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Case Law Update: Harassment & Right to Privacy

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that an employer relying on evidence provided by the Police during a disciplinary procedure didn’t breach an employee’s right to privacy. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip ahead to our Too Long; Didn't Read section here. Garamukanwa v United Kingdom The law Article 8 of the European Convention .....

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Case Law Update - Misconduct and Missing out Meetings

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has held that there can be circumstances where, when considering misconduct, a separate investigatory and disciplinary hearing isn’t required. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip ahead to our Too Long; Didn't Read section here. Sunshine Hotel v Goddard The law Whether a dismissal is fair or unfair is decided un .....

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Top Five Cases of 2019

2019 has been a turbulent year for employment law. Here are the top 5 key cases from this year and their outcomes. Top Cases of the Year 1. Crawford v Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd Court: Court of Appeal Date: March 2019 The facts: In his role, the claimant was required to continuously monitor trains during eight-hour shifts. He was too busy to take a continuous break of 20 minutes, though .....

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Case Law Update: Sunday Opt Out and Unfair Dismissal

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that an employee whose job offer was retracted when they refused to work Sunday hours was not automatically unfairly dismissed. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip ahead to our Too Long: Didn't Read section here. Ikejiuba v WM Morrison Supermarkets plc The law Shop and betting workers have the right t .....

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Case Law Update: Religious Preaching in the Workplace

The Court of Appeal has ruled that a Nurse was fairly dismissed on allegations she’d engaged in inappropriate discussions with patients about religion. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip ahead to our Too Long; Didn’t Read section here. Kuteh v Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust The law Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) pro .....

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Case Law Update: Mental Health Discrimination

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that an employer didn’t have ‘constructive knowledge’ that an employee was disabled. Why? Because she’d concealed her disability from them and would likely have continued to do so even if they’d looked into her health further. A Ltd v Z The law Within equality law, it’s unlawful to treat a disabled person unfavourably because of something arising .....

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Case Law Update: Gray v Mulberry Company (Design) Limited

The Court of Appeal has upheld earlier decisions that an employee’s belief in the right to own the copyright of ‘her own creative workers and output’ was not protected from discrimination by equality law. Gray v Mulberry Company (Design) Limited The law Employees are able to bring tribunal claims if they’re subjected to discrimination because of a ‘philosophical belief’. This is a protected cha .....

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Case Law Update - When Immigration & Employment Law Collide

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has held that an organisation was wrong to completely depend on a negative right to work check when deciding to withhold work—and pay—from an employee. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip ahead to our Too Long; Didn't Read section here. Badara v Pulse Healthcare Limited The law Individuals from overseas must have the .....

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Case Law Update - Discrimination Cancelled out by Rehiring

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that individuals who have been dismissed, but then later reinstated, can still claim that their dismissal amounted to a detriment under the Equality Act 2010. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip ahead to our Too Long; Didn't Read section here. Jakkhu v Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd The law An indivi .....

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Case Law Update: Company Losses & Reasonable Adjustments

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has found that permitting an employee to work from home at a monetary loss to the organisation could not be considered a reasonable adjustment. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip ahead to our Too Long; Didn't Read section here. Shah v TIAA Limited The law Under the Equality Act 2010, employers must make reason .....

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Case Law Update: When is an Impairment a Disability?

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that, when bringing a claim of disability discrimination, a claimant must show that their condition has a ‘long-term effect’ at the time of the alleged acts of discrimination. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip ahead to our Too Long; Didn't Read section here. Tesco v Tennant The law The Equality Act .....

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Case Law Update: Disability Discrimination & Pensions

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled on a case involving two disabled police officers and their pensions. It was found that they suffered discrimination. A compensation payment was capped due to their receiving their pensions early. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip ahead to our Too Long: Didn't Read section here. Chief Constable of Gwen .....

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Groundbreaking Case Overhauls Holiday Pay Rules

On the 10 June 2019, the Court of Appeal made a groundbreaking ruling on workers’ holiday pay. And it means you may have to start paying your staff a lot more… Holiday pay goes up for thousands of workers The Court of Appeal has ruled that voluntary overtime should contribute to holiday pay calculations. And if that sounds confusing to you, don’t worry. You’re not alone. Read on to find out wha .....

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Case Law Update: Voluntary Overtime Impacts Holiday Pay Calculations

In a landmark judgement, the Court of Appeal ruled in June that voluntary overtime needs to be taken into account when calculating holiday pay if it’s ‘sufficiently regular and settled’. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip ahead to our Too Long; Didn't Read section here. East of England Ambulance NHS Trust v Flowers The Law Under the Working Time .....

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Case Law Update: Cumming v British Airways

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has considered whether a policy that removed contracted rest days due to the taking of parental leave was indirectly discriminatory against women. This case revolves around the right to unpaid parental leave. This is leave that is taken for the purposes of caring for a child and is usually limited to four weeks per year. Unpaid parental leave applies to male a .....

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Case Law Update: Paid Holiday Entitlement

The Supreme Court has upheld the Court of Appeal's judgement on the Harpur Trust v Brazel case. The ruling states that holiday pay for permanent staff who only work part of the year, such as term-time workers, should get a full 5.6 weeks of annual leave a year. Pay should be calculated over a 52-week average, rather than on a basis of 12.07%. The same principles apply to zero-hour workers, those .....

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Case Law Update: Refuting a Whistleblower

The Court of Appeal has ruled that an organisation was not liable for the damage to a whistle blower’s reputation as a result of them labelling his accusations as ‘without foundation’. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip ahead to our Too Long; Didn't Read section here. Jesudason v Alder Hey Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust The law The Empl .....

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Case Law Update: Khatun v Winn Solicitors Ltd

An employment tribunal (ET) has held that an employer unfairly dismissed their employee who refused to agree to proposed employment contract changes due to coronavirus. To avoid a claim for unfair dismissal an employer must: Have a potentially fair reason to dismiss Act reasonably in treating this reason as sufficient to justify dismissal Follow a fair procedure For a dismissal to be fair .....

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Case Law Update: Philosophical Belief & Personal Pronouns

The employment tribunal (ET) has held that a doctor’s ‘conscientious objection’ to refer to transgender patients in their chosen gender was ‘incompatible with human dignity’. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip ahead to our Too Long; Didn't Read section here. Mackereth v DWP and APMG Ltd The law Under the Equality Act 2010, employees can bring cla .....

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Case Law Update: Protection for Whistle Blowers

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has held that, in order for whistle blowers to be legally protected, tribunals should assess if the person who blew the whistle reasonably believed that their actions were in the public interest. Okwu v Rise Community Action The law Under Section 103A of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA), an employee will have been unfairly dismissed if the reason for the .....

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5 Disciplinary Procedure Essentials for Cases of Harassment

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for harassment problems to emerge in a workplace. If it occurs in your workplace, you should carry out an investigation. This means setting out on a fact-finding mission to collect information about an incident. You can appoint an investigator in-house or look for external assistance. Whatever you choose, there is a process to follow. Investigating Harassment Be .....

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Case Law Update: Disability Discrimination & Medical Evidence

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that an employment tribunal (ET) was right to rely on medical evidence from a GP when it was contradicted by the claimant in a discrimination claim. Wheatsone v Blakeney News Food and Wine Ltd What does the law say? When dealing with a claim of disability discrimination, you must refer to the Equality Act 2010. It states that: A person (A) discrim .....

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Case Law Update: Disability Discrimination & Personality Disorders

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that the tribunal did not err by finding a claimant had not demonstrated clear evidence that her ‘mixed personality’ disorder had a substantial adverse effect on her day-to-day activities. Khorochilova v Euro Rep Ltd The law A person is deemed to have a disability if they have an impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the .....

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Case Law Update: Unfair Dismissal & Some Other Substantial Reason

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled that a dismissal with no procedure was fair due to a breakdown in the working relationship. Gallacher v Abellio Scotrail Ltd The law To avoid a claim for unfair dismissal, employers need to demonstrate two things: A potentially fair reason to dismiss the employee That they followed fair procedure Potentially fair reasons are outlined in the Employ .....

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Case Law Update: Reputational Damage & Knee Jerk Reactions

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that a dismissal for reputational risk, following the arrest of a teacher on suspicion of downloading inappropriate images of children, was unfair. K v L The law There are two fair reasons for dismissal that are relevant here: ‘Conduct’ and ‘some other substantial reason (SOSR)’. SOSR is a catch-all category. It provides a potentially fair reason .....

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Case Law - Discrimination Outside of Work

The EAT has held that employers could avoid being liable for discriminatory acts committed by their employees, if it’s clearly established that the act took place outside of work. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip ahead to our Too Long; Didn't Read section here. Forbes v LHR Airports Limited The Law Under section 109 of the Equality Act 2010, or .....

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Case Law Update: Chief Con of Devon and Cornwall Police v Town

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has upheld a ruling that a pregnant police officer was discriminated against due to a policy that instructed pregnant officers to be transferred to a desk-based role. If an employee notifies you that they are pregnant, your risk assessment should highlight potential dangers to them. In some cases, the assessment may highlight a need to temporarily alter their .....

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Historical LGBT+ Employment Cases and their Significance

When the Equality Act 2010 was introduced it ensured LGBT+ individuals were not discriminated against in the workplace. That wasn’t always the case, however… In this article, we take a look at some of the major cases that shaped employment law on LGBT+ issues, and how they continue to change and evolve. Let’s begin with the most recent: McMahon v Redwood In this case a lesbian employee was to .....

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Case Law Update: Disability Discrimination

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that when making a reasonable adjustment to assist a disabled employee, the adjustment should counteract the specific disadvantage caused by the disability. Linsley v Commissioners for HMRC The law What is a ‘reasonable adjustment?’ In legal terms, it is when a provision, criterion, or practice by an employer places a disabled employee at a substa .....

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Case Law Update: When is a Disability a Disability?

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that, when evaluating if an impairment should be classed as ‘long-term’, and therefore a disability, organisations should determine the likelihood of it recurring at the time of the potentially discriminatory act. This is a complicated one, so if you want to see a summary you can skip ahead to our Too Long; Didn’t Read section here. Parnaby v Leices .....

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The Legal Test in a Case of Indirect Discrimination

Under the Equality Act 2010 (pertaining to equality act case law), it is unlawful for an employer to apply a provision, criterion or practice (“PCP”) irrespective of any protected characteristic, such as gender or race, which would or does put workers who share a protected characteristic at a disadvantage, and puts the individual who claims the discrimination at such a disadvantage. In the previo .....

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Case Law Update: Discrimination as a Result of Employer's Belief

A recent ruling has found that direct discrimination claims that arise as a result of the alleged discriminator’s protected characteristic, such as their religious belief, won’t succeed at tribunals. Gan Menechem Hendon Limited v De Groen  The law Direct discrimination takes place when an employer treats an employee less favourably than others because of a protected characteristic. These inclu .....

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Case Law Update - Redundancy Pay, Statutory v Contractual

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has provided further clarification on how statutory and contractual redundancy pay should be provided to employees. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip ahead to our Too Long; Didn’t Read section here. Ugradar v Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust The law When making an employee redundant, you should give them .....

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Case Law Update - Redundancy & Disputes

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has held that there was a redundancy situation where the owner of an organisation absorbed the role of its Managing Director. A redundancy situation can exist where a business, or part of it, is shut down completely. This can also occur if there is a shut down at a specific location (even if moving to a new location). You can also consider redundancy if the r .....

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Case Law: Double Discrimination & Disability

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that in circumstances where there is no evidence of a disability on the date of an alleged act of discrimination, the ET is entitled to consider all evidence available from around this date and infer that a disability was present at the relevant time. Under the Equality Act 2010, a person is said to be disabled if they have a condition that is a phys .....

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HR Case Tracker

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Testimonials & Case Studies

On this page, you’ll find a number of case studies where we have supported businesses with award-winning, HR, Employment Law and Health & Safety Support. .....

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CASE STUDY

Holiday Inn Express

Close to the M1 in Buckinghamshire, the Holiday Inn Express Milton Keynes is a popular favourite for people on business during this week and enjoying the local leisure activities and nightlife at the weekends. The 192 bedroom hotel employs 29 members of staff and has central HR support, but often needs additional help to work through some of their more complex cases. .....

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Job Offer Letter Template

Once you decide which person you want to recruit, you complete the process with an employment offer. You normally do this over the phone, initially. However, it is always recommended to follow up any verbal offer or agreement with a written one. Like any contract, an employment offer letter becomes a legally binding agreement when certain factors are present, so you need to be sure it’s correctl .....

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Mental Health Day: How to Improve Your Workforce’s Wellbeing

This month is International Mental Health Month: a month to raise awareness, and reflect on what we can do to make improvements. There isn’t one definitive factor that is responsible for an overall decline in mental health. Many point the finger at a generation plagued by technology and social media, others blame a lack of awareness and an overbearing stigma. Whatever your situation, whichever s .....

