Flexible furlough scheme: how does it work?
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is changing from 1 July 2020. Under the new rules, flexible furlough is permitted, allowing employers to bring employees who have previously been furloughed back into work for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while they remain on furlough for hours not worked. Changes also take effect impacting […]
Conducting remote disciplinary & grievance hearings
Following the enforced period of homeworking under lockdown, increasing numbers of employers are now considering the benefits of allowing remote working on a longer term, and even permanent, basis. With this development comes specific workforce management issues, such as whether disciplinary and grievance hearings can and should be conducted remotely. For employers, it is a […]
Age discrimination: employers’ guide
Age discrimination, also known as ageism, is one of the most common forms of unfair treatment at work. Discriminating against an employee because of age can have serious practical and legal implications for your business, even where the discriminatory practice or conduct is unintentional. The following guide looks at age discrimination in the workplace, and […]
Objective justification: discrimination defence?
When can an employer defend an act of either direct or indirect discrimination by reason of objective justification? As an employer, you are under a statutory duty not to discriminate against any member of staff, or even against a prospective job applicant. That said, there are some circumstances in which you may have a good […]
Employment case law update May 2020
A number of key employment law cases of significance for employers have recently been decided. Pregnancy discrimination Camara v East London NHS Foundation Trust A London Employment Tribunal has ruled in favour of an NHS trust employer in the case of Camara v East London NHS Foundation Trust. The claimant (Camara) had worked as an […]
How to unfurlough staff
If you are currently receiving financial assistance for furloughed workers through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), you may be looking at how to unfurlough staff in preparation for the return to work, and ahead of the scheme’s closure in October 2020. The process of bringing workers back from furlough carries both legal and HR […]
Fit note guidance for employers
The following fit note guidance will help you as an employer to understand the rules relating to fit notes, and how you can use the information from a fit note to most effectively help your business and your employees when absent from work through illness. As an employer or line manager, the fit note can […]
Custom and practice in employment contracts
The relationship between an employer and their employees is typically considered to be set out in the employment contract between the employer and each employee. However, while a vital component of the employment relationship, the individual employment contract is not the only source of the parties’ rights and duties. Implied terms, including those arising as […]
Notice pay for furloughed workers?
If employees have agreed to accept 80% of their salary while on furlough, is their notice pay also paid at 80%, or does it revert to 100% under the usual employment law rules? As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ability to furlough workers under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, various legal issues […]
How much is ill health severance pay?
It is a common misconception that dismissal due to ill health is automatically unfair or unlawful. This is generally not the case. An employee can be both fairly and lawfully dismissed, as long as the employer has a valid reason, has made any reasonable adjustments where applicable, and has followed a fair process. Handling the […]