Social Media Screening in Recruitment
Social media has changed how people and businesses interact, presenting both opportunities and risk. In the context of recruitment, employers routinely use social media platforms to advertise vacancies and to promote their employer brand. It has also become increasingly common practice for employers to use social media screening to find out more about job candidates. In […]
Dealing with Conflicts of Interest at Work
In this guide for employers, we consider the risks associated with conflicts of interest at work, and the steps you can take to manage conflicts of interest and to mitigate legal and commercial risk. What are conflicts of interest at work? A conflict of interest arises where an employee’s personal interests are at […]
Employing Casual Workers (HR Help)
The term ‘casual worker’ describes an individual who is not part of a business’s permanent workforce. Casual workers typically supply services on a flexible or irregular basis, usually to meet varying demand for work. It is not defined in employment law, rather, it is a catch-all phrase used to describe someone who does not have […]
Notice to Employees When Selling a Business
Selling a business involves multiple, complex obligations and considerations, including how you manage and support your workforce through the process. The following guide for employers examines the rules relating to employee rights on the asset sale of a company — including how much notice to give employees when selling a business, together with advice and […]
Written Statement of Employment Particulars
One of the fundamental employment rights in the UK is that employees and workers are provided with a written statement of employment particulars by their first day of employment. The employer is required to give the principal statement on the first day of employment and provide the broader written statement within two months of the […]
SOSR Dismissal: What Is Some Other Substantial Reason?
To dismiss an employee lawfully, employers have to be able to provide a fair reason. There are five potentially fair reasons for dismissal set out under section 98 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. These relate to employee conduct, capability and performance, redundancy, breach of a statutory restriction or Some Other Substantial Reason (SOSR). […]
Discrimination at Work
Unlawful discrimination at work can have serious implications for an organisation, even if this is unintentional. Workplace discrimination claims typically result in high awards of damages against employers. Equally, discriminatory conduct in the workplace can easily lead to conflict, tainting working relationships and fostering a negative working environment and damaging the employer brand. As an […]
Modern Slavery Act Guide for Employers
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 sets out the UK Government’s legal requirements for how organisations must address and report on modern slavery. The Act aims to make modern slavery more difficult by requiring larger businesses to disclose the actions taken during each financial year, to ensure modern slavery is not a part of their business […]
Sackable Offences List
The following guide for employers examines the issue of gross misconduct, from what this means to the type of conduct that can justify summary dismissal. The sackable offences list will also help to provide HR personnel and line managers with examples of gross misconduct, but this is not exhaustive and every dismissal must be approached […]
Nepotism at Work: Hiring Family & Friends
Workplace nepotism is not in itself, against the law, unless other issues such as conflicts of interest arise. However, that’s not to say that it is always a good thing. When people are hired solely on the basis of their relationship or connection to someone already in the organisation, it can be highly demoralising for […]