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CASE STUDY

John Taylor Hospice

John Taylor Hospice is an organisation with a long and fascinating history. “We were gifted into the National Health Service in 1948 and were managed by the NHS until 2011,” states Penny Venables, CEO of John Taylor Hospice, “so a lot of our HR and the work that we currently now do with Croner was previously managed by the NHS. “We came out of the NHS in 2011 because of government legislation and .....

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London Calling

For a capital so full of activity and energy, you’d be forgiven for finding it difficult to keep track of the sheer volume of events. Fortunately, for the past 30 years, people have been able to rely on London Calling to keep them up-to-date. London Calling are the largest and most effective Arts Marketing specialists in the UK. From film festivals to fine dining, and fringe theatre performances .....

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Springboard Centre

In the early eighties the decline of the mining industry started to have an impact, with large numbers of miners becoming redundant and looking for alternative means of support. For most of the miners the only job they knew was working down the pits, although many had a number of transferrable skills which they were yet to nurture. One option open to them was to invest their redundancy money in .....

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Thames Water

Supplying water services to 9 million customers spread across a geographical area stretching from the South East to the West Country means Thames Water’s employees work across most of the Southern United Kingdom. .....

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Cytoplan Ltd

Cytoplan Ltd is a charity owned foundation specialising in supplements. Amanda Williams, Managing & Technical Director outlines the organisation’s vision: “Cytoplan Ltd is British, Independent and wholly owned by a charitable foundation.  The aim of the foundation is to improve the health of the nation.  We provide a genuinely unique range of supplements, to practitioners and the general publi .....

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Case Law Update: Kong v Gulf International Bank

The Court of Appeal has upheld a decision where an employer successfully defended a claim for automatic unfair dismissal in relation to whistleblowing. They did this by showing that the dismissal was genuinely due to the conduct of the individual, and not the protected disclosure. And of course, if you don’t have time to go through the entire blog, you can always see our too long; didn’t read sec .....

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Case Law Update: Stuart Delivery Ltd v Augustine

The Court of Appeal has upheld earlier decisions of the ET and EAT in another gig economy case. This ruling confirms that the ability to offer a piece of work to a substitute does not mean that the service is not provided personally. Therefore, they cannot be found to be a worker. What the law says… Section 230(3) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 defines a worker as someone who has “entered int .....

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Case Law Update: Kane v Debmat Surfacing

An employment tribunal (ET) has held that a driver who was sacked after he was spotted drinking in a club while he was off sick was unfairly dismissed. To avoid a claim for unfair dismissal an employer must: Have a potentially fair reason to dismiss, Acted reasonably in treating this reason as sufficient to justify dismissal Follow a fair procedure. For a dismissal to be fair, you must sh .....

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Case Law Update: Mobbs v Weetabix Limited

Summary Is a management style that involves humiliation and intimidation ever appropriate? No, an ET has said, especially when it is compounded by a poor grievance procedure and a failure to address the manager's behaviour.   Law Section 95(1)(c) of the Employment Rights Act 1996: An employee is dismissed by their employer if ‘the employee terminates the contract under which he is employed (w .....

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Case Law Update: Earl Shilton Town Council v Miller

Permitting unequal access to toilets and toilet facilities between male and female members of staff can amount to direct sex discrimination when the inherent reason for less favourable treatment is that of sex.   Law Section 39 of the Equality Act 2010 (EQA) renders detrimental discriminatory treatment unlawful: (2) An employer (A) must not discriminate against an employee of A's (B)— … (d) b .....

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Case Law Update: Can Indirect Age Discrimination be Justified?

The Court of Appeal has held that indirect age discrimination can potentially be justified. This counts on the basis of saving costs to balance company books. The Equality Act 2010 outlines the definition for indirect age discrimination. This is when a provision, criterion or practice (PCP) is applied to everyone and is apparently age neutral, but which: disadvantages more people in one age gr .....

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Case Law Update: Sithirapathy v PSI CRO UK Ltd and others

The Employment Tribunal (ET) has dismissed a series of claims concerning discrimination, unfair and wrongful dismissal, harassment, and more, in order to avoid encouraging ‘a culture of hyper-sensitivity’. The claimant brought 42 claims to the Employment Tribunal. The facts The claimant worked as a lawyer for PSI CRO UK. She was offered a role at the company’s branch in Switzerland but was told .....

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Case Law Update: Compulsory Retirement Age

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has upheld contrasting decisions on the effect of the same employer’s compulsory retirement age on different people. Implementing a compulsory retirement age may be lawful. Also, it won’t amount to age discrimination when used correctly. This was the judgement the EAT found in Pitcher v University of Oxford and University of Oxford v Ewart. They found having a .....

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Case Law Update: Harassment & Working Hours

An employment tribunal has found that a police officer was the victim of harassment and victimisation, related to his disability, following a number of issues which included (but was out of time to be considered by the ET) being called ‘Dolly Parton’ for his 9 – 5 working pattern. Knox v Chief Constable of Merseyside Police Employment law related to the case Equality Act 2010 Section 26 (haras .....

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Case Law Update: Unfair Dismissal & Investigations

In this case, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) made a decision on an unfair dismissal & investigation. The EAT had to consider whether or not the Employment Tribunal (ET) had adequately considered the employers investigation. The investigation looked into whether the employees’ misconduct was caused by the claimant’s mental health condition (depression), or the medication to treat it. Da .....

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Case Law Update: Resignation & Termination

The Employment Appeal Tribunal was asked to consider whether or not the claimant was dismissed by the respondents’ actions in terminating his employment early during his notice period, which he was serving as a result of his resignation. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip ahead to our Too Long; Didn't Read section here. Law relevant to this case S .....

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Case Law Update: Mandatory Vaccines, Dismissal & Discrimination

An employment tribunal recently ruled on a case of contractual vaccination requirement & unfair dismissal. The tribunal had to consider whether vaccination was reasonable and dismissal as a result of this was fair. The claimants’ religious beliefs were taken into account in connection with vaccine refusal. (N.B. The dismissal took place before the vaccine regulations were in place for care h .....

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Case Law Update: Discrimination, Characteristics & Unfair Dismissal

In a decision on unfair dismissal, the Employment Tribunal (ET) had to consider the following: Was an academic, who claimed her race and sex lead to inherent characteristics of being naturally loud and argumentative, and her body language demonstrative, unfairly dismissed for the way she dealt with PHD students? If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip a .....

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Case Law Update: Moore v Phoenix Product Development Limited

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has held that a claimant was not unfairly dismissed from the company he founded after not being offered the opportunity to appeal. To make sense of this case we need to understand one of the five fair reasons for dismissal: SOSR. SOSR stands for “some other substantial reason”. It’s a category that provides a potentially fair reason for dismissal when one of .....

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Case Law Update: Harpur Trust v Brazel 2023

In January 2023, the government launched a consultation with the aim of overturning the effect of the Harpur Trust Judgment. Whilst no law changes have been confirmed yet, it’s likely there will be some change to the way the holiday is calculated for part-year and irregular-hours workers. What is the Harpur Trust v Brazel Case?  Brazel (the employee) was employed as a visiting music teacher on a .....

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Case Law Update: Bargaining & Time Limits

In a decision on time limits for tribunal claims, the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) was tasked to consider the following: An employer had made an ‘offer’ to induce employees into forgoing collective bargaining over changes to terms and conditions. The EAT had to consider if the time limit for a claim ran from the date of the offer, or the date of when the change was imposed. They found .....

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Case Law Update: Dementia & Disability Discrimination

An Employment Tribunal has found that an older employee with dementia was: Constructively dismissed, Discriminated against, and Humiliated because of her condition. Part of this was being repeatedly asked if she wanted to retire. Also, she wasn’t offered an occupational health referral prior to her return to work after shielding. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaw .....

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Case Law Update - Kubilius v Kent Foods Ltd

An employment tribunal (ET) has held that an organisation fairly dismissed their employee who refused to wear a facemask on a client’s site. For a dismissal to be fair, employers must show that the employee was dismissed for one of the following five permitted reasons: capability conduct redundancy statutory illegality some other substantial reason (SOSR) The burden of proof is on the e .....

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Burden of Proof in Employment Tribunal Cases

Before making a claim in a tribunal, an individual needs to prove they have a case. The burden of proof falls on the claimant. Basically, it means that they need to present clear, valid facts for the judge to consider if they will accept the case. No one wants to end up in a tribunal, but in some situations it’s inevitable. If you find yourself facing a claim as an employer, we are here to help. .....

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Final Ruling on 'Sleep-in Shift' Case & National Minimum Wage

The Supreme Court has announced its judgment in the Royal Mencap Society v Tomlinson-Blake and Shannon v Rampersad case on the payment of sleep-in shifts for support workers. This followed appeals brought by two care workers who were 'sleep-in' workers. By arrangement they were permitted to sleep at or near their place of work. The appeals focused on the calculation of the time for which they sho .....

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Case Law Update: Chalmers v Airport Ltd

The EAT has dismissed a victimisation claim. They ruled that wording used by the claimant in a grievance was not sufficient to amount to a ‘protected act’. As she was experienced in HR, her wording called into question whether she believed she was discriminated against at the time.   The Equality Act 2010 provides protection against unlawful direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and vict .....

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Case Law Update: Discrimination & Constructive Dismissal

An employment tribunal has upheld a claim for indirect sex discrimination and constructive unfair dismissal. The claim was brought by a working mother. She’d been required by her manager to start working weekend shifts, despite her lack of access to childcare at the weekend. If you want a quick summary of the case and the main takeaway points, you can skip ahead to our Too Long; Didn't Read secti .....

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Case Law Update: Menopause & Discrimination

The menopause is a particularly contentious point in employment law. This is because there is precedent for it to be considered a disability—even though it’s not officially recognised. Here’s how that particular point influenced a recent ruling… The EAT found that the ET had erred in striking out claims of sex and disability discrimination due to the menopause. The tribunal didn’t explain why th .....

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Case Law Update: Rodgers v Leeds Laser Cutting

The employment tribunal (ET) has held that an employee was not automatically unfairly dismissed following their refusal to come into work during the first Covid-19 lockdown. Employees must have worked for an organisation for at least a period of two years in order to bring a claim of unfair dismissal. However, there are some cases where an employee can claim from day one of employment. One of th .....

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Testimonials And Case Studies

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Pay & Benefits

Pay is the primary reason your employees come to work. If salaries aren’t right, it doesn’t really matter what else you do—your staff will look elsewhere. So how do you retain staff and attract the best talent? You keep on top of HR and pay & benefits. That means keeping up with the latest legislation changes, following best practice and conducting salary benchmarking. Croner helps businesse .....

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Client Employee Privacy Policy

In accordance to the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), Croner has implemented this privacy notice to inform you, our client’s employee, about how we may manage and process your personal data. This notice applies to all current and former employees of our clients, including contract or temporary workers. Croner Group Limited (“Croner”) is committed to protecting your privacy by ensuring .....

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Privacy Policy

PRIVACY NOTICE FOR WEBSITES - GDPR - COMPLIANT WEB VISITORS Welcome to the Croner Group Privacy Policy. We appreciate you taking the time to read all our notices carefully. Croner Group Limited (“Croner”) is committed to protecting your privacy by ensuring that any personal data is collected and used lawfully and transparently. When delivering our professional services such as employment law adv .....

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GDPR Compliance Statement

Welcome to Croner’s statement on GDPR and Data Security. This document should be read in conjunction with our main Privacy Policy which can be accessed here. GDPR principles we operate by… Accountability: We are committed to the principles of the GDPR by adopting the concept of ‘data privacy by design’ within our operational model. We remain accountable by having detailed policies and systems i .....

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Avoiding a Breach of Contract: A HR Perspective

Businesses in 2023 are experiencing unprecedented challenges. You might not think HR is crucial to navigating these issues, but human resources are crucial to your success. Employment law changes can leave organisations open to costly tribunal claims. Our HR events in 2023 will help steer you through the biggest changes and conflicts in your industry. Join our expert speaker for advice tailored to .....

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Simple Steps to Improve Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace

Businesses in 2023 are experiencing unprecedented challenges. You might not think HR is crucial to navigating these issues, but human resources are crucial to your success. Employment law changes can leave organisations open to costly tribunal claims. Our HR events in 2023 will help steer you through the biggest changes and conflicts in your industry. Join our expert speaker for advice tailored to .....

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Managing Sickness

Sickness absences are a costly expense for employers both in lost employee hours and in statutory sick payments. As an employer it’s understandable that you want to keep all your staff working,however sickness absences are unfortunately unavoidable as people get sick, especially at certain times of the year when things like colds and flu are rife.   As an employer you should have a clear and eff .....

