Blog
HR Advice, Latestest News & More
Is your Christmas Party a Time for a Good Grope?
With the Christmas party season soon to be upon us I thought it would be a good time to reissue the normal precautionary advice to employers . Recently we have seen allegations of abuse from touching a knee to rape in the entertainment and political areas but private...
Can Employers Monitor Workers’ Emails?
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) which is not to be confused with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has just published a finding on monitoring workers’ emails, which is of interest to employers in the UK. The ECHR was established in the aftermath of World...
Holiday pay and Overtime
How to calculate holiday pay has been a thorny issue over the last few years. Holiday pay was calculated just based on normal pay, then the European courts became involved to determine whether commission, bonus, attendance allowance, overtime - voluntary or compulsory...
Reflections on The Taylor Report on UK Work Practices
The government has published the review by Matthew Taylor into UK work practices. I would emphasise at this stage it is a report and while the recommendations have attracted several comments both positive and negative employers should remember that until legislation...
Human Resources News – General Data Protection Regulations (GPDR)
This human resources news may be as dry as dust but what has this to do with me I hear you ask. Well irrespective of Brexit or the General Election the government has confirmed this EU legislation will be with us from May 25th, 2018. The Information Commissioner’s...
Employment Law implications from Party Manifestos
The UK parties have now published their manifestos the implications for employment law issues are summarised below. Labour’s manifesto slogan of ‘For the Many, Not the Few’ is reflected in its 20-point plan on workers’ rights. Corbyn has pledged to replace the Great...
Update on Equal Opportunities and More
Equal opportunities and more - there’s probably never been a month like it for employers. Although April has always denoted the implementation date for new legislative changes in the UK, 2017 sees a record-breaking array of far-reaching initiatives. And while the...
Do you know the HM Gov. “Right to Work Checks”?
Failing to comply with ‘right to work’ checks could prove costly, especially with the introduction of tougher penalties and sanctions. I came across a blog recently and thought it was a good time to remind you of your responsibilities in the right to work area Last...
Holiday pay uncertainty ended in employees’ favour
The Court of Appeal on March 1st refused British Gas permission to appeal to the Supreme Court in the holiday pay case of British Gas v Mr Lock. The Judges said "the Working Time Regulations are properly to be read purposively to give effect to the CJEU (Court of...
Employees – they aren’t really are they?
Recently two cases occurred where “employees” have sought clarification from employment tribunals of their actual status. In both cases, based on the facts not the paperwork, the tribunals have found the claimants were workers not subcontractors. Who are Employees?...
Holiday Entitlement: I can’t come in there are no trains?
Is this holiday entitlement? What should employers do if their employees can’t get into work because of transport disruptions? For the past few months services on Southern have been, to put it, mildly erratic. We are now faced with series of strikes which are shutting...
Should Companies hand out Christmas Presents to Clients?
Now for Christmas presents for suppliers. Where’s last year’s list? Actually these Christmas gifts, although classed as company-to-company, are usually company to individual, and that individual probably is someone who places orders or contracts. But how lawful,...
Employers – Beware Christmas Parties for Employees
As you are employers, with the Christmas season now upon us I thought it would be a good time to reissue the normal precautionary advice to you. I don’t want to sound like scrooge but you as employers do have responsibilities. There are many horror stories about...
HMRC vows to crack down on use of freelance jobs
In relation to staff used for freelance jobs, a specialist HMRC team will target employers suspected of avoiding national insurance. HMRC has announced it is to form a specialist team to examine working practices at organisations that use staff for freelance jobs to...
Should your New Worker be Self Employed or Employed?
This one of the bigger issues affecting employers today. You need to take on a new person its cheaper to call them self employed saving national insurance and making them responsible for their own taxes. But are they really and will HMRC or an employment tribunal...