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 […]
Electronic Trade Documents Act Takes Effect
The Electronic Trade Documents Act (ETDA) takes effect today, 20 September 2023. Implementing detailed recommendations made by the Law Commission of England and Wales, the new law paves the way for the greater digitalisation of trade procedures by giving digital versions of key trade documents – including bills of lading – the same legal recognition as […]
Costs Cap on Lower-Value Medical Negligence Claims from April 2024
Legal costs will be capped in lower damages clinical negligence claims from April 2024, the Department of Health has announced. The new system of fixed recoverable costs will limit the amount claimant solicitors can charge when advising on clinical negligence cases of £25,000 or less. In a statement announcing the new rules, Minister for Health, […]
Increases Across UK Home Office Application Fees from 4 October 2023
The Home Office has announced increases in UK visa, settlement and nationality fees that will take effect from 4 October 2023. The increases cover a wide range of applications, across UK entry clearance, indefinite leave to enter, indefinite leave to remain and applications for leave to remain in the UK such as many work and […]
SMS Level 1 User Guide
The role of key personnel in managing an organisation’s sponsor licence can’t be underestimated in ensuring compliance with the employer’s duties under its sponsor licence. The management of the sponsorship licence is conducted through the sponsor management system (SMS) and therefore it is essential that the key personnel, in particular any level 1 user(s), are […]
Salary Benchmarking Guide for HR
Pay and reward schemes remain a highly emotive area, with employers generally faced with the challenge of keeping wage costs as low as possible without compromising talent retention and attraction. If wages are being reviewed, or salary levels for new roles are being set, it’s important that these levels are considered in the wider context […]
Guide to UK Recruitment Laws
For employers, the primary concern during the recruitment process will be finding and onboarding the right candidate. But the recruitment process not only carries risks in selecting the best person for the job. Employers also have to contend with legal risks, ensuring applicants’ rights are not infringed and that the organisation has complied with its […]
Can Sponsored Workers Have a Second Job?
In light of the ongoing cost of living crisis, many workers may be looking for additional sources of income. For sponsored migrant workers, however, it may not be as straightforward as simply finding a second job. The worker has to ensure that their visa conditions allow them to take on more work, and their employer […]
Unfair Dismissal Guide for Employers
In this guide for employers, we explain the fundamentals of unfair dismissal, including how ot reduce the risk of being subject to unfair dismissal claims. What is unfair dismissal? An employee’s right to not be unfairly dismissed is set out under section 94 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. The ERA states what the right […]
Subcontractor Rights (Employers’ Guide)
An individual’s employment status determines their workplace rights and responsibilities. As an employer, it is important to be aware of the employment status of the people working for you, to ensure your obligations towards them are met. This guide will focus on the employment status of subcontractors in your workforce and the subcontractors’ rights you […]
Unfair Dismissal Claim: Check Your Rights
If you can show you have been dismissed from work unfairly, you may be able to claim for unfair dismissal. Was your dismissal unfair? Employees have the right to be dismissed fairly. This means employers must show good reason for the dismissal and follow the correct legal process in dismissing someone. Dismissals can apply in […]
Associative Discrimination (Advice For Employers)
By law, you should not treat any member of staff or job applicant unfairly by reason of a protected characteristic, such as their age, gender, a disability, race or religion. This includes not treating them unfairly because of any association with another individual who possesses one of these, or any other, protected characteristic. The following […]
Latest Home Office Changes to Immigration Rules
The Home Office has published a new Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, HC 1780, 7 September 2023. The new rules cover a broad range of areas, most of which are technical in nature. The vast majority of changes take effect on 5 October 2023. The key changes are as follows: Prison workers […]
How much notice to change working hours?
Making a change to a term in an employee’s contract, such as changing working hours, is called a ‘variation of contract.’ If their contract contains an agreed number of hours they are to work each week, then you cannot arbitrarily reduce them. You must follow a fair procedure to change contract terms and ensure you […]