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Slavery & Human Trafficking Statement

THE PENINSULA GROUP MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING STATEMENT ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE 1. The organisational structure of the Peninsula Group of Companies, (referred to as “The Group”) comprises The Group holding companies, Rainy City Investments Limited and Peninsula Business Services Group Limited along with six operating companies in the UK, namely Peninsula Business Services Limited, Br .....

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TEST UMBRACO PAGE

Who is it for? Our events are aimed at business owners, directors and HR professionals. Business owners Directors HR professionals What will I learn? As your business adapts and grows, HR needs to be a key consideration. Without it, you open yourself up to tribunal claims, costly pay-outs, reputational damage, and in the most serious cases, business closure. Learning to adapt is key to b .....

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Cookies Policy

What are Cookies Cookies are text files placed on your computer that contains a unique identifier, made up of letters and numbers, to collect standard internet log information and visitor behaviour information. This information is used to track visitor use of the website and to compile statistical reports on website activity. For further information visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookie .....

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On-site HR Support: Croner Face2Face

Did you know? On average, an organisation will run 16.5 formal disciplinary cases and 22 grievance cases each year, with the average time spent dealing with these matters being 20 and 15 days respectively? These figures are even higher for organisations within the public sector.   Need to keep a thorough record of HR issues? The service includes a review of paperwork, attendance at mee .....

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CASE STUDY

Cygnet Health Care

"To deliver the very best service we employ a lot of people, which is why it's been really helpful for our managers to be able to have expert HR support when we need it", says Senior Practice Development Nurse, Dannie Farrar. "I manage many different HR related situations and have found the support given by the Croner helpline essential for some of the more complicated cases. "For a couple of ca .....

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CASE STUDY

Macoi

While some TUPE transfers are extremely complex and lengthy, others can be relatively straightforward. In any case, given the stringent regulations which must be observed, transfers are often a stressful process for any employer. Originally two separate companies, each with their own strengths and successes, ‘Malcolm Andrew Office Solutions’ and ‘Combined Office Interiors’ came together in 2014 t .....

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CASE STUDY

Svensoni

Svensoni Paraplanning is one of the fastest growing paraplanning outfits in the UK, with a network of paraplanners nationwide. The organisation offers support in a number of areas, including defined benefit pensions, mortgages, and protection report writing. “Financial advisors send us cases,” explains Claire Gottemaker, Personal Assistant to the Director, “we prepare the suitability letter for t .....

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CASE STUDY

Spitfire Advice & Support Services Ltd

Background Spitfire Advice and Support Services Ltd (Spitfire Services) is a resident-led charity that was established in 1995 as Castle Vale Tenants and Residents Alliance as a direct response to the growing issues of poverty in Birmingham.  They are now a multi-purpose charity with a dedicated and committed staff team, who work tirelessly to support the most isolated and vulnerable in society. .....

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CASE STUDY

Business Design Centre

This is an interesting case and highlights the importance of control of contractors coming to site and who is responsible for their safety. Our client had robust processes in place however a helpful cleaning contract who was a key holder for all areas thought he would assist and open locked doors for the specialist contractor to access the roof without informing our client and denying him the oppo .....

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CASE STUDY

Burghley House

On Sunday 13th July 2014 an urgent out-of-hours Crisis Support call was received by Fiona Burns from a Director who was out of the country and needed urgent assistance with fatality. Burghley House was a long-standing client of Croner and had utilised our services purely for the commercial side of the business since 1997.   Court hears how Burghley House butler was fatally crushed The operat .....

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CASE STUDY

Dyson Technical Ceramics Ltd

Dyson Technical Ceramics operates on a global scale; their clients spanning over 37 countries and six continents, supplying cutting edge refractory ceramics worldwide. Their blend of global contacts, technical experience, and innovative thinking is summed up by their mission statement: ‘Focus, Innovation, and Performance.’ “We mainly create and provide technical ceramics for the steel and glass .....

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CASE STUDY

Finchale

Finchale is an independent charity providing specialist progression support for people with multiple and complex barriers to employment. .....

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CASE STUDY

Solicitors Benevolent Association

The Solicitors Benevolent Association, also known as the SBA, was established in 1858, and has been helping solicitors and their dependants deal with a range of issues, from bereavement and debt, to redundancy and stress. “We are a charity set up to support solicitors in difficulty,” says Interim CEO, D’Arcy Myers, “we provide financial support to over 500 people a year. We currently have seven st .....

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CASE STUDY

The Play Factory

From your first employee to your first official client, adopting the title of a Business Owner commands a lot of dedication and carries a magnitude of responsibility. Not only is offering a high quality service a key priority, but the day-to-day running of your business and people also requires significant attention and time. When Bimal Kotecha turned to Croner for support with HR and employment .....

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CASE STUDY

Pangea Support

Pangea Support Services is a semi-independent accommodation provider that delivers young people with accommodation, support, independent living skills advice, and cash dispensation. Farhana Shah, Office Manager and Director, fills us in: “Pangea Support began in 2007. Our main clientele is young people who have come into the country as unaccompanied minors, and we provide them with support and ac .....

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CASE STUDY

SPF Private Client

SPF Private Clients Ltd is a debt & insurance brokers, providing wealth management services to individuals. Nigel Moore, Finance Director of SPF tells us a little about his company: “SPF Private Clients Limited was set up in 1998 to act as a debt broker for Savills plc. Over time SPF added Insurance broking and wealth management services. In the peak (2006) SPF employed 300 staff and had a tu .....

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CASE STUDY

Grantech Ltd

In 2014 the Client had an HSE inspection that found Lifting equipment had not been inspected as required by LOLER and an improvement notice was issued.  Then in 2018 they were subject to another inspection and they again found equipment in use that hadn’t been inspected and three items that during previous 2 inspection had failed but were still in use.  The HSE decided to prosecute them under HASA .....

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CASE STUDY

Betfred Group

Betfred Group is privately-owned and the operating companies within that group operate high Street and multi-channel betting and gaming businesses. We operate over 1350 licenced betting shops across England, Wales, and Scotland under the Betfred brand. Through multiple channels, we have a growing online presence with an extensive digital sports betting and gaming offering.   In total we employ j .....

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CASE STUDY

Lagan Valley Steels

Initially, the company operated from two small hay sheds on the Moira Road, Lisburn, which is a far cry from its current 105,000 square foot modern office and warehouse facility in Culcavy, Hillsborough. The management of day-to-day employment law and health & safety matters is the responsibility of company accountant Margaret Keighley, who has worked within the steel industry since 2002. For .....

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CASE STUDY

Rangebourne Pet Care of Devizes

Since 1977 the pet shop has specialized in canine and feline nutrition and even have their own brand called Diggie’s Own Choice. The pet shop employs 7 staff and had not used an employment law consultancy service like Croner before, until a serious HR situation prompted them to take action. .....

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CASE STUDY

Vogue Showhomes

Through their unique and bespoke designs, Vogue Showhomes are able to deliver elegantly crafted projects covering all aspects of interior design, including domestic interior design, showhome, apartments, 3D computer generated imagery, private client design, and furniture packages. .....

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CASE STUDY

Women in Prison

The organisation was founded in 1983 by Chris Tchaikovsky and international criminologist, Pat Carlen. Fuelled by anger about incidents she had witnessed when imprisoned in HMP Holloway, founder Chris campaigned for change and an increase in awareness of the lives of women in prison. In the early 1990s, the organisation was able to expand its remit beyond campaigning to deliver direct support to .....

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CASE STUDY

Worldwide Fruit Ltd

In the hierarchy of appeal for a job role, pay is likely to rank towards the top of the scale for a vast majority of employees. From recruitment to retirement, the arrival of a payslip each month gives reason to remain in a role for many individuals. While an employee’s highest priority is the financial reward, it is also one of an organisation’s highest costs. Achieving a balance to suit both p .....

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CASE STUDY

Express Appliances

Express Appliances is a family-run appliance rental business that has been running since 2015. Alistair Gorbutt, Operations Director explains: “essentially what we do is buy large domestic appliances, like washing machines, fridge freezers, etc. We refurbish, repair and deep clean them and then rent them out to customers across London, Essex, Kent, Suffolk and other areas.” The business has grown .....

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CASE STUDY

Mellor Metals

Mellor Metals Ltd is a family-run business based in Great Ellingham in Norfolk. Hayley Mellor, PA to the Managing Director & Head of HR, tells us more: “My Dad and Grandad began the business in 1981. I joined the business around six years ago, and my brother joined 3 years later. Because we’re a small family-run business, we don’t really have a dedicated HR department, so part of my role is l .....

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CASE STUDY

North Notts Blinds

North Notts Blinds are a one of the most prominent blinds manufacturers in the Midlands. Their homemade, British blinds are endorsed by the British Blinds & Shutters Association, and they deliver daily to addresses across the UK. The organisation’s head office is based in Nottinghamshire, and they currently employ around 25-27 employees. .....

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CASE STUDY

Scotgold Resources

Scotgold Resources is a gold mine based in Stirlingshire, Scotland. HR Manager & PA to the CEO, Pam Dumas-Ekin, fills us in on the organisation’s growth: “We are a developing gold mine,” states Pam, “The mine itself has been operating since February 2019. We are currently working on construction of the process plant to utilise the resources coming out of the mine. “We started out very small, .....

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CASE STUDY

Print Inc.

Print Inc. are an embroidery and print company based in Carmarthenshire, South Wales. They specialise in bespoke business to business embroidery, print, and merchandise supplies. Offering a 7-10 day turnaround on order with free local delivery. They are also an approved supplier to both Hywel Dda and the Welsh NHS. The business began operations in 2016, and currently employees 2 people, but is lo .....

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CASE STUDY

Fargro

Fargro is a horticulture wholesaler operating in the B2B sector, providing support and advice to professional growers across the UK. Amanda Wheeler, HR Manager, tells us about the company: “With more than 70 years’ experience in horticulture, Fargro has developed deep knowledge and expertise across every horticulture sector. Whether our customers need specialist technical advice on increasing yie .....

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CASE STUDY

PK Education

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CASE STUDY

Knox Bhavan

Knox Bhavan is a RIBA chartered architecture practice, established in 1995 by Simon Knox and Sasha Bhavan.  Boasting an extensive and varied portfolio of built work, Knox Bhavan’s projects have attracted many awards – including numerous RIBA, Civic Trust, and other industry honours. As a relatively small practice, they are able to nurture close personal working relationships with every client, an .....

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Atypical Working and Employment Status: Pimlico Plumbers v Smith

The employment status of individuals who are purported to be self-employed has certainly been in the spotlight over recent times, and shows no signs of stopping. The case of Pimlico Plumbers v Smith is one of the latest cases to be heard in the Court of Appeal, with the company appealing a decision made at an Employment Tribunal regarding one of their plumber’s employment status. Background In .....

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Changes To Workers Rights: What It Means For Your Business

A number of high profile workers' rights cases have begun to set legal precedents in the UK courts. Those who work in the so called 'Gig Economy' are set to have changes in workers rights, pay, and status; including the entitlement to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). This White Paper sets out to explain the potential changes in employment law for those working in the Gig Economy and other areas business .....

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Employment Status Factsheet

In light of the recent rulings surrounding the gig economy, it is proving to be more important than ever for employers to ascertain their workforce’s status. HMRC appear to be casting a keen eye in the direction of three brackets: Worker, Self-employed, and Employee. How to ascertain an individual’s respective status can be notoriously difficult, as there is often an exhaustive checklist of point .....

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Missing a Modern Slavery Statement?

Legally, organisations with an annual turnover of £36 million or more must publish a modern slavery statement each year. Unfortunately, statistics tell us that not all employers who must publish statement have done so. In fact, only 75% have produced a report. Of these 75%, not all have an up to date report. This means, there are a significant number of employers who are currently in breach of em .....

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Uber Loses Appeal to Classify Drivers as Self-Employed

On 19th February 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that Uber’s drivers are workers, not self-employed. The ruling finally gives a definitive answer to the question: “Are uber drivers self-employed?” This is a massive development in a legal battle that has been fought over several years. The decision has wide ranging implications, both for Uber, and for the Gig Economy at large… The latest (and fina .....

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Making Contract Changes Due to COVID-19

2020 is a year of survival for businesses. That means saving costs and facing challenges head on. Unfortunately, redundancies are on everyone’s mind. But there are ways to reduce costs without terminating staff. One of the primary ways you can do this is by changing employees’ contracts. Avoid the inherent risk of mishandling your documentation. Read this article where we review some of the main .....

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Agreement Not to Work for Competitors

Various elements make up an employment contract. While certain details may vary depending on the type of business, the basic components in these contracts include: Working hours Notice periods Pay and holiday entitlements Duration of contract Terms and conditions Privacy policy Benefits, etc. It’s not uncommon for employees within certain industries or job roles to come across an exclu .....

