Constructive Dismissal Advice For Employees
Employees forced to resign as a result of their employer’s conduct in the workplace may be eligible to claim constructive dismissal. Below we provide some constructive dismissal advice, from what this means and who is eligible, to how to approach a potential claim for constructive dismissal, both before and after resigning from your job. What […]
How To Prepare For An Employment Tribunal Preliminary Hearing
The importance of preparing for an employment tribunal preliminary hearing is not to be underestimated. While not designed to bring a workplace dispute to a conclusion, the preliminary hearing is intended to help parties prepare for the final hearing, and decisions can still be made that could affect your ability to defend a claim. The […]
Home Working Risk Assessment (Employer Guide)
Given the current work from home requirements due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the phased return to work post-lockdown, home working is expected to become more widely adopted. For employers, this means giving full consideration as to how home working will work on a longer term basis, and what this means in terms of assessing […]
Should I Furlough My Employees?
Businesses forced to close to reduce the spread of coronavirus and those that are still operating but seeing no or very little work are now looking to lay offs, asking workers to take unpaid leave or to furlough employees to reduce their outlay on salaries. Can you force employees to take unpaid leave? Despite the […]
SSP1 Form (Employer Guide)
Understanding how Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) works is an important part of being a responsible employer, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic. If you want to find out more about SSP and when to use the SSP1 form, the following guide covers the rules on employee entitlement, notice, self-certifying and fit notes, as well as […]
Protected Characteristics in the Workplace
The Equality Act 2010 was introduced as the primary piece of legislation for the enforcement and prevention of discrimination. Its powers extend to the workplace, supporting anti-discrimination in all areas of employment. The Act covers the specific ways in which certain personal characteristics known as protected characteristics are safeguarded, and looking specifically at employment, sets […]
Rights of Non-EU Spouse of EU Citizen in UK
As the foreign spouse of an EU citizen residing in the UK, you will need to apply for a new type of immigration status by 30 June 2021 to enable you to continue living in the UK lawfully after this deadline date. The following guide looks specifically at the residence rights of non EU spouses […]
How To Suspend An Employee From Work
Suspending an employee may be appropriate if there have been serious allegations of misconduct made against them and it would be detrimental to the investigation of these allegations to have the employee remain in the workplace. It is crucial to keep in mind that suspension itself is not a punishment. Rather, suspension is a necessary […]
Zero Hour Contract Rights
If you are one of the tens of thousands of individuals employed in the UK on a zero hour or casual basis, it is important that you understand your employment rights under zero hour contract law. Below we provide a basic guide to zero hour contract law, including: what constitutes a zero hour contract your […]
Tier 4 Visa Extension (Students’ Guide)
As a student currently in the UK under a Tier 4 visa, you may be looking to extend your stay to finish your existing course or to progress to a new and higher level of studies. Below we examine the rules relating to Tier 4 visa extensions, including the requirements, process and cost when applying […]
Reducing Hours After Maternity Leave (HR Help!)
Many working mothers face the challenge of balancing childcare with work, so it’s not surprising that requests to change their hours of work to fit around their family needs are popular, especially when returning to work after taking maternity leave. How should an employer approach such a request? Do employees have the right to reduce […]
Disciplinary at Work (Procedure Guide)
Disciplinary action at work is the employer’s response to proven unacceptable behaviour or performance on the part of an employee, resulting in actions such as suspension or dismissal. Taking disciplinary action is just one part of the whole disciplinary procedure, and although it may be seen as an end point, it should be dealt with […]
UK Visa Requirements (Applicant Guidance)
In this article, we look at what travellers need to know about meeting the UK visa requirements and making a successful application to the Home Office. If you are a national of a non EEA (European Economic Area) country or Switzerland and you wish to enter the UK, even if it is only to travel […]
Spouse Visa After Divorce (How to Stay in the UK)
If you are living in the UK under a spouse visa, it will be important to understand how your immigration status will be affected in the event you divorce or separate from your British citizen spouse or civil partner. A spouse visa is the permission granted to a foreign national from outside the European Economic […]
BRP: Biometric Residence Permit (FAQS)
The Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is a document given to non-UK nationals and their dependents that is usually applied for as part of a UK visa or immigration application. It can be used as a form of identification and is proof of the holder’s right to stay, work or study in the UK. As a foreign national […]
Poaching Staff (Can We Stop Our Competitors Taking Staff?)
Poaching staff and hiring talent from a competing company can help bring commercial and tactical advantage to your business. But if it is your employees that are at risk of being ‘poached’, this can have a devastating effect on your business, not least where a particular individual or team of employees are highly valued within […]
Redundancy Process for Less Than 20 Employees
The redundancy process for less than 20 employees is different than if you’re making 20 or more employees redundant within any 90-day period because for 20 or more employees you must follow ‘collective consultation’ rules. Redundancy occurs when an employee’s job no longer exists. There are many reasons behind it, including an immediate need to […]
Sponsor Licence Renewal: Guide for Employers
Sponsor licences are initially granted to employers for a period of four years. If you wish to continue employing non-EEA workers beyond this four-year point, you will need to apply to the Home Office to renew your sponsor licence ahead of its expiry. Sponsor licences do not automatically renew. An expired sponsor licence will mean […]