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David Jepps explores whether UK employers can cut the pay of employees who continue to work from home A pay cut is treated as a deduction and if employers unilaterally reduce pay, employees can make unlawful deductions claims to an employment tribunal. As Covid-19 restrictions continue to be reduced and the effects of the pandemic …
Continue reading "Contract variations: Can you pay staff less for working remotely?"
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Melanie Stancliffe assesses the case for a legal right for employees to switch off outside their normal working hours Despite the lack of legislation, there is nothing stopping employers from voluntarily tackling the ‘always on’ culture and benefiting from the advantages that this brings. Based on Labour Force Survey data, the TUC has claimed that …
Continue reading "Mental health: A right to disconnect – the answer to the epidemic of hidden overtime?"
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Ed Livingstone and Grace Waterhouse report on two recent employment tribunal cases arising from the pandemic and examine the lessons for employers It seems inevitable that, as in Montanaro, tribunals will consider Covid-19 to present circumstances of danger under the Employment Rights Act. This means that employees are likely to be protected from dismissal if …
Continue reading "Coronavirus: Recent Covid cases – lessons for employers"
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Following the lifting of the requirement to work from home, Emma Williams discusses the pros and cons of different policies for returning to the workplace Gauging opinion by way of an employee survey ahead of any return will help employers to understand the state of employee morale and to develop an initial plan. On 19 …
Continue reading "Health and safety: Strategies for a safe return to the office"
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Sean Nesbitt weighs up the case for mandatory vaccination as a condition of returning to the workplace Any decision to require vaccination (apart from when exceptions apply) should be part of a wider risk assessment that includes the other measures the employer is putting in place to protect employees. The pandemic continues to have a …
Continue reading "Covid-19: Governments advise, employers decide – can they require employees to be vaccinated?"
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Jessica Wicker and Laura Penny look at employees’ rights if they experience a miscarriage or stillbirth and consider some options available to employers if they are looking to go beyond their statutory obligations It is usually up to the discretion of the individual employer whether to offer compassionate leave, annual leave or unpaid leave if …
Continue reading "Bereavement: Supporting employees through baby or pregnancy loss"
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Peter Summerfield comments on the government’s long-awaited response to its 2019 sexual harassment consultation The proposals appear substantially watered down compared to the WESC and EHRC recommendations and the timing leaves it open for the implementation of even these measures to be delayed. In July 2019, spurred on by the #MeToo movement and a previous …
Continue reading "Sexual harassment: Are proposed reforms too little too late?"
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In light of high-profile incidents over the summer, Michelle Clarke investigates employers’ ability to discipline employees whose conduct outside work has caused public outrage Employers should give careful thought to the facts that are known, or the details that they need to uncover, and decide whether there is a link between the employee’s misbehaviour and …
Continue reading "Misconduct: Employees behaving badly – can employers dismiss for bad behaviour outside the workplace?"
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Mike Hibberd warns that it is no easy matter to act on evidence of misconduct or poor performance obtained through electronic surveillance CCTV systems must always be used for a specified purpose to further a legitimate aim and their use must be necessary for meeting an identified pressing need. Employee monitoring is always a hot …
Continue reading "Employee monitoring: CCTV recording at work – principles and pitfalls"
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Susan Mackay rounds up the latest developments affecting employers and their advisers Although the responses to BEIS’ consultation were generally in favour of a new workers’ watchdog, a number of concerns were raised. Workers’ Watchdog: New single enforcement body to be created On 8 June, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) published …
Continue reading "Legal news: Employment update"
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