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Angard Staffing Solutions Ltd and Another v Kocur

The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has provided further clarity on agency worker rights under the Agency Worker Regulations 2010. The Agency Worker Regulations adapt into UK law the Temporary Agency Workers Directive from the EU. It’s designed to ensure fair treatment of agency workers from both the agency and the end user. Regulation 5 dictates that agency workers should be afforded the same .....

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Addison Lee Ltd v Lange

The Court of Appeal has refused to hear an appeal against a decision in the Addison Lee case. The decision found that private-hire drivers were ‘workers’ and not ‘independent contractors’. The term 'employment status' is the arrangement under which an individual is engaged to work for an organisation. The Employment Rights Act 1996 defines a worker as someone who has “entered into or works under .....

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How Businesses can Best Prepare for Brexit

Recently, attitudes towards Brexit have taken a very pessimistic turn. Many are advising businesses across the UK to prepare for the worst, and expect chaos. While there is certainly cause for concern, with a huge amount of issues affecting businesses still up in the air, it is possible to weather the storm. Firstly, if a deal is reached, businesses will have a two-year transition period that wi .....

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Domestic Abuse - An Employment Law Guide

Domestic abuse includes but is not limited to controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour. It can be physical, emotional, psychological, and/or financial, and can take place in person or through digital means. The abuse is usually between adults who are or have been in an intimate relationship, or between family members. Domestic abuse is usually a pattern of behaviour, although it can be a one- .....

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Managing Staff Who Don’t Want to Return to Work

A change in homeworking guidance on the 19th July only applies in England for now, but the UK as a whole is on the verge of opening up. As it does, employers in England will have the freedom to end homeworking measures, gradually. If employees are reluctant to return, what options do employers have? Managing a return to work Addressing concerns Employee safety must be the priority during the i .....

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HR - Top Tips from Croner Advisors

We asked our advisors to address some of the most common queries they receive via our advice lines. Here’s what they came up with: Top Tips from Croner's HR Advisors 1. You must give an employee their contract on day one of employment It’s surprising how many business owners contact us with no employment contracts for their employees. In some cases, an employee has been working for them for man .....

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The Ramifications of Thomas Cook’s Collapse

On 23 September 2019, Thomas Cook went into compulsory liquidation. Around 21,000 worldwide employees were left without jobs, including 9,000 UK staff. Thomas Cook Collapse What’s happened since? Since then, former employees have begun joint legal action. They claim the company didn’t follow appropriate consultation procedures for redundancy in the run-up to its collapse. Additionally, a comp .....

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New COVID-19 Restrictions - Homeworking & Face Masks

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced new measures that are to be put into place. The one measure most people will be aware of is office workers in England should once again ‘work from home if they can’. These restrictions could be needed for up to six months. ‘We always knew that, while we might have driven the virus into retreat, the prospect of a second wave was real,’ he told MPs. ‘And .....

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Roadmap Out of Lockdown - May 2021

Today, Boris Johnson announced that the next stage of the roadmap out of lockdown will go ahead from next week in England. Case rates remain low. This means the government will be hearing the following question a lot over the next few weeks: “How much longer is this going to go on for?” The roadmap so far As previously announced, England’s roadmap out of lockdown comes in stages. This began on .....

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Reacting or Redacting? Key Learnings from Activision Blizzard Walkouts

Earlier this year, one of the most successful video game companies in the world faced mass-walkouts and lawsuits. Now, months later, the company’s CEO is facing a shareholder rebellion and calls to resign. What caused this? What happened in the interim? What lessons should HR take from the company and its situation? Let’s take a look… Activision Blizzard Walkouts Background For those unfam .....

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Top Employment Law Developments - 2021

2021 was marked by the pandemic just as much as 2020. As a result, some of the development from the previous year carried over. However, there have been many more developments that will likely have lasting effects. In this article, we’ll take a look at the top three changes that occurred this year and why they are significant. Developments of 2021 1. The end of furlough The Job Retention schem .....

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Employing Ukrainian Refugees - Part Two: Integration

So, you’ve decided to employ a Ukrainian national, but have concerns about integrating them into the business. What should you do to combat language barriers? What wellbeing support should you provide? How can you ensure they fit well within your company culture? In the second part of our Ukrainian series, we’ll take a look at how you can make integration smooth and provide support to your new s .....

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[Mythbuster] It Is Too Expensive to Hire Disabled Workers

Only a small percentage of disabled employees require reasonable adjustments that actually cost the employer anything. Examples of reasonable adjustments that don’t incur a cost include: Flexible working hours (or a phased return to work following an accident) A designated parking space Providing a ground floor workstation if the employee struggles with mobility Allowing the employee to cho .....

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Do I Need to Pay My Interns and Work Experience Staff?

Interns. They’re eager, hard-working, and have flexibility over the summer to take on your part-time work. But be careful. Getting your recruitment wrong can expose you to legal risks, especially if you take on staff under the age of 18. Here’s how to avoid breaking the law this summer.   Rules to remember this summer Hiring unpaid interns could be illegal Unpaid internships are common, especia .....

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The True Cost of Hiring a Bad Recruit

Hiring a bad recruit may seem like a mild inconvenience- a speed bump- but nothing more. In truth, the cost of a bad recruit can be substantial. But before we look too much into how much it costs to hire a bad recruit, we need to take a look at how much recruiting a new starter usually costs. There is no definitive figure when it comes to hiring as there are too many factors at play to set one tr .....

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Post COVID Recruitment: How to Find Candidates

Recruiting new talent is a complex process. Throw in a global pandemic and a recovering economy, and you’ll have further complications when you try to find candidates. Many businesses are increasing starting salaries to find the best talent. But is this the best approach as the economy is recovering after the COVID pandemic? You may need to open up your business to new possibilities, in order to .....

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Candidates - Choosing Correctly During the Great Resignation

Businesses across the UK are facing one of the biggest staffing shortages in living memory. When lockdown lifted, many employees saw their opportunity to move to pastures new. The result? A whopping 1.1m job vacancies according to the latest count. So, while many organisations are experiencing shortages, there is also a wealth of candidates out there, ready for a new challenge. This in itself m .....

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Talent Crisis – Is Reskilling the Way Forward?

With staff coming and going in many industries across the UK, lots of businesses are focusing on recruitment. However, there is often a solution closer to home… Your workforce is a valuable asset—one that may hold the key to your staffing problem. Reskilling A better alternative to recruitment? Skill-based jobs are increasingly in demand. At first glance, it may seem too costly or too time-con .....

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Hiring Regret – Your Options

Recent research shows that business regret almost half of the new hires they make. If you’ve found yourself in the same position, you’re probably wondering what your options are moving forward. In this article, we’ll explore your choices. But first… How big of an issue is hiring regret? The latest report highlighting the issue reveals some interesting statistics: In the past 12 months, near .....

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How to Attract the Right Talent and Meet Their Expectations

In the current employment market, it can be difficult to get the people you need. Many businesses feel they have the right fit, but discover that the appointment isn’t right months into their probation. How do you avoid this situation? Getting things right from the outset is crucial. In this article, we’ll explore how you can do this. If you need immediate advice with recruitment expectations, s .....

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CV Fraud can be Prosecuted – When Should it be?

In August 2022, a chief executive was ordered to pay back part of his salary after falsifying his PhD and career. The conclusion of the case poses an important question for businesses: “Where is the line between embellishment and lying?” Knowing where the threshold is will mean the difference between pursuing legal action and regular disciplinary process. This article attempts to answer the que .....

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What Are the Consequences of Affairs in the Workplace?

An affair at work can refer to any relationship between two of your employees. This includes extramarital affairs in the workplace. It's for this reason that affairs in the workplace can become a sensitive subject to handle: the term itself is problematic. Affairs in the Workplace: Consequences You should be prudent when handling a sensitive scenario like an affair in the workplace. Situations l .....

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Vegan Philosophy & Gross Misconduct

A fascinating new case due to go to tribunal next March brings a number of issues to the fore, the central one being: Is veganism a philosophical belief? You might wonder why this is important. Well, if it is ruled the veganism is a legitimate philosophical belief, it becomes covered by the ‘religion or belief’ protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. If this is the case it means t .....

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[Mythbuster] I'm Not Liable for Drunk Driving & Employee Conduct at Company Events

As the end of the year draws closer the number of company parties increase. Whether you barely recognise national holidays in work time, or decorate the office from top to bottom, most of you will have a gathering to thank your employees for another year of hard work. But, when you involve alcohol, things can get out of hand. Not only that, you may be liable for any mishaps or misdemeanours. To .....

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[Mythbuster] I Can’t Discipline an Employee for Political Beliefs

Politics, both in and out of the workplace, is becoming more and more divisive and polarising. Today, everyone has an opinion. And, more often than not—it’s an opinion you won’t agree with. Political arguments in the workplace can escalate, and in some cases, be cause for dismissal. But is difference of opinion between you and your employee enough to fire them? No. However, it’s not always that .....

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M Austin v A1M Retro Classics Ltd

The Employment Tribunal (ET) has ruled that a claimant was unfairly dismissed after posting his frustrations with his employer on social media. In this case, the ET examined the laws contained within section 10 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 as well as section 98 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. Section 10 of the 1999 Act creates a right for staff to be accompanied to a grievance and/or d .....

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How do I Respond to an Employee Watching Pornography in the Workplace?

The recent case of Conservative MP Neil Parish, who was caught watching pornography in the House of Commons, has brought the unusual issue to light. And, just in case you thought it was an isolated incident, a 2020 survey found that an estimated 1.5m individuals had watched porn on a work phone, tablet, or laptop at some point in their career. Before you run off to trawl through your employees’ p .....

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Employee Code of Conduct

Dealing with conduct is part and parcel of managing a workforce. Whether you own a small business or a large one, conduct issues will more than likely arise. This means you need to ensure you know how to deal with them effectively. In this guide, we will cover what employee conduct is, how you can manage it and how to put together a code of conduct that will establish your company values and cult .....

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When Allergens Turn Deadly - Food Allergy

A Food Allergy is an immune system reaction that occurs soon after eating certain foods. Around 2 million people in the UK have a food allergy. As an employer, there are a number of ways you can guarantee your employees’ safety. Create a safe area for your staff to store their food. Provide safe snacks if your company provides food and inform any outside caterers of employees with food allergie .....

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[Mythbuster] Health & Safety is Just Common Sense

It is important to remember that one individual’s common sense, is another’s foolishness. While some might see wearing protective goggles and gloves as a reasonable safety precaution, others might see it as a needless restriction. For some, taking regular breaks from working at their desk and their computer screen is a sensible choice, while others will blame their bloodshot eyes, stiff back, an .....

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Is Maximum Workplace Temperature Legislation Possible?

Following the Great British Heat Wave, many employees (and employers) across the country are asking the question: "Why isn’t there a legally enforceable maximum workplace temperature?" This isn’t the first time questions about the maximum temperature in the workplace have come up. However, it is the first time it has become a real possibility in the UK. Why haven’t we already got a maximum work .....

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Tougher Safety Sentences

 The Sentencing Council has published new guidelines for sentencing of health and safety prosecution cases which could have a massive impact on those who breach health and safety law. The guidelines, which come into force in England and Wales from 1 February 2016, apply to prosecutions taken under the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974, the regulations made under the Act, as well as corporat .....

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Warning on bogus Environmental Health Officers

Police and council officials have issued a warning to businesses to be on their guard for impostors fraudulently claiming to be environmental health or trading standards officers. The warning, from Trafford Council and Greater Manchester Police (Trafford South), follows an incident in which a woman posing as an environmental health officer entered a restaurant and carried out an “inspection”. The .....

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Corporate Manslaughter: What You Need to Know

Until 2008, it was both difficult and rare to convict a corporation for a criminal offence. Before the Corporate Manslaughter Act (2007), you could only convict an organisation if an employee who embodies the “mind” of the corporation was responsible for committing all elements of the offence. That's all very complicated, so let’s break it down for you. What is corporate manslaughter? It's wh .....

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Health & Safety Management System: Review Guide

Having a competently-written, clear and concise safety management system (SMS) can mean the difference between a safe workplace and a hazardous one. If you aren’t in the habit of reviewing and revising your policies and documentation now, it’s one you should pick up. Why not start by reviewing your health & safety management system? Or, if you don’t have one in place already, draft one today .....

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What to Do if an HSE Inspector Calls…

The only way to protect your business from an HSE inspection is to make sure you comply with HSE laws at all time… HSE inspections are on the increase. In 2017/2018, HSE inspectors fined businesses £72.6 million for breaking health & safety laws. They issued 3,883 prohibition notices. And they carried out 517 prosecutions, with 7% of offences resulting in immediate custodial sentences Rememb .....

