Term Time Working: Guide for Employers
Term-time only working is a type of flexible working that, if suitable for a business, can widen its prospective pool of talent. An employee on a term-time only contract will work during the school term and be off during the school holidays. This means that it may be an appealing option for working parents employed […]
Disciplining Twice for the Same Offence?
In most cases, an employee would not be disciplined twice for the same offence. If they were, it may be argued that it was an abuse of process. Nevertheless, if there are unusual circumstances and an employer is looking to reopen disciplinary proceedings that had previously been resolved, would any subsequent disciplinary decision be deemed […]
Request for Annual Leave
Dealing with requests for annual leave is an integral part of managing people at work. This entails ensuring that all workers receive their full entitlement to paid time off each year so that the workforce is rested and motivated, while minimising operational disruption or resourcing issues. In general, the more notice someone gives to take […]
Employment Rights Act 1996: Essential Summary
The Employment Rights Act 1996 is a significant piece of legislation. When introduced, it consolidated many existing statutory obligations on employers and statutory rights of employees, from the right to employment particulars on commencing employment to the right not to be unfairly dismissed on termination of employment. In this guide, we summarise the key provisions […]
Annual Leave Policy: What to Include
An annual leave policy is a critical aspect of supporting consistent and compliant management of workplace holiday entitlements. This helps to avoid grumbles or disagreements within teams and ensures workers are receiving their full entitlement to paid time off work. Without any annual leave guidelines or policy, managers and staff are likely to be unclear […]
Grievance Policy: What to Include
Dealing with complaints from your workforce is an inevitable part of being an employer or manager. It’s critical to understand how to deal with issues properly, from small concerns to serious breaches, or you risk tribunal claims, workplace disruption and conflict, and damage to your employer brand. Likewise, employees should have confidence that any work-related complaints […]
Sexual Orientation Discrimination: A Guide
Sexual orientation is one of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. The Act protects lesbian, gay and bisexual people from direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation at work. These rules also apply to anyone who is perceived to be lesbian, gay or bisexual or experiences discrimination because they associate with gay people. These […]
Disciplinary Policy: What to Include
Following fair and lawful disciplinary procedures is vital to ensure disciplinary issues are dealt with properly. If you get this wrong, you may face tribunal claims. Fundamental to any fair and compliant disciplinary procedure is the disciplinary policy. This should act as the formal reference point to ensure employees are aware of the conduct standards they […]
Holiday Pay & Entitlement: Employers’ Guide
Entitlement to paid time off work is a fundamental workplace right in the UK. How much pay and time off work someone is entitled to will depend on several factors. As such, this places an obligation on employers to ensure they are calculating holiday pay and entitlement correctly, or risk unwanted complaints and disputes with […]
Equality Act 2010: Employers’ Guide
The Equality Act 2010 has arguably had more impact on the UK workplace than any other piece of legislation in recent times, imposing far-reaching legal obligations on employers to prevent unlawful discrimination and unfair treatment of workers and job applicants. It is essential that employers, and those responsible for managing the workforce, fully understand the […]