HR At Work

Some thoughts from us.....

“Hybrid working won’t work here”

This is the message we have heard recently from some employers in response to employees expressing an interest in a hybrid working arrangement. “Hybrid Working” is the concept of working flexibly between an office environment or another remote location (such as working from home). This is a massive mind-set shift for employers – particularly those Read more about <strong>“Hybrid working won’t work here”</strong>[…]

Retain, Retrain and …. Entertain?

Martin Buckland – Managing Director at HR At Work – answers frequent questions about employee engagement and maintaining high productivity in this challenging market. In your experience, are there some “easy wins” for keeping your staff and maintaining high productivity? Yes, in short. Larger business can consider a variety of options such as days off Read more about Retain, Retrain and …. Entertain?[…]

Are you continuing to protect vulnerable employees?

In the case of Prosser v Community Gateway Association Limited, Ms Prosser (who was on a zero hours contract) confirmed that she was pregnant to her employer just after the initial COVID lockdown. Whilst Ms Prosser wanted to continue working during her pregnancy, her employer did not offer her shifts as a result of following Read more about Are you continuing to protect vulnerable employees?[…]

But it’s just the menopause – isn’t it?

In the case of Rooney v Leicester City Council,  the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled that an earlier judgment of a Tribunal was incorrect when it did not classify menopausal symptoms as a disability. This is a new area of law but employers should be mindful that an employee ‘simply’ going through the menopause may well Read more about But it’s just the menopause – isn’t it?[…]

We have been talking about hybrids for ages, haven’t we?

The use of hybrid and electric vehicles in our society is increasing and a 2030 ban on petrol and diesel vehicles looms – but there is now another type of hybrid rearing its head and its one that employers need to be ready for. We are talking about the hybrid working environment – the concept Read more about We have been talking about hybrids for ages, haven’t we?[…]

Can we still have a Christmas Party?

Yes! Of course!! We have heard people ask – is a Christmas Party not a religious event and therefore is it not discriminatory against non-Christians and therefore contrary to the Equality Act? For a starter, we obviously would not exclude anyone from a Christmas Party based on their religion (we really would be getting on Read more about Can we still have a Christmas Party?[…]

What are the latest employment updates in the UK?

Flexible Working There is currently a proposal in the Government’s consultation titled “Making Flexible Working the Default” that the requirement to have 26 weeks’ service be removed. This would mean that an employee could make a flexible working request from “day one”. There are also additional proposals to allow employees to make more than one Read more about What are the latest employment updates in the UK?[…]

What is on the 2022 horizon?

From April, the national minimum wage will be going up as follows: £8.91 to £9.50 for workers aged 23 and over (the national living wage) £8.36 to £9.18 for workers aged 21 or 22 £6.56 to £6.83 for workers aged 18 to 20 £4.62 to £4.81 for workers aged under 18 who are no longer Read more about What is on the 2022 horizon?[…]

No Jab, No Job

There has been much in the UK news about the so-called ‘no jab, no job’ policy intended to be rolled out by some employers – is this legal? Can they do this? What are the options? Unlike other countries, there are significant legal obligations placed on employers that make a ‘no jab, no job’ policy Read more about No Jab, No Job[…]

EU UK

EU Settlement Scheme

Deadline: 30 June 2021! Employers with EEA employees should encourage them to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme if they wish to remain working in the U.K. as they only have until 30 June 2021 to do so. Applications can be made here: Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status) – GOV.UK Read more about EU Settlement Scheme[…]