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Diabetes & Safety in the Workplace

10 June 2019 marks the start of Diabetes Week in the UK. This article looks at the condition and how it may affect health and safety in the workplace. Diabetes in the workplace What is diabetes? Diabetes is a chronic condition where the body is unable to regulate its glucose levels as a result of either the pancreas failing to produce insulin, or not enough insulin to help glucose enter the bod .....

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Health and Safety Compliance

Health and safety law is criminal law. That means failure to follow it can result in criminal convictions. But it’s not just staying on the right side of the law that should provoke interest in compliance. Having a strong health and safety mentality in the workplace can provide significant benefits to your business. What is health and safety compliance? When we use this term, it usually means fo .....

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Choosing & Retaining a Competent Person

The words competent and competence are used comprehensively throughout health and safety-related legislation, Approved Codes of Practice, and guidance. It is a key element in promoting positive health and safety outcomes. Competence can be defined as the combination of skills and knowledge that enables a person to make informed decisions and carry out a defined task. Likewise, HSG65 Managing for .....

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Drugs & Alcohol in the Workplace

The 2017/18 Crime Survey for England and Wales found that one-third of adults aged 16–59 took illicit drugs at some point in their lifetime. Some 4.3% of them had done so in the last month. Depending on the industry, an organisation might feel justified in supporting a policy of random drug testing — especially with the above figures in mind. But before an employer starts testing employees left, .....

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ESQCR - An Overview

ESQCR What is it? It stands for Electrical Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 as amended. They specify safety standards which are aimed at protecting the public and consumers from danger. In addition, the Regulations specify power quality and supply continuity requirements. This is to ensure an efficient and economic electricity supply service for consumers. Duty Holders which fall .....

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Health & Safety Legislation

Employers are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of their staff. This is stated in the health & safety legislation in the UK. In this article, we’ll explain the legislation you should know and how it affects your business. Got a question about workplace health & safety? Speak to one of them now on 01455 858 132. What is health & safety legislation? It’s a set of laws and regul .....

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What are my Health & Safety Responsibilities When an Employee is Off-site?

Every employer has a duty of care towards their employees—but how far does that duty extend? When they are in the workplace, this duty is fully in force. However, what if their work takes them off site? What if an accident occurs during work time outside of your premises? In this article, we’ll take a look at your responsibilities and how to keep your employees safe off-site. Your health & .....

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Emergency Response Planning

No matter what your workplace is, you must ensure that you have an emergency response plan in place. This will let all your staff members know what it is they need to do if and when an emergency occurs. What is an emergency response plan? An emergency plan is your business's researched and planned procedure that tells your employees, and any relevant visitors and contractors, what it is they sh .....

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ACAS Early Conciliation and Time Limits

Early conciliation through ACAS is the initial step in trying to resolve workplace disputes without the need to make an Employment Tribunal claim. Since 5th May 2014, it has been obligatory for all potential Claimants to an Employment Tribunal claim that, before any claim is made, they are required to notify ACAS, and a period of conciliation between the potential Claimant and the potential Respon .....

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Early Conciliation Guide

When working in a large organisation or within a big team, there’s bound to be some disagreements or conflict between employees. With individuals from diverse backgrounds, it’s unlikely that everyone would share the same goals and objectives. Conciliation is where two or more individuals use an independent source to try to settle their differences. To settle disputes among employees or between y .....

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Employee Rights in the Wild West

Rockstar Games recently made headlines, not because of its long-awaited new release Red Dead Redemption 2 however, but because of allegations of a Wild West atmosphere in their workplace. Some of the reports coming from the studio are particularly animated, and claim employees are working 100+ hour weeks, expected to perform overtime as standard (including weekends), and that there is a culture o .....

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Employment Tribunal

For employers, going to employment tribunals can be scary, time-consuming and stressful. And that’s IF you win. A loss can mean reputational damage, expensive compensation and a drain of talented staff. Don’t worry, help is at hand! When an employment issue gets to this point, you need to follow the right steps. That way, you can reach a resolution that's ultimately good for your business. In t .....

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What to Expect in Employment Law From 2019

2018 was a fascinating year for employment law, with a variety of changes and landmark cases in employment rights. 2019 promises to build upon some of the big issues raised in 2018, with some big changes coming to workers’ rights and wages. Employment status and the Gig Economy There was a big shake-up of employment status in the Gig Economy in 2018. While not the only case, Uber fought numerou .....

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The Good Work Plan: Are You Prepared?

The big employment law shadow lurking over 2020 is the Good Work Plan. To ensure you’re prepared for the major changes that are coming into force, we’ve put together this guide. For expert advice or to find out how these changes are going to affect your organisation, call our employment law experts on freephone 0800 141 3825 or contact us online and we'll call you.   Here, we’ll cover all of th .....

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Data Protection

While members of the public may have access to specific information, certain pieces are confidential and protected by the Data Protection Act 2018. This was set up as a way to protect the confidentiality of the personal information your organisation collects. With General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), they form the basis for how you’ll collect, process and store confidential information. In .....

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Employment Tribunal System Reforms

The Government has published its consultation document Reforming the Employment Tribunal System. The aim of the consultation is to seek views on issues to be considered in implementing wider justice system reform principles in the Employment Tribunal system. Here, Amanda Beattie, Litigation Manager at Croner looks at the main elements and what impact it may have on businesses and claimants. Digit .....

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A Guide to Furlough & the Job Retention Scheme

First published 31st March 2020. Last updated 3rd March 2021. On 3 March 2021, it was announced that the Job Retention, or furlough, Scheme was to be extended to 30 September 2021. Below are some key FAQs concerning what we currently know about the extension. We’ve opened our HR helplines to give employers affected by COVID-19 access to a free advice call. So, for fast answers to questions on fu .....

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Employing Foreign Nationals Post-Brexit

It’s highly unlikely that you’ve missed the term ‘Brexit’ over the past few years. It refers to the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU). Following a series of delays, the exit eventually took place on 31 January 2020. A transitional period is currently in place that will last until 31 December 2020. The main impact of Brexit in employment law terms will be seen in the recruitment process .....

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EU Settlement Scheme - After the Deadline

The Deadline for the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) deadline has come and gone. However, applications can still be made after this deadline within a defined period. There are many reasons a staff member may have missed the EUSS deadline. In some cases, this may be fine as they’ll have another form of leave in the UK. Where they don’t have this, you may identify them by: Carrying out a retrospecti .....

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Self Employed – A Croner HR Guide

The number of self-employed workers in the UK has seen considerable growth since the early 90s. In September 2021, about 4.3 million working adults shared this status. In this article we will look at what being self-employed means and how it works on the employment market.   When you are setting up as self-employed for the first time, you might need support with your contracts and documentation. .....

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Post Office Scandal – What Companies Need to Learn

Between 2000 and 2014, more than 700 Post Office operators faced wrongful prosecution for theft, fraud and false accounting. It took seven years to trigger a public inquiry over the wrongful convictions.  Only 72 of these people have seen their names cleared. Many questions arise from the decade-and-a-half long streak of convictions that plagued the national company. Stories of lives destroyed an .....

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Employment Law Changes 2024

As the employment law landscape continues to evolve, employers face a raft of new legislation changes set to come into effect in 2024. From amendments to the Equality Act 2010 to adjustments in the minimum wage and holiday pay regulations, staying informed about these developments is crucial for businesses to ensure compliance and uphold the rights of their employees.  In this article, Croner wil .....

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[Mythbuster] There's No Need to Make Allowances for Employees Fasting for Ramadan

This year, Ramadan falls on the 5th May and ends on 4th June. The observance is much more than a commitment to fast between sunrise and sunset, but it is often the main focus. For employers, fasting is one of the most important elements of Ramadan to consider, as it may impact employees’ work or pose a health & safety risk. It’s important to acknowledge too that what we are discussing here w .....

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Ethical Veganism is a Philosophical Belief

Under the Equality Act 2010, it’s unlawful to discriminate against an individual because of their religion or philosophical belief. Now, that includes ethical veganism. In a landmark decision, the employment tribunal has found that a claimant’s ethical veganism falls into the category of philosophical belief. This means they’re free to bring a claim against their former employers of discriminatio .....

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Equal Opportunities in the Workplace

The UK is a multicultural, multiabled and neurodiverse country. To reflect this, UK legislation sets minimum standards on employee-employer relationships involving diversity. This is to ensure equal opportunities for all in the workplace. This is the Equality Act. Failure to follow this legislation can lead to discrimination cases, which carry an unlimited fine and no minimum service period. But .....

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Gender Diversity in the Workplace

As an employer, you should be in no doubt aware that gender equality should be a given. Equal opportunities for all current and prospective employees will create a more diverse and engaged workforce – and this is positive. The question for many employers is how can I achieve this? Perhaps your business operates in a traditionally male-dominated arena. Equally, the challenge could be educating sta .....

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Equal Pay

The concept of equal pay for equal work has existed for decades. It’s based on the idea that men and women doing the same, or similar, jobs should receive the same pay. In theory, the employer-employee relationship is straightforward. You hire someone. They work. You pay them. Simple, right? Unfortunately, there are still ongoing issues relating to equal pay for women in the workplace. So much s .....

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What's the Difference Between a Wage and a Salary?

The terms ‘salary’ and ‘wages’ are often used interchangeably. The fact is, these two terms hold different meanings. For instance, what is ‘salary’? It’s a fixed amount payable at regular intervals, it can be weekly or monthly payments straight to an employee’s bank account. Wages are hourly or daily payments for work done during the working day. The main difference between salary and hourly wa .....

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Holiday Pay & Overtime

The latest chapter of the never-ending story of what to pay a worker when they are on a period of annual leave has been written, and the Employment Appeal tribunal (EAT) has been clear in concluding that voluntary over time should be included (in some circumstances) in the calculation of “normal remuneration”, and therefore ought to be paid when that individual takes annual leave (or at least for .....

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Conducting a Salary Review

There is no law stating that you must increase staff pay each year. If an employee’s annual salary is looming, there’s a good chance they’ll be expecting a pay rise. Learn how to approach salary reviews here, starting with the meaning of the term. What is a Salary Review? A salary review is a meeting with an employee to assess their pay and decide whether to increase their salary. You will usua .....

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Should Bosses Ever Earn Less Than Staff?

Managers take on more responsibility. They work longer hours. They have stricter targets and objectives. And they are accountable for their team’s performance… So obviously they get paid more than the people they manage. Right? Not always. In fact, it’s common for managers or supervisors to earn less than some workers. It’s also common for managers to be confused when this happens. Confused, inf .....

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Overtime Pay: A Guide For Employers

Many businesses are still confused about the rules surrounding overtime pay. Confusion relates to employees’ entitlement to it as well as the company’s overtime holiday pay and more. While there’s no statutory requirement to pay workers for overtime, there may be a contractual requirement. However, you’re required to keep employees pay above the national minimum wage. A Court of Justice on the E .....

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Payslip Cheat Sheet | Get Ready for April Legal Changes

From the 6th April 2019, a new law will completely change how you issue payslips. If you don’t update your payroll in time, you’ll be breaking the law. Payslip Q&A But don’t worry. This Q&A breaks down everything you need to know to get your business ready in time and avoid falling foul of the law… 1: What’s the new law? Answer: The Employment Rights Act 1996 (Itemised Pay Statement) ( .....

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Payslips - An Expert Guide

If you’re a growing business, you’ll have registered for PAYE and be handing out payslips each month. With more and more people working in the gig economy and working under non-standard contracts, there is a spotlight on this particular area. Payslips are a vitally important piece of documentation for your staff. If staff are looking to borrow money such as mortgages, a statement of their gross e .....

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What You Need to Know About the State Pension

The UK State Pension is a regular pension payment. The Government provides it, and most people in the UK can claim it when they get to the State Pension age. This type of pension can be a useful add-on to your retirement income. However, you won't receive your State Pension automatically—you will need to claim it. Fortunately, once you reach the minimum age, you should receive a letter that will t .....

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What is a Competitive Salary?

There’re a number of factors that determine an employee’s appointment to your organisation, including pay and benefits. A competitive salary is among the top considerations when an applicant is applying for a new position or rethinking their current one. There’re numerous benefits to offering a competitive starting salary. As well as reducing the costs associated with recruiting and retaining st .....

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What Does Pro-Rata Mean?

Pro rata is short for ‘proportional’, which is ‘in proportion to’ or ‘a portion of’ an overall value. Within an employment setting, job applicants may come across ‘pro rata pay’ when applying for a new role. It relates to an employee’s potential salary of the position in question when they’re working either part-time or if they join the organisation mid-way through the year. In this piece, we d .....

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Collective Bargaining

How could collective bargaining impact your business? Which workers’ unions should you recognise, and how should you work with such organisations? In this article, we will look at how reaching a collective bargaining agreement can benefit both your company and its employees. Data shows that trade union membership in the UK dropped by almost 10% since 1995. However, we shouldn’t read into this tha .....

