Employee absence rates remain a persistent challenge for UK businesses. Statistics from the CIPD and Simplyhealth reveal that employees took an average of 7.8 days off (per year) in 2023, and this trend has shown little sign of improvement as we move into 2025. For employers, managing these absences effectively is crucial for maintaining productivity, […]
Conflict in the workplace has always been a reality. A working relationship can break down for many different reasons – commonly communication difficulties, misunderstandings, misguided accusations, or something more serious such as alleged bullying or harassment. Mediation can be used to resolve all sorts of disputes or disagreements in the workplace. It can be used […]
The publication of the Employment Rights Bill on October 10th attracted a great deal of attention and commentary, particularly in regard to the intention to remove the two-year qualifying period for the right to claim unfair dismissal and make it a day- one entitlement. Among the less publicised content was the proposal to introduce an […]
With the announcement of a general election to take place sooner than we anticipated, on 4th July 2024, the UK prepares for a potential shift in political leadership. This article explores potential changes to employment law depending on which party comes to power, focusing on key areas such as workers’ rights, wages, and employment practices. […]
Employers often issue a ‘standard’ contract of employment to an apprentice and simply renamed it, calling it an apprentice contract or agreement rather than issuing a formal legally compliant apprentice agreement, and by doing so will unwittingly enter into an apprentice contract instead. Please note it can be difficult to get out of or take […]
On 4th October 2023 the Supreme Court provided its findings on Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and another v Agnew and others. The case dealt with the issue of how far back an employee could claim for backdated holiday pay. Such a claim can be brought against an employer as a […]
What is Unauthorised Absence? Put simply, unauthorised absence is classified as when an employee fails to come to work without notifying the employer. Approach to Unauthorised Absence? There can be many different reasons for the unauthorised absence of an employee (otherwise known as being absent without leave – AWOL). Some may be deliberate; others may […]
In today’s digital age, email communication is an integral part of daily business operations. However, it’s essential to recognise that mishandling emails can lead to data breaches, compromising the privacy and security of personal data and confidential information. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has highlighted the improper use of the ‘BCC’ (Blind Carbon Copy) field […]
