Should you start tracking your employees?
The consultancy PwC has told its employees it is going to begin tracking their working locations to ensure that all workers spend “a minimum of three days a week” in the office or at client sites.
The new duty to prevent sexual harassment
This new Act (or rather new s40A of the Equality Act 2010) will come into force exactly one year after it received Royal Assent, in other words it will be in force on 26 October 2024.
New tipping laws - are you prepared?
Any company whose customers are likely to leave tips for the staff should be mindful of the new Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 and its accompanying statutory Code of Practice will come into force on 1st October 2024.
Nearly half of UK managers are too overwhelmed to do their jobs, research finds
Nearly half (47 per cent) of UK managers reported feeling “too overwhelmed” with their routine responsibilities in the last six months to perform their duties effectively.
Largest UK public sector trial of four-day week sees huge benefits
In the largest public sector trial of the four-day week in Britain, fewer refuse collectors quit and there were faster planning decisions, more rapid benefits processing and quicker call answering.
What does Labour's win mean for employers?
Labour has won a big majority in the general election. That means the party should be able to pass the new laws it wants easily. But what are those likely to be, and how will they impact employers?
Should employers provide interview questions in advance?
The recruitment process is a critical aspect of organisational success, and how interviews are conducted plays a significant role in this. One evolving debate is whether employers should provide interview questions to candidates in advance. While some argue that it fosters a fairer, more productive interview process, others contend it undermines the spontaneity and true assessment of a candidate's abilities.
New High Court ruling on Subject Access Requests
Clients who ask Starford to manage a DSAR they've received are always concerned about what information can be redacted, and particularly the rights of others who don't want their identities revealed. The High Court recently ruled that a company can rely on the ‘rights of others exemption’ under the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018).
Remote workers less likely to receive pay rises or promotions than office-based workers
Research conducted by the University of Warsaw has found that people in the UK who work from home are less likely to get pay rises and promotions than purely office-based workers.
Could a volunteer be deemed a 'worker'?
It can be difficult to determine the true status of volunteers and organisations can unwittingly be treating their volunteers as workers meaning that, should the status ever be challenged, the individuals would be entitled to paid annual leave and the National Minimum Wage for the hours worked - a cost unlikely to have been budgeted for!
Starford successfully defends an appeal at the EAT
We were delighted to represent this Respondent (MB Architects Ltd) at the Employment Appeal Tribunal last week having supported the Respondent to successfully defend the Claimant's claims at the Employment Tribunal early in 2023.
Discrimination cases: Reversing the burden of proof
A recent decision at the EAT highlighted a legal point that often gets confused by Respondents and Tribunals alike. When should the reverse burden of proof in a discrimination claim be applied?
Tube driver tribunal upholds unfair dismissal claim
A Tube driver who opened the doors on the wrong side of the station was unfairly dismissed but will not receive compensation.
Half of employees do not report sexual harassment in the workplace
A new survey of 2,000 employees by Personio has found that one in ten of those questioned have witnessed or experienced sexual harassment at work, but just less than half (49%) do not report it
Updating your Carer's Leave policy
The Carer’s Leave Regulations 2024 come into force on 6 April 2024. They set out the statutory scheme under which employees can apply for up to one week of unpaid carer’s leave in any 12-month period.
Supporting Ramadan in the workplace
During Ramadan, many Muslims are faced with the challenge of balancing their religious commitments with work, so now is an ideal time to remind managers of the importance of supporting any staff who are observing the Islamic holy month.
Compensation limits to rise from 6 April 2024
Compensation limits for certain tribunal awards and other statutory payments (including statutory redundancy payments) will rise from 6 April 2024.
DBT names 524 employers for failure to pay National Minimum Wage
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has named 524 employers for failing to pay the national minimum wage.
Does the leap year affect employee pay?
With the extra day coming up in February, many employers are wondering if they need to pay their staff more in a leap year. The answer is not entirely clear cut, but failing to pay the correct amount could see the employer facing legal risk and fines.