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What Should I do if I Overpay a Worker?

Overpaying employees is more common than you might think. It's a simple enough error that can have some very serious consequences if not addressed properly, especially given the recent media focus on national minimum wage—and gender pay. How does overpayment happen? Overpayment can happen for any number of reasons. Hitting a wrong key can be all it takes to add that extra ‘0’ to your employee’ .....

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Mental Health Issues Can Cost 42% Salary

Sufferers of mental health problems can earn up to 42% less than their peers, according to new evidence from the Equality and Human Rights Commission; the most recent case of pay discrimination that employers should take action to avoid. Clare Parkinson, Croner Reward Business Manager, comments: “The Equality Act 2010 prohibits various types of discrimination, including any mental illness that i .....

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Cutting Remote Workers’ Wages

When faced with an employment law issue, many employers turn to Google for guidance. Now, instead of searching for answers, employers are wondering whether to follow the tech giant’s example. Google announced last month that it was planning to cut remote workers’ salaries by a quarter. They’re not alone in this attitude, with a number of businesses—internationally—planning similar cuts. Remote .....

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Base Salary

In a dynamic employment market, a competitive base salary can make a difference in attracting the right employees. But as a business, you don’t want to overpay your staff. Find the right balance by understanding the different aspects of base salary and what you can add to create an attractive pay package. Our Croner experts can help you with 24/7 advice on any employment aspects, including employ .....

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Cycle to Work Scheme Explained

Through the Cycle to Work scheme, UK companies can support staff to hire and use bicycles for their commute. At a time when work benefits and company culture matter, access to such programmes can make a real difference to your workforce. Depending on the type of industry and their personal circumstances, some employees might find the scheme more appealing than others. In this article, we will cov .....

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Gender Pay Gap

If you run a business with over 250 employees in the UK, the gender pay gap report should never be far from your mind. This is because current legislation requires you to publish your businesses’ gender pay gap every year. As a follow up to any report, you should consider what you can do to improve gender diversity across your business, and how to best narrow your gap. But before you consider a .....

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Time off for Dependants

Emergencies happen. When they do, your employees might need to take time off. As an employer, you’ll need to know how to manage time off for dependants. If you don’t, productivity can suffer, and you can damage the relationship you have with employees. When an incident occurs, it’s almost always a sensitive issue. So, it’s good practice to understand how to handle the situation sensitively as an .....

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Bereavement Time Off Work: An Employer's Guide

Grief can affect anyone on a psychological, emotional & physical level. And with regards to the workplace, Acas suggests that bereavement is likely to affect one in ten employees in the UK. Dealing with the death of a loved one is a very difficult time for anyone. And for your staff the feeling can intensify if they have to battle with you to take time off work. While there currently isn’t l .....

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Christmas Holidays: Our Guide For Employers

Most employees look forward to taking a well-earned break over the Christmas period. But staff holidays have to be balanced against ensuring business needs are met. Here we take a look at the considerations and rules around time off over the festive period. The Working Time Regulations Under the Working Time Regulations all employees are entitled to a minimum 5.6 weeks of holiday in each annual .....

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Queen's Diamond Jubilee holiday – are you prepared?

To mark 60 years of the Queen's reign, there will be a special bank holiday to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee on Tuesday 5th June 2012. The celebrations will centre around an extended four-day long weekend with the late May bank holiday being moved to Monday 4th June 2012. Carol Smith, Croner's Senior Employment consultant advises: "While most employers welcome the extra day as much as their staff .....

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The True Cost of Annual Leave?

Analysis by Croner into the UK employment tribunal ruling: Opening the floodgates unlikely. The 4th November UK employment appeal tribunal (EAT) ruling on people working overtime claiming extra holiday pay sent shockwaves through the political establishment and the media. It has left businesses scratching their heads over the true cost of annual leave. However, further detailed analysis by the Cr .....

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How Does Time in Lieu Work?

You’ll most commonly use time off in lieu (TOIL) when you require employees to work extra hours or days. TOIL is useful in environments that encourage flexible working. It allows employees and your business to negotiate working hours. This post explains how it functions in an organisation and how you can utilise it. What is time in lieu? “In lieu” essentially means “instead”. Some of the confu .....

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5 Top Tips - Working Parents and the Summer Holidays

With the school summer holidays in full swing, employees with young families could be struggling to balance their job and child caring commitments. Top Tips for Working Parents Infographic   Add this infographic to your website by copying and pasting the following embed code: <div style="clear:both"><a href="https://croner.co.uk/media/2048/top-5-tips-working-parents-and-the-summer-h .....

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Adoption Leave: An Employer's Guide

When a member of staff is having a child, they're entitled to some time away from work. The same applies when they’re adopting. They’re entitled to some time off work to attend adoption appointments. They may also receive pay for adoption leave, paternity leave or shared parental leave and pay after the adoption. This piece acts as a guide for employers. In it, we’ll explore the following: Em .....

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[EU Ruling] Do You Need to Record Staff Working Hours?

The European Court of Justice has ruled that EU businesses must record every hour that employees work. But that’s not part of UK law. So, who should you listen to—the politicians or the judges? (Short answer: the judges) Groundbreaking EU case impacts UK businesses In May 2019, a groundbreaking legal case between one of Spain’s biggest trade unions and one of Germany’s biggest banks had a huge i .....

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EU Ruling Forces UK Bosses to Record Staff Work Hours

The European Court of Justice has ruled that bosses must have a system in place to record every hour that employees work. And it applies to UK businesses, too. Here’s what this means for you… EU judgement impacts UK businesses Under UK law, you can’t force employees to work more than 48 hours a week on average unless they opt out of Regulation 4 of the Working Time Regulations. But until now, .....

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Mythbuster – You Can’t Call in Sick for Poor Mental Health

There’s still stigma around mental health in the workplace. This means employees who might want to call in sick to take a mental health day are often dissuaded from doing so. Some employers don’t believe an employee can call in sick for mental health reasons. However, a mental health issue can be just as damaging—if not more so—than a physical ailment. That’s why 12.8 million working days were l .....

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How Many Sick Days Per Year are Acceptable in the UK?

An employee taking a sick day is a disruption to your business, even if it’s legitimate. Where the absence is genuine, you should be as accommodating as possible. This will keep employee morale high and establish trust between you and the employee. However, continuous sick leave or odd days taken too frequently can show a pattern of undesirable behaviour. When is this not acceptable and what shou .....

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Managing Annual Leave When Staff Return to Work

Employees are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 working weeks of paid annual leave each year which can include bank holidays. This works out as 28 days for those who work a 5-day week. What this entitlement means is that you must give employees the opportunity to take this amount of annual leave per year as a minimum. In light of the Government’s roadmap, an increasing number of employees may wish to .....

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How to Ensure Employees Aren’t Working Unpaid Hours

Are your employees struggling to “switch-off” at the end of the working day? The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the widespread shift to home working arrangements have had a knock-on effect on employees’ working hours. This has resulted in a lack of distinction between work-life and home-life. Many employees are now checking emails, answering calls, or completing work-related activities beyond .....

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Will Sick Notes Become a Thing of the Past?

In the build up to Christmas last year the Government announced its decision to extend the time period employees can self-certify for sick leave. Previously, an employee could be absent from work due to sickness for seven days before needing to provide medical evidence. Now however, staff only have to provide evidence after 28 days of absence. How long does this rule last? What are the long-ter .....

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Managing Sickness Absence Without COVID Restrictions

All COVID rules were scrapped in England on 24th February 2022. But COVID is still present today. That means you must now manage sickness absence, and staff safety, without the structure of COVID restrictions in place to guide you. Maybe you’ve already noticed some issues. For example, What should you do if an employee turns up to work with COVID? Can you ask staff to work from home? Do their co .....

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Pet Bereavement Leave - What is HR's Duty?

“My employee is asking to take time off work following the death of their pet – do I have to let them take it?” The legal answer is no—there is no obligation to allow staff time off for pets. The good management answer is to consider whether allowing them time off to grieve is appropriate when a pet dies. While there is no legal obligation, they are unlikely to be able perform to the best of th .....

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HR Professionals Give a no Confidence Vote for Line Managers

HR survey highlights management skills gap. London, 30 August 2011 Confidence in line managers' ability to cope with day-to-day HR tasks remains low despite over half of HR professionals admitting to handing them over survey reveals. The YouGov survey of HR senior managers in companies with 100 or more employees commissioned by Croner has highlighted the need for organisations to equip line manag .....

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[Mythbuster] Halloween is a Nightmare for Company Productivity

For many employers, Halloween is a nightmare—not just because of the costumes, but because of the potential HR and health & safety risks that can occur as a result of the holiday. The horrors Workers wearing inappropriate costumes to work can result in discrimination claims, while sexually explicit costumes can result in harassment claims. With workers in fun outfits instead of their regular .....

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There and Back Again – The Return to Homeworking

Well, here we are again. Many employers were hoping the period remote work earlier this year was a one-off. Homeworking isn’t a legal requirement yet. But, there’s a strong possibility it could be if COVID-19 cases continue to increase. At the very least, it will pay to plan for the transition back to the home-office. The good news is, you’re likely more prepared this time around. That doesn’t me .....

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Why Looking After HR During a Pandemic is Crucial

We are nearly a year into a global pandemic that has changed so many parts of our personal and professional lives. Businesses have been forced to alter pre-established processes in order to keep workplaces COVID-secure and staff safe. This has been hard for everyone, not the least on your HR department. 2020 brought about many HR challenges. Managing COVID restrictions, interpreting furlough guid .....

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How to Support Women in Management in the UK

Supporting women in leadership could make your company a very desirable workplace. With the Great Resignation affecting UK businesses, improving retention and boosting company reputation could make a real difference. This International Women’s Day, March 8th, 2022, we will look at what UK data tells us about women in leadership. The deadline for companies to report on the gender pay gap data is a .....

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Dispute Resolution

No matter the size of your business, effectively resolving disputes is an important skill. There are numerous dispute resolution services available in the UK. This can be in the form of a more formal legal process or using a mediator to find common ground. To avoid having to pay for a dispute resolution solicitor and having to go through legal proceedings in court, businesses can develop a more c .....

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Light Duties at Work: Employer Responsibilities

Part of the HR responsibilities within an organisation include monitoring and managing the health and wellbeing of employees. This is because staff members may experience illness or injuries that can limit their ability to carry out certain tasks relating to their role. In these cases, their doctor may issue them a fit note. This will let you know if the doctor thinks the employee isn’t fit to w .....

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Part-Time Workers Miss Out on Occupational Health

 Employers warned to remember duty of care to all staff London, 11 July, 2013 Employers should beware of neglecting their duty of care to protect the health of all employees, including part-time workers. The warning from health and safety experts Croner – part of the global information services group Wolters Kluwer – is based on a survey showing a clear divide in the health benefits enjoyed .....

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Protecting Employees from Norovirus

New figures released by health authorities have confirmed that cases of the winter vomiting bug, norovirus, are far higher than last year, with employers being advised to maintain excellent hygiene standards to protect employees from the illness. Norovirus is highly infectious and easily transmitted through contact with infected individuals from one person to another. Outbreaks are common in semi .....

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Tackling Allergies in the Workplace

Spring seems to finally have sprung in the UK, which is good news for those in desperate need of some Vitamin D. However, for millions of UK adults the changing of the seasons has a sting in the tail – hay fever. Watery itchy eyes, runny noses and in some cases chronic breathing difficulties are all symptoms of this seasonal allergy. An allergy to pollen is among a large number of different aller .....

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Mythbuster – I Can’t Discipline Employees for their Actions Outside of Work

This myth is particularly prevalent—which is surprising, considering the amount of highly-publicised cases that have proven it to be false. Time and time again, employees’ behaviour has ended in dismissal. A couple of recent, high-profile examples include: The case of Wood v Durham County Council in September 2018. Wood was caught shoplifting outside of work. He was subsequently dismissed des .....

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My Employee is Refusing to Social Distance at Work – What do I do?

Unfortunately, there are individuals out there who don’t believe in social distancing and mask wearing. This means, even if you’ve set out a perfect plan to make your workplace COVID-secure, it may not matter. The health & safety of your employees is your responsibility, even if they’re the ones putting themselves and others at risk. So how do you a manage an employee who is failing to follow .....

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What is Summary Dismissal in the UK?

Occasionally, one of your employees may breach your internal conduct policy. An act of gross misconduct will normally result in instant dismissal, referred to as a summary dismissal. In this article, Croner explores the use of a summary dismissal to terminate an employment contract. As an employer, find out the correct disciplinary process and the steps required to dismiss an employee correctly, .....

