Unpaid leave: HR guide to employees’ rights

Unpaid leave is where an employee takes time off from their job without pay. In some situations, as in the case of time off to care for a dependent in an emergency, you must grant the time off, although you can decide whether it is paid or unpaid. In other situations, such as a request […]

Coronavirus advice: employer FAQs

Coronavirus advice for employers The outbreak of coronavirus in the UK raises a number of issues for employers across employment, immigration and health & safety. We are updating this article with the latest coronavirus advice for employers to help manage and contain the risks relating to Covid-19 and protect your people and your business. What […]

Restructuring and redundancy: employer guide

How should an employer proceed if a restructuring process could potentially involve redundancies? A business restructure does not necessarily mean that redundancies are inevitable, for example, where changes are made for operational rather than for financial reasons. But in some cases, the loss of jobs may be unavoidable. In this guide, we look at the […]

Redundancy process: making staff redundant

making staff redundant

When making staff redundant, employers should follow a fair legal process that upholds employees’ rights while protecting the organisation from risks such as unfair dismissal claims. Throughout the process, the employer has to show compliance with the law and that they have exhausted all other options before terminating an employee’s contract through redundancy. In outline […]

What are fair reasons for redundancy?

Redundancy is classified as a potentially fair reason for dismissal, provided that it is carried out properly and the employer follows a lawful process. If the redundancy is not genuine, the correct process is not implemented or the reasons for an employee’s redundancy are unfair, the dismissed employee may be able to bring a claim alleging […]

Breach of employment contract: essential guide

If an employer or employee breaks or fails to meet terms under the employment contract, they may be in breach of the employment contract. Breach of an employment contract can include anything from relatively minor breaches, such as an employer’s failure to pay an employee’s expenses on the correct date, to fundamental breaches of contract […]

Working under protest: HR guide

A ‘working under protest’ scenario will often arise where an employee has lodged a formal grievance within the workplace following a contractual change to their pay or other terms, whilst preserving their right to take legal action against you. When an employee is working under protest, it is imperative as an employer that you seek […]

Hiring happy employees: boost morale & productivity!

hiring happy employees

Boosting employee happiness is one of the most effective ways for an employer to maximise productivity, reduce absenteeism, attract talent and create a compelling employer brand for their business. Traditionally, organisations have sought to improve output among their workforce by focusing on material rewards such as pay rises, bonuses or other employee benefits to incentivise […]

Case law: covert CCTV recordings in the workplace

What do employers need to be aware of when considering covert recordings in the workplace? In López Ribalda and Others v. Spain, the European Court of Human Rights has overturned a previous judgment it made in the case of López Ribalda and others v Spain, the case where a supermarket manager covertly filmed shop workers […]

Pregnancy-related sickness absence: HR FAQs

Pregnancy-related sickness requires careful handling. Pregnant employees are afforded special legal status which must be accounted for in any approach to pregnancy-related sickness absence management. What is the protected period? The protected period prevents women from suffering unfair treatment on the grounds of their pregnancy or related illnesses. For women who are eligible for maternity […]