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The Tier 2 (General) visa is now closed to new applicants, and has been replaced by the Skilled Worker route.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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Employment case law update October 2020
A number of key employment law cases of significance for employers have recently been decided. Breach of contract, Unfair Dismissal, Working Time and Leave Holloway v Aura Gas Ltd The claimant, Mr Holloway, was employed by Aura Gas as a heating engineer. His role required him to travel from one job to the next, in […]
Bringing the company into disrepute
For the most part, employees’ work and personal lives coexist harmoniously side by side. However, there are occasions when an employee’s behaviour or conduct outside of work may be considered to be sufficiently unacceptable to be damaging to the employer’s own reputation. In such situations, the employee can be said to be bringing the company […]
How to calculate pro rata salary & holiday
Calculating pro rata salary and holiday entitlement is not always straight forward. Whether in relation to part-time workers, or where employees join or leave mid-year, employers have to get pro rata calculations right to comply with their legal obligations and avoid complaints from employees. The following article looks at what pro rata means for salary […]
What is a protected disclosure?
Whether an employee’s complaint is classed as a protected disclosure is critical to determine if they are protected as a whistleblower. By understanding the meaning of a protected disclosure within the context of whistleblowing, this can help employers to respond appropriately to employee concerns and complaints about any wrongdoing at work without falling foul of […]
What to include in a whistleblowing policy
UK workers and employers are entitled to certain protections if they “make a disclosure in the public interest” regarding their employer’s or a third party’s actions. Encouraging your workforce to make any such disclosures in line with a specific procedure and reassuring them of their protected position if they do so, may be necessary and […]
New food labelling guidance issued ahead of Natasha’s Law
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued detailed guidance for companies on new labelling laws coming into force in 2021. Under Natasha’s Law, allergen labelling rules will become a legal requirement on all ‘prepacked for direct sale’ food, with labels on affected products required to state all ingredient and allergen information. This includes food that […]
Conveyancing & witness-free electronic signatures – guidance imminent
HM Land Registry is expected to shortly release draft guidance on the use of electronic signatures that would exempt the requirement to have a witness to a conveyancing transaction. In a blog post last week, HMLR general counsel Mike Harlow said the organisation was “close” to sharing draft practice guidance for qualified electronic signatures. Land […]
Dealing with allegations of managers bullying team members
Employees are protected by law from bullying. Yet bullying in the workplace is most commonly cited as coming from those in a position of seniority such as managers. What should an employer do if a manager is being accused of bullying at work? What do we mean by bullying at work? There is no legal […]
Employment case law update September 2020
A number of key employment law cases of significance for employers have recently been decided. Disability discrimination Sullivan v Bury Street Capital Limited In this Employment Appeal Tribunal decision, it was held that an employee suffering paranoid delusions was not considered disabled for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010. The Claimant suffered which delusions […]
Drug testing in the workplace
Drug-testing in the workplace can often be a difficult and daunting issue for employers and HR personnel to handle, where it is important to strike a balance between the individual rights of your employees with the health and safety of your workforce and the wider public. Below we look at the rules relating to drug […]
Dealing with a malicious grievance
Being on the receiving end of a complaint at work can be an extremely stressful and worrying time, especially where the grievance raised is vexatious, malicious and deliberately intended to make life difficult for you. Below we look at how to deal with a malicious grievance at work, either as an employer or senior employee, […]
Mental health discrimination at work
By understanding your responsibilities as an employer in relation to the mental health of your workforce, you can avoid making costly mistakes by treating someone unfairly because of their condition. Below we examine the difficult issue of mental health discrimination at work, from how this can arise to practical tips on building a supportive culture […]