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Verbal Warning at Work

From time to time, your employees may break the rules so you may need to issue a verbal warning at work. These tend to be quick conversations that address a minor issue and are considered ‘off the record’. Other times, you may be required to go through a disciplinary procedure. If unaddressed, negative employee performance could escalate. It can be hard determining when to issue verbal or writte .....

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How to Write a Job Reference for an Employee

It’s unreasonable to expect an employee to stay in your employ forever. While you may appreciate their contribution to the success of your organisation, they’ll have their own personal and professional goals. And in most cases, these goals won’t necessarily be in line with those of your company. After they leave your service and before starting at another organisation, you may need to provide an .....

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Suspended With Pay – When, Why, How

If you have an employee suspended from work with pay, you must have grounds to do so. The suspension itself is not a way to reprimand workers. On the contrary, you should only use it in relation to a workplace investigation, or health & safety concerns. In this article, we will cover the basics of paid suspension from work. You should only use it as part of a clear, fair process, meant to pro .....

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What is Survivor Syndrome & How Do I Combat It?

  Add this infographic to your website by copying and pasting the following embed code: <div style="clear:both"><a href="https://croner.co.uk/media/2622/survivor-syndrome.pdf"><img src="https://croner.co.uk/media/2623/survivor-syndrome.png" title="What is Survivor Syndrome?" alt="Survivor Syndrome" border="0"></a></div><div>Courtesy of: <a href="https://c .....

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Bringing Redundant Staff Back to Furlough

The furlough scheme set to continue until the end of September 2021. So can you bring redundant staff back to your company? What are the rules on furlough after you bring them back? After all, furlough could give your former employees more financial security. What if you are not in a situation to maintain their previous role? There are a number of things you need to keep in mind when considering .....

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Managing Mass Resignations

I’m confident there is at least one person in the UK who needs advice on this matter right now. As the UK Government faces an influx of resignation letters from MPs, we ask the question: “What do I do if I have multiple members of staff resign with short notice?” In this article we’ll discover how to find out the true cause of their exit, how to manage until you can fill the vacant roles, and h .....

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How to Fire Someone Without Them Hating Me

Letting someone go is tough. Doing it nicely is even harder. In this article we ask the question: “Is it possible to fire someone without them hating me?” The answer, of course, is complicated. It will largely depend on the circumstances of the dismissal and your relationship with the employee. Let’s dig a little deeper… Why are they being fired? “Firing” someone, usually refers to a dismissal .....

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Staircase Tax and its Impact on Small Businesses

Many businesses were eager to hear if they would receive any relief from Property taxes in Philip Hammond’s 2017 Autumn Budget. But there was also mention of the so-called ‘staircase tax’. Hammond touched on measures to solve issues surrounding the tax and the calculations of business rates. In November 2018, Parliament enacted legislation to reverse the impacts of the staircase tax for small bu .....

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Is a Payment for Injury to Feelings Taxable?

In previous Tribunal cases it was decided that section 406 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (“ITEPA”) provided that sums paid to employees under a settlement agreement for ‘injury to feelings’ was exempt from income tax. However, the recent case of Moorthy v Commissioners of HM Revenue and Customs has decided these payments are not exempt from tax. The facts of the case were th .....

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PAYE

Whether you're a micro business or an SME, you will likely need to employ new staff. That’s why you need to know about payroll and PAYE systems. Payroll can get complicated, quickly. Get it wrong and you could face fines, reputational damage and legal penalties. In this article, we’ll look at what PAYE is, how it works, and who needs to pay it. If you're a business owner or someone who manages .....

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The Future of NDAs

Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) have taken the spotlight recently as a method of preventing employees speaking out over alleged harassment and abuse they received at the hands of Topshop employer, Phillip Green. While the intention behind the agreements are supposed to be to prevent sensitive data from leaking, they are now being brought into question as a result of their misuse. So, what does t .....

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Lone Working Laws and Health & Safety

If you have lone workers, there are UK employment laws and essential health & safety requirements your business must adhere to.  So, it’s particularly important to make sure these employees are safe and well. You can contact us on 0800 470 2857 if you need immediate assistance on this topic. Read this guide to gain insights into how to ensure the welfare of employees who work alone. It provi .....

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Everything You Need to Know About RIDDOR

Every employer has a legal obligation to present a healthy and secure workplace environment. By adhering to safety laws and proper procedures, accidents risks can be managed (even removed in some cases). All employers must comply with RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations). These rules help facilitate workplace accidents from start to end. However, if .....

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Fit For Work - What You Need To Know

According to the NHS, in the first month of 2022, 539,300 business days were lost due to mental health. In 2016, a new scheme was rolled out to help improve increasing rates of sick leave. However, the “Fit for Work” scheme closed in 2018. This is no longer a viable option, and new processes are in place for assessing whether staff are fit for work. While many organisations already invest in oc .....

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COVID Isolation Changes – How It Will Impact Employers

Starting Monday January 17th, 2022, the compulsory COVID isolation period in England has reduced for people with negative LFD tests. Infected individuals can leave isolation early if they test negative on day 5 and day 6 of their isolation. They have to leave 24 hours between the two consecutive tests. The government announced changes to the COVID isolation guidance as a measure to reduce staff a .....

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Agency Worker Guide

Employers sometimes need to hire temporary agency workers to help in certain areas of the business, such as seasonal work. In these cases, employers must be aware of what the rights of their agency workers are, and what they are entitled to. If you happen to find yourself in a situation where an agency worker believes that their rights or contract has been breached, they are able to submit a clai .....

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Menopause in the Workplace – An HR Guide

15.52 million women aged 16+ were in employment at the end of last year in the UK. Meanwhile, the employment rate for those aged 50 – 64 is 71.1%. Employers like you must understand the employment landscape includes an ageing population., You, therefore, need to take into account age-related issues that may affect older employees. Menopause is one of these issues. In this guide, we explore what .....

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Gender Pay

The gender pay gap also referred to as the gender wage gap has been a major talking point for employers and employees. The UK government introduced the Equal Pay Act 1970 to prevent discrimination between men and women in employment. The legislation prevents unfair treatment in terms of pay and the conditions of employment between both sexes. They then developed this legislation to create the Eq .....

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10 Common Employee Conduct Issues & How to Resolve Them

  Add this infographic to your website by copying and pasting the following embed code: <div style="clear:both"><a href="https://croner.co.uk/media/1565/top-10-employee-conduct.pdf"><img src="https://croner.co.uk/media/1564/employee-conduct.png" title="10 Common Employee Conduct Issues & How to Resolve Them" alt="Top-10-employee-conduct" border="0"></a></div>& .....

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Managing Sickness Absence During Hot Weather

Sickness absence is a major cause of disruption to business activities. For this reason, it’s understandable that employers would want to avoid the subject. However, sickness absence is an inevitable HR issue which employers should know how to deal with. This is particularly true during periods of hot weather. Employers should be clear from the beginning about the business case for managing sick .....

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Unfair Treatment at Work in the UK

We would like to believe that nobody feels unfairly treated at work, but sadly, this is not the case and problems arise. It is important for you to track and resolve this as if it isn’t, can lead to discrimination cases and decrease workforce motivation or performance. Drops in performance can hurt your profits, you should do everything in your power to keep your staff performing. Some things ar .....

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Preventing Employee Burnout

Often when we talk about employee turnover and burnout, we don't think about managers. But as an employer, you are responsible for all your employees no matter what their job role is. This includes your middle managers or line managers. Often we rely on managers to identify when another employee is struggling with their workload or mental health to reduce burnout. They can sometimes be part of th .....

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LOLER - An Overview

LOLER is an acronym for Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. This is a set of regulations that ensures employee safety while lifting heavy items or operating lifting equipment. We've put together a quick guide that covers what the LOLER regulations are, how an inspection should be carried out and what types of training you should be providing your employees. If you need im .....

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Tackling Loneliness in your Workforce

Loneliness within your workplace can have a significant impact on workplace wellbeing, your employees, and the wider business. Loneliness affects everyone differently, so it can be difficult to spot an employee experiencing loneliness in your workplace. Our Croner experts have put together a guide to tackling loneliness in your workplace. If you feel like you need immediate support in tackling wo .....

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What should employers consider for e-bikes in the workplace?

Many businesses like yours are implementing schemes to improve sustainability, people have started to utilise e-bikes and e-scooters to get around towns and cities more efficiently, instead of using their cars to get from A to B. As these bikes have become more popular and cost-effective, it has, in some cases, become the best way for individuals to commute to the office. The issues around e-bik .....

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workplace stress

Reducing work-related stress is difficult to achieve, as not everyone experiences stress in the same way, and not everyone has the same triggers. Whether your employees are dealing with chronic stress or tackling stressful situations at work, as an employer you have a duty of care towards the wellbeing of your employees. But how do you manage stress in the workplace? We've put together some of t .....

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Mental Health & Wellbeing in The Workplace

With one in four people in the UK experiencing a mental health problem each year, it's more than fair to say that someone in your business, be it an employee, business partner, or even you, will be affected in some way by mental health at some point. Whilst a lot of effort has been put into raising awareness for mental health, particularly in the workplace, the fact remains that there is still a .....

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ACAS Employment Tribunal Research Paper Findings

In this article, Croner Litigation Expert, Amanda Beattie looks at the key features of the recently published "Evaluation of ACAS Conciliation in Employment Tribunal Applications 2016". ACAS have recently published their latest research paper (“the Paper”) providing the fruits of their research in relation to the impact of conciliation in relation to Employment Tribunal (“ET”) claims. It is an ex .....

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The Employment Laws that Shook UK Businesses in 2019

Since tribunal fees were abolished back in 2017, the amount of claims brought by employees has grown. We’re just past the half-way mark for the year, and yet 2018 already feels like a distant memory. Not least because there have been some unprecedented shake-ups to employment law, and so we thought it’d be prudent to take a look at three of the most significant cases that we’ve seen so far in 201 .....

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Brexit-Related Uncertainty Around EU Workers

There are many issues surrounding the area of Brexit and its impact on EU workers and employers in the UK. For one, discrimination and harassment could be an arising issue. If a business has a cluster of polish workers or individual employees from the EU, they may feel that colleagues isolate them or make them feel that they are no longer welcome to work as the UK has voted not to remain within .....

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Employee Stuck Overseas? Here Are Your Options...

Last week, thousands of British citizens were stuck abroad due to airline chaos after the bank holiday weekend. Staff shortages at several major airlines meant that at least 225 departures were cancelled. While this isn’t the norm, over the past couple of years, many employees have become stranded overseas for several days—if not longer. So, what should you do if a member of your workforce is st .....

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How Does HR Help a Company Succeed?

Often overlooked. Frequently underutilised. Yet absolutely essential to business success. Human Resources are, in fact, the key to business success. Organisations that consider HR to be their most important resource will usually have the best talent and a strong company culture. As a result, they’ll have better retention and productivity. But why? In this article, we’ll take a look at just how c .....

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Jury Service: Employer Obligations

One of your employees has jury service—now what? Your business will no doubt have many questions about this undertaking. In this guide, we explore them all and offer a way for your organisation to prepare for this outcome.   What is jury service? It’s a public duty, where an individual sits in on a trial as a juror. It’ll be up to the jury (a group of 12 people chosen at random) to decide whet .....

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What to do if an employee blows the whistle

A recent landmark case awarded £2m to an employee who had blown the whistle on his employer. This reward was one of the largest ever given by an employment tribunal, and now it has other businesses worried about the implications. Why? The ruling implies that individual directors can be held personally liable for detrimental treatment caused by them choosing to dismiss someone for whistleblowing. .....

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What to Expect in HR and Employment Law in 2023

2022 was a bumper year for HR and employment law headlines. Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to many employers taking on Ukrainian nationals, for example. P&O Ferries made headlines after dismissing 800 employees in March; Virgin Atlantic dropped gendered uniform requirements and visible tattoos were allowed; companies continued to adapt policies, contracts and handbooks to accommodate hybrid .....

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Your questions answered

Each month we'll bring you a selection of real-life questions and answers posed to our team of HR experts. Q: One of my employees’ has submitted a formal statutory request to commence a training course. My HR advisor has informed me that I should invite the employee to attend a meeting to discuss the request, does this include the right to be accompanied? A: Yes, the employee does have the right .....

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Adverse Weather Policy

As we enter into the winter season, it is important to prepare for the worst. The nights are getting darker, the chill is setting in and beginning to bite. Soon we’ll be facing frost, sleet, snow, and ice. Preparing for these conditions in advance is a wise move, and will help your business function properly during the winter. Dealing with travel disruptions The biggest issue employers worry .....

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How to Make Your Workplace Disability Confident

There are 7.6 million people working in the UK with a disability. When it comes to disability, is your business compliant with the Equality Act 2010? If it isn’t, you’re not only putting yourself at risk of discrimination claims, you’re missing out on the chance to recruit talented individuals! And if you’re not recruiting them—your competition probably is. Becoming Disability Confident Overvi .....

