work life balance

Work Life Balance: How Employers can Support Employees

Work-life balance is a concept that holds different meanings for different individuals. While some associate it with working fewer hours, others believe flexibility in working hours is key. However, the common thread is the desire for a balance that allows individuals to excel both professionally and personally. It is crucial for employers to understand the … Read more

monitoring

Overzealous monitoring may overstep data protection boundaries

Employers who harness software to help manage productivity and other employee activity may find themselves inadvertently over-stepping data protection regulations.  The rise of electronic monitoring of employees has risen in tandem with the rise in home working triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.  While the numbers working from home has dropped from its peak of 49% … Read more

menopause symptoms

Menopause Symptoms considered to satisfy the definition of ‘Disability’ under the Equality Act 2010?

An interesting update this week in Employment Law. On 2nd October 2023, the Leicester Employment Tribunal in Leicester heard a claim relating to how employers treat employees who are experiencing menopause symptoms. The Claimant brought the claim for unfavourable treatment after she was given a formal warning following extended periods of sick leave due to … Read more

employment non complete

Employment non-competes look set to shrink

The Government plans to prune restrictions around non-compete clauses when employees leave to join a competitor or set up a rival business, according to a policy paper just published. Proposals in the smarter regulation to grow the economy policy paper include limiting the length of non-compete clauses to a maximum of three months.  Typically, such clauses are … Read more

flexible working

A Fresh Look at Flexibility

As life has slowly returned to reality following the events of the pandemic, many trends besides the making of banana bread have remained in demand. The pandemic forced many employers to get up to speed with technology and hybrid working arrangements. There is now a reluctance amongst employees to return to work in the office … Read more

Self-employed or worker? The latest developments in the gig economy row

The number of companies being held to account by their employees/contract workers is growing. First, Deliveroo and Uber were put through the legal mill and their workers gained a slew of rights and assurances. Now, courier and minicab giant Addison Lee is in the gig-economy spotlight, after its minicab drivers gained ‘worker’ status with all … Read more

Emergency worker assault – are the NHS, the Fire Service and the Police doing all they can to protect first responders?

It seems inconceivable to most of us that anyone would wantonly attack, injure or in any other way assault a nurse, fire officer or police officer. Yet every day our emergency services and front-line NHS staff face increasing levels of violence, physical harm, and aggression. In September, in a bid to try and stem this … Read more

Employment law updates

2017 was a busy year in the world of Employment Law. Among the legal headlines were the removal of employment fees and the beginning of what was to become a national consultation on the pay gap between men and women. However, the changes aren’t over for employers and HR professionals: with March 29th 2019 signalling … Read more

Dealing with employee theft

According to a poll commissioned by office-furniture supplier Kit Out My Office, more than two-thirds of UK office workers have admitted to stealing from their employers and colleagues at some time during their careers. With the cost of stolen items averaging at £12.50 and an estimated 15million workers having confessed to employee theft, the cost … Read more

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