Different employment contract types
An employment contract is an agreement outlining the conditions of an individual’s working relationship and arrangements, including rights, responsibilities, working hours, salary, any benefits, and holiday entitlement. It should preferably be in a written format and signed by both the employer and employee to act as a binding agreement and setting out the legal obligations […]
Can employees go on holiday while off sick?
Ordinarily, you would not expect an employee to be going on holiday while on sick leave. In many cases this would serve to undermine the extent of any reported illness or injury, providing grounds for disciplinary action or even dismissal where this is indicative of malingering. Still, there may be cases in which going on […]
Workplace perceptive discrimination risks
In the UK, it is unlawful to treat someone less favourably than someone else at work because of certain protected characteristics, such as their age, sex, disability, race or religion. This includes treating someone unfairly because of a perception that they possess a particular characteristic. The following guide for employers outlines the law relating to […]
What is positive discrimination?
Understanding what is meant by positive discrimination, and how this applies within the workplace, plays an important part in creating a fair and inclusive working environment without unlawfully discriminating against anyone. The following guide examines the concept of positive discrimination in the context of equality and diversity at work, including the difference between positive discrimination […]
Malingering, fake illness & disciplinaries
If an employee is genuinely sick or injured, they are entitled to take time off work to recover. If an employer suspects an employee of malingering, and that they may not be genuinely ill or as ill as they claim, the employer can take steps to deal with the concerns. The following guide looks at […]
Vaping at work rules
The use of e-cigarettes, or vaping, has increased in popularity over recent years. Where does this leave employers and what approach should they take to vaping at work rules? The following guide for employers on vaping at work looks at what the law says and whether employers should allow employees to use their e-cigarettes on […]
Employment case law update June 2021
Read on for our monthly digest for employers on upcoming employment law changes and key employment cases that have recently been decided. Unfair dismissal Accattatis v Fortuna Group (London) Ltd Mr Accattatis was employed by Fortuna Group, a UK company distributing PPE. During the first lockdown, he made a request to work from home due […]
Fire and rehire rules (employers’ guide)
‘Fire and rehire’ refers to when an employer dismisses an employee and rehires them on new terms. The new terms are generally less favourable for the individual than under their previous contract of employment. Firing & rehiring is a tactic typically used by employers who wish to vary the terms of their employees’ contracts but […]
Preparing for the end of furlough
The CJRS, or furlough scheme, is now scheduled to run until 30th September 2021. The scheme was previously due to end in October 2020 and then April 2021, but has been extended in light of the continued challenges of the pandemic and the mandatory closure of businesses in many sectors of the economy, including leisure, […]
Can an employee refuse training?
Encouraging employees to progress with their personal development and within your business can help to unlock productivity and boost performance, especially if an individual is willing to undertake additional training relevant to their job role. Training can also form a crucial part of a particular role, although not all employees will be willing to undertake […]