In the Know - HR Briefings

2020

October

• Major changes made to the Job Support Scheme
• Wales to go into “fire-break” lockdown
• New tiered lockdown system launched in England
• Updated guidance on the Job Retention Bonus

September

• Chancellor announces plans to protect jobs
• New lockdown measures for England announced
• Prime Minister’s national coronavirus update
• Information on Kickstart Scheme released

August

• HMRC write to furlough fraud employers
• COVID-19 travel quarantine: employment rights
• Implications of coronavirus local lockdown
• Job Retention Bonus detail announced

July

• Spain no longer exempt from UK quarantine
• New post-lockdown recovery plans announced
• Job Retention Bonus announced
• Updated travel corridor rules revealed

June

• Hospitality sector set to reopen next week
• Government guidance on flexible furlough
• 14-day quarantine for UK arrivals
• Wind down of furlough scheme announced

May

• Govt confirms June’s reopen list
• Coronavirus SSP rebate scheme to launch
• Confirmed: furlough scheme extended
• Possible post-lockdown plans revealed

April

• Furlough and pay when on family leave
• Annual leave and furlough – position clarified
• Further furlough clarity provided
• April changes to employment law

March

• Government guidance on employee furlough
• New Job Retention Scheme announced
• New guidance on coronavirus self-isolation
• Neo-natal leave confirmed by Government
• New tribunal compensation limits announced

February

• New immigration law proposals released
• Care sector awaits key NMW decision
• NMW “naming and shaming” reinstated
• Managing coronavirus in the workplace

January

• Parental bereavement leave confirmed
• Government releases new sexual harassment guidance
• Government proposes increased statutory pay rates
• ET officially recognises veganism as a protected belief

2019

December

• New minimum wage rates set for April 2020
• What does the Conservative election victory mean for employers?
• How to avoid issues at the work Christmas Party
• General Election: Party manifestos promise employment law changes

November

• ECJ Reaffirms Current Rules on Holiday Carry Over
• How to Manage Workplace Romances
• Staff References Could Become Mandatory

October

• Halloween: How to Avoid ‘Scary’ Situations at Work
• Male Firearms Officer Suffers Discrimination for Refusing to Shave Moustache
• Queen’s Speech Confirms Future Immigration Legislation

September

• Figures Show Tribunal Claims on the Rise Again
• Government Pledges £10.50 National Living Wage
• Thomas Cook Collapse Causes Issues for Employers
• Preparing ahead of Global Climate Strike

August

• Poor Management Encourages Staff Departures
• Calls From Union Boss to Legalise Positive Discrimination
• What Does a No-deal Brexit Mean for EU Workers?
• New Ruling Outlines Holiday Entitlements for Term Time Employees

July

• Staff Want Managers to Place More Focus on Catch-Up Meetings
• New laws crack down on misuse of non-disclosure agreements
• New laws offer extended redundancy protection for working mothers
• Millions more workers could qualify for sick pay under new proposals

June

• Record numbers of employees work from home
• Call for increased duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment
• Yearly tribunal stats show 27% increase in single claims
• Change to Early May Bank Holiday in 2020

May

• Factoring voluntary overtime into holiday pay
• 2019 Summer of sport – are you prepared
• Enhancing maternity pay but not shared parental pay – is this discrimination
• ECJ set new rules on recording working time

April

• BBC radio host dismissed for ‘racist’ tweet
• A run-down of workplace rights for new parents
• Employees unhappy with physical contact at work
• Supporting employees during Ramadan 2019

March

• Retail worker owed wages for time spent closing store
• Gender pay gap figures show little progress
• Pregnant police officer suffers discrimination
• What are the rules on bank holiday working

February

• Latest tribunal figures show claims continue to rise
• Court provide clarification on compensatory rest breaks
• Do you record daily working hours for all employees
• New tribunal compensation limits announced

January

• Debate over sleep-in pay to continue in Supreme Court
• 88 year old employee becomes oldest to win age discrimination case 
• What is the extent of harassment
• Pregnant mothers to receive redundancy protection 

