Avoiding discrimination in recruitment
Under the Equality Act 2010, individuals are protected from unlawful discrimination in the workplace. Unlawful discrimination refers to unfair treatment because of a particular protected characteristic. These protections apply across the employment lifecycle, from the initial recruitment and selection stage, right through their period of employment to contract termination. This means an individual who has been discriminated […]
Withdrawing an offer of employment
Withdrawing an offer of employment is a decision not to be taken lightly. Before you take action, ensure you understand the legal risks of rescinding a job offer. In most cases, it is unlikely that an employer would want, or need, to withdraw a job offer once it has been accepted. However, even where an […]
Employing casual workers
The term ‘casual worker’ describes an individual who is not part of a business’s permanent workforce. Casual workers typically supply services on a flexible or irregular basis, usually to meet varying demand for work. It is not defined in employment law, rather, it is a catch-all phrase used to describe someone who does not have […]
Right to work documents & checklist
UK employers have a legal obligation to prevent illegal working by verifying all employees have a valid right to work in Britain. The Home Office dedicates considerable resources to investigating employers and taking enforcement action in the event of a breach. Where an employer is found to be employing workers illegally, they face substantial fines, […]
How to manage recruitment immigration risks
For employers, the option of recruiting from the global talent market can be critical to maintaining operations and, importantly, competitive advantage. But UK employers face increasing recruitment immigration risks when hiring non-UK nationals. Penalties for employing illegal workers and failing to comply with your immigration duties are substantial and best avoided. Fundamentally, your recruitment practices should enable […]
DBS check guide: documents, costs & processing times
As an employer, it is important to understand what level of DBS check you can request by law when recruiting someone. You should also know the cost of a DBS check, what DBS check documents need to be provided by a prospective employee, how to check documents during the current pandemic, and how to identify […]
How long does a DBS last?
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is a criminal record check that an employer can request as part of their recruitment and onboarding process. DBS checks are useful in ensuring that the employer is only recruiting suitable people into their organisation and for the job role in question. This is especially important when the […]
Employing an apprentice: how-to guide
If your organisation is looking to employ an apprentice, there will be a lot to consider in relation to the type of individual you can recruit, the role they can take on, the rules on pay and other benefits, as well as making the most of the financial incentives available to employers. The Government most […]
Shortlisting process: guide for HR
Shortlisting is a crucial stage within the recruitment process in which employers are required to identify the candidates from their applicant pool who best meet the essential and desirable criteria for the job opening in question. Rising unemployment levels are putting greater pressure on the recruitment, selection and shortlisting process. Employers are now handling increasing […]
6 horrible hiring mistakes & how to avoid them!
Hiring mistakes can be extremely costly for organisations of all sizes. Recruiting new staff comes at a considerable cost in terms of both time and money, with some studies suggesting bad hiring decisions can cost an organisation between 20 and 30 percent of an employee’s annual salary. An awareness of common pitfalls will help you […]
