertake the work on offer. The following guide sets out the new rules on digital right to work checks. We also examine […]
Appendix A Sponsor Licence Supporting Documents
As part of the Home Office guidance for employers on sponsoring a non-UK resident workers, Appendix A lists the supporting documents you must provide as part of your organisation’s sponsor licence application to evidence eligibility for a sponsor licence under the Worker, Temporary Worker or Student routes. In most cases, you will need to provide at […]
HR Induction Process Guide
The first few weeks of employment are important for many reasons. For employees, feeling supported and equipped during this transition period can mean they settle quickly into their new role and organisation. Employers will also want to avoid issues with new starters; after investing in a recruitment process and given the demands of the role […]
How to Tackle Interviewer Bias
Finding the right person to fill a vacant position can often prove to be a challenging process for hiring managers and recruiters, not least when it comes to the interview stage. Interviewer bias has become a recognised area of risk for employers when recruiting, which results not only in potentially and inadvertently missing out on […]
What does Provision, Criterion or Practice (PCP) mean for employers?
The phrase ‘Provision Criterion or Practice’ (PCP) relates to indirect discrimination. For employers, it is vital to understand what this term means to help avoid falling foul of the law. In this guide, we explain what Provision Criterion or Practice means, what the law says about PCP and we share best practice for employers to […]