2018

• EU Settlement Scheme in public test phase
• EAT gives guidance on when written contracts should be given
• Latest ET figures show claims continue to rise
• ‘Good Work Plan’ will bring significant change to employment law
• New rates for sick pay and family friendly leave
• How to manage staff holidays over Christmas
• EAT rules Addison Lee drivers are ‘workers’
• Ryanair staff dismissed for ‘staged’ photo
• Detail on parental bereavement leave published
• Morrisons deemed liable for staff data breach
• Government consult on ethnicity pay gap reports
• Chancellor confirms April’s NMW increases
• Summer’s over Issues Employers May Encounter
• Childcare Voucher Scheme Closure Looms
• Employment Tribunal Claims Continue to Grow
• Prime Minister’s Chequers Deal Rejected
• Government to Ban Restaurants from Taking Tips from Workers
• World Mental Health Day 10th October 2018
• Refusing Postponement Could Be Unfair Dismissal
• Gender Pay Gap Reporting May be Extended
• Businesses Failing to Support Older Workers
• Paid Carers Leave Proposed for UK Workers
• Employers Still Asking Inappropriate Questions at Interviews
• Failure to Allow Appeal Led to Unfair Dismissal
• EU Nationals Given Details on how to Remain in the UK after Brexit
• Work Stress Puts Vulnerable Men at Risk
• Train Chaos Causes Issues for Commuters
• Menopause is a Disability
• New Government Dress Code Guidance
• Supporting Employees During Ramadan
• Legal Duty For Employers to Stamp Out Harassment
• Minimum Wage Increase to Take Effect
• Do Your Staff Pay For Their Uniforms?
• The End of Free OH Assessments
• More Employers Names as NMW Offenders
• Employment Tribunal Claims Soar After Fee Removal
• Awards to Increase
• All Change for Employment Law
• Sexual Harrassment

2017

• Plans for EU Citizens after Brexit
• Autumn Budget
• New guidance on avoiding pregnancy discrimination
• EAT confirms Uber drivers are workers
• New Mothers and Redundancy New Laws Needed
• Managing Employee Stress New Acas Guidance
• April to March Leave Years
• What Employers Can do to Support Mental Health
• What Makes an Employee Start Early Conciliation
• ET Fee Reimbursement How It Works
• Equal but separate treatment can be discrimination
• Paid Time Off For Parents To Grieve
• New Acas Mental Health Guidance
• Focus on Sexual Harassment
• Gender Pay Gap 6 months gone
• Focus on Sexual Harassment
• Gender Pay Gap 6 months gone
• Preparing for GDPR: 10 Top Tips for Employers
• Keeping Control of Annual Leave
• Employee Paid Less Due To Part Time Status
• Can You Dismiss for Conduct in a Previous Job
• The Uber Decision Continues to Pave The Way
• Employers slow to catch up with National Minimum Wage changes
• Single Comment Was Sex Discrimination
• Changes to Foreign Worker Rules
• Employment Tribunal Fees Abolished
• Government Needs to Rethink DBS Check System
• National Minimum Wage and Sleep Ins
• The Truth About Islamic Headscarf Bans
• Holiday Pay and Commission
• Employers Told to Recruit, Retrain, Retain Older Workers
• Religious Request Not in ‘Good Faith’
• Discriminating by Name
• High Heels and Workplace Dress code
• Is Stress A Disability
• Key Employment Law Dates For 2017
• When Weather Affects Work
• Will the Government Change Laws On Tipping
• Bicycle Courier Is Worker
• Brexit Update
• Dealing with Deductions
• Employers Fined For Failing To Pay Compensation
• Expired Warnings and Fair Dismissals

2016

• Government Consultations on Employee Pay
• Inquiry into the Gig Economy
• IT Security and Data Protection Largest Number of Employers Named and Shamed
• Managing your workforce during the Olympics Maximum Working Hours And Rest Periods
• New Laws on Illegal Workers New Rates Announced for 2017 New Salary Sacrifice Restrictions
• No Evidence of Right to Work Meant Fair Dismissal
• Review into work support for drug addicts
• Review of Modern Work Practices Right to express milk at work
• Scotlands Plans for Employment Law Shared Parental Pay Woes
• Supporting Employees Through Cancer
• The Autism Employment Gap
• The Queens Speech 2016
• Tougher Rules On Illegal Workers Come Into Effect
• Trade Union Act 2016 TUC Reports on Sexual Harassment
• Uber Drivers are Workers Welsh Government to block UK laws
• Withdrawing offers of employment
• 3 Months on from the Leave Vote Acas Relax Tattoo Rules
• Apprenticeship Levy More Details Issued
• Apprenticeship Target
• Asda – Save Money Live Better
• Assessing Employment Status
• Black Friday Employment Law Implications
• Calls for more protection for mothers in the workplace
• Caste Discrimination Dealing with Festive Concerns
• Dismissal for refusing to work more hours
• Do I have to include commission in holiday pay
• Drug Testing Dismissals
• EHRC guidance on religion and belief
• Employees Do Not Have To Ask For Breaks
• Employing ex-offenders
• English language requirements for Public Sector workers
• Flexible Working – Employer In Control
• Government changes details on Apprenticeship Levy