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Asbestos in the Workplace

Asbestos in the workplace can be a real problem, this once commonly used material can be a hazard to health and if not managed correctly can put your employees’ health and your businesses reputation on the line.  Statistical data released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) highlights the gravity of this problem as, on average, around 5,000 people die every year in the UK due to asbestos rel .....

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Statutory Notice Period

The statutory notice period protects both the employer and the employee when employment comes to an end. The notice period gives the employer notice that the employee will be leaving so that the employer has time to look for someone else to take over the role at the end of the notice period. While each company can negotiate on an individual basis, the minimum requirement is set by the UK law. Th .....

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HR For Small Business

So you've decided to start (or you already run) your own small business. Taking the plunge is a brave step and one that comes with its own unique set of challenges that can be overwhelming, especially for first-timers. Besides developing a fool-proof business plan and steering the ship, you’ll have to appoint and manage other individuals, if you're planning on expanding beyond a one person operati .....

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Supporting Disabled Employees with Hybrid Working

New guidance regarding supporting hybrid working arrangements for employees with disabilities has been published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, as of the 5th of September 2024. These new guidelines will help employers better understand their legal obligations when it comes to hybrid working, particularly those running small to medium sized businesses as recent employment tribunals ha .....

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Building Safety Act 2022

The Building Safety Act 2022 brings several measures intended to make buildings and residents safer. From the 1st October 2023, the Building Safety Act comes into force, bringing with it many amendments. These new amendments will make significant changes to individuals who are the responsible persons for fire safety in all types of buildings - this doesn't just include residential buildings whe .....

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The end of 'Fire and Rehire' Schemes

With a new employment rights bill on the horizon, Employers all over the country have been left wondering what that means for them. Within the new bill, the Labour government has pledged to “make work pay”.  This has included, banning the Statutory code of practice (dismissal and re-engagement) 2024, stating that employees shouldn’t feel the threat of dismissal if they don’t agree to the new term .....

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Gig Economy Workers and Health & Safety

With more and more people around the UK utilising online platforms for the delivery of goods and food. Business owners may overlook the transport methods that their gig economy workers use to complete their tasks, with many of them deciding to use e-bikes and scooters.  Businesses need to know what risks these pose to their workers, and what health and safety policies they need to implement to ke .....

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P&O Redundancies - Three Key Takeaways

Branded one of the most “shameful acts in the history of British industrial relations”, the P&O redundancy scandal caught everyone off guard. Unions and MPs called for the 786 staff who were made redundant to be re-employed, for the CEO to resign, and for employment law to be changed to stop a similar situation occurring again. So far, none of the above has happened. It appears Government opp .....

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Types of Employment Status

When employing someone, you need to ensure that their contract reflects their employment status. This may seem like just basic wording and contract formalities, but these forms of employment are important. The employment status you choose will have a huge impact on the way they work, as each carries different rights and entitlements. The employment status that you choose will go a long way toward .....

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Expert View: Employment Contracts

If you’d like to download a copy of the contract reviewed in the video, click here.   Make Your Contracts 'Good Work' Compliant Agreements in force A lot of contracts include something called a ‘flexibility clause’. This section specifies that you might want the employee to perform other duties separate from their main role. If you decide to include this clause don’t list particular jobs, it .....

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Employer's Guide to Mobility Clauses

Relocation of employees can occur for several reasons. A reduction in work, a business reshuffle, or an expiry of a lease are all causes for relocation. When considering this, always check if you have a mobility clause in your employees’ contracts. In this article, we’ll look at what they are, how you use them, and the legal complications that can occur. If you need immediate support in employme .....

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Is it Legal to Reduce an Employee's Working Hours?

It’s not uncommon for businesses to reconsider part of an employee’s contract while they’re working with you. Sometimes it’s an essential requirement. And during these difficult times, this is a particularly important consideration. We have a coronavirus business support centre to help you make the right decisions. You can also talk to us on 01455 858 132. We’re here to help. And in this guide, .....

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Secondment

When your employees aim to broaden their work experience, a secondment could offer the perfect solution. They gain the career development they want, and it can contribute towards your business growth in the long run. Before using a secondment, as an employer you need to consider all the aspects and factors involved: Will it be an internal or an external arrangement? What kind of a secondment .....

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How to Place Staff on Short Time Working

Coronavirus lockdown measures are starting to lift, but not every business in the UK can reopen its doors yet. As such, you may find you’re still considering how to keep employees on your workforce without having to make redundancies. That includes during a crisis such as the coronavirus pandemic. Short-time working is one such opportunity. We explore the process in this guide. But, don’t forge .....

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Termination of Employment Contract Letter UK

Although a natural part of employment, the proper process for terminating an employee’s contract is often awkward and contentious. This can arise in a number of ways. Employees may terminate their contract via resignation, and an employer may terminate the contract by dismissing an employee. Ensure you comply with UK laws by using this termination of employment letter. In this article, we will c .....

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The Complete Probation Guide for Employers

A probation period is a staple of most employment contracts in the UK. They are usually tied to certain contractual perks and job security. While many laws that protect employees kick in after two years of continuous employment, probation periods add an extra layer of protection for you when hiring someone new. This guide looks at: Employee rights. How to make the probation period a succes .....

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Variation Clause in Employment Contracts

Making a variation of an employment contract is fraught with risks. You need to consider things such as: Employee agreement. Necessity of change. Failure to keep an employee informed, or failing to obtain their consent may result in claims of constructive dismissal and a costly employment tribunal. To help you avoid this scenario, we’re going to breakdown everything you need to know right .....

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Associative Discrimination at Work

It is unlawful to treat an individual unfairly at work under any protected characteristics outlined in the Equality Act 2010. This legislation outlines nine protected characteristics that employers can be held liable for if they, or someone on employers behalf, discriminates against an employee based on these characteristics. Meaning employers cannot treat an employee with one of these characteris .....

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Racial Discrimination at Work

There are various pieces of legislation regarding racial discrimination in the UK. They protect individuals from racial discrimination in the workplace. With the government introducing the Equality Act of 2010, this act consolidated a lot of previous legislation into one act. This set out in one place that It was illegal to discriminate against people, rather than in various acts. The Equality A .....

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Smoking Breaks at Work

Employees are not automatically entitled to take a smoke break during the working day, and you are legally permitted to stop them from doing so. However, before you do, you should weigh up the pros and cons of these breaks. Carry on reading to see what these are, or speak to one of our consultants today for immediate HR or health & safety advice on 0808 501 6651 What are cigarette breaks? .....

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Winter in the Workplace

The shift in seasons has started to become noticeable, the mornings are cold, and the days are getting ever shorter. Autumn is definitely in full swing, and it won't be long before winter sets in, so now is the time to start preparing your business and workforce for the winter months, and the challenges that it can present.  Heavy rain and snow can cause issues for you and your staff. Then there’ .....

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World Mental Health Day Awareness in the Workplace

Supporting your employees through mental health difficulties will benefit both your workforce and your business. Take this World Mental Health Day as an opportunity to improve the way you approach mental health in the workplace. Talking about mental health often feels difficult. When an employee struggles, they might fear they’d be considered unfit for the job. They can feel embarrassed to talk a .....

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Quiet Quitting – Disengagement or Healthy Boundaries?

48 hours a week as standard. Plus overtime. Oh, and you’re expected to answer your phone on the weekends—in case of emergency. Also, if you could keep on top of your emails out of work hours, that’d be helpful. Let me know what ideas you come up with for the new project over the weekend. Do these seem like realistic expectations? Employees pursuing a policy of ‘quiet quitting’ don’t think so. Ho .....

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Holiday, use it or lose it! An Employers’ Guide

All employees are entitled to a set number of days paid annual holiday, this is outlined in law and as a result should be clearly communicated to employees in things like employment contracts. Employers should encourage employees to take their holiday entitlement in full, throughout the year. However, inevitably, there will be some employees that do not use all of their annual allowance and this c .....

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Managing Employee Conduct in the Workplace

It’s essential that employees understand the expectations of them to maintain certain standards of behaviour. This is crucial for the external reputation of a company and how it presents itself to its customers. But also, employee misconduct can cause significant issues in productivity and staff morale if left unchecked. Misonduct is a potentially fair reason for dismissing an employee. That said .....

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How to Keep Your Staff Motivated

Keeping your staff motivated can be the key to success for many businesses. If your staff are happy and healthy they are more likely to be more motivated to do a good job and go above and beyond for the business. There is the constant risk that poor motivation across the workforce can have severe consequences for your business, such as staff retention and the quality of work.   In this article, .....

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How does a company car allowance work?

A company car is a perk that helps recruit and retain great staff. For some, having a company vehicle is a vital part of their role. However, providing an employee with a vehicle can present some complications you should be aware of. It also raises a number of questions from the employee. In this guide, we explain the process and what you need to keep in mind for your company. car policy to work .....

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Predictions for UK Health and Safety in 2025

As the Christmas Holidays become a distant memory and 2025 gets into gear, the business world is getting set for some big changes, especially in employment law. But what of Health and Safety? So without further ado, here are Croner’s predictions for what employers should keep tabs on regarding Health and Safety in the UK, throughout the year. For more advice and guidance on how to keep your busine .....

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Managing Valentine’s Day in the Workplace

Valentine’s Day. It’s the only holiday based solely on emotion. Whilst not technically a holiday in the same vein as Easter or Christmas. Valentine's day is still treated as a key yearly event, and due to the nature of this celebration of love and affection, this can lead to tensions arising in the workplace and not just the wholesome kinds.  Employers tend to be less than smitten with the holida .....

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Recording in the workplace

Recording in the workplace can be a somewhat controversial subject. Whilst no employer wants to feel like they have a relationship with their employees built on mistrust, there are often valid reasons for it that are becoming a standard practice in some workplaces, including the health and safety of staff. Technology can now be deployed for monitoring in a variety of different ways. Digital monit .....

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Stress Toolkit

According to the latest Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Riddor report, there were over 16.4 million days lost between 2023 and 2024 because of work-related stress, anxiety or depression with approximately 0.8 million workers now suffering with work related stress and mental health issues. One of the main factors contributing to stress in the workplace can be workload pressure which can also inc .....

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Hand-arm vibration in the workplace

Hand- arm vibration is something that employees in certain manual industries can be exposed to, particularly if they operate industrial machinery, power tools or similar. If the risks are not addressed and precautions not taken, it can cause serious and irreversible damage to health. Employers are obligated to ensure the health and safety of their employees at work as part of their duty of care. .....

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The Gig Economy and Health & Safety: A Guide for SMEs

The gig economy transformed the way we work. From delivery drivers to freelance consultants, more people than ever are working in flexible, on-demand roles. For small business owners, this shift brings both opportunities and challenges, especially when it comes to health and safety. What is the gig economy? The gig economy is made up of individuals who work on short-term contracts, freelance pro .....

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Tupe tips for employers

Selling a business as an employer comes with its own set of legislation regarding the protection of your staff. This is known as Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (or TUPE) law for short.  It is important to follow the correct process when it comes to TUPE, as failure to do so could land you in a costly legal fracas that could result in not only financial, but reputational damages .....

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Written warnings guide

Knowing when you need to issue a written warning to a staff member is tricky. It can be an unpleasant process but is necessary if employees are breaching company policy or acting in a way that’s likely to cause problems for your business or other members of staff. Warnings should only be issued after an investigation, and disciplinary meeting has taken place. This article outlines everything you .....

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Criminal law vs civil law for employers

Employers are tasked by both criminal and civil law to ensure the safety of their workforce and ensure that their rights are upheld. Yet the difference between civil law and criminal law can often be confusing for those who aren’t well versed in legal terminology. Health and Safety laws are for the majority filed under criminal law, whilst employment law is covered under civil law.  As a business .....

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Unfair Dismissal - Everything you need to know

Unfair dismissal occurs when an employer terminates an employee’s contract without a valid reason or without following a legally compliant and fair process. At present, an employee needs two years of continuous employment to make a claim for unfair dismissal in GB. However, the Government’s Employment Rights Bill, will change this soon to become a day-one right. Individuals can claim automatic un .....

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Change of Employment Contract - Sample Letter

Ensure compliance when changing your employees’ employment terms & conditions with this change of contract letter template. An employment contract amendment letter is a letter that tells your employee what it is you are changing in their employment agreement and why following the consultation process. It’s a legal document to ensure you have the employee’s written consent, to make a proposed .....

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Grievances in the Workplace

If an employee wants to raise a grievance at work, you must take it seriously. Whether you think it's valid or not, it could negatively affect your employee. Their morale may have dropped which could lead to productivity levels decreasing. As a result, staff retention could fall as employees may decide to leave your business. If a formal grievance process or complaints aren't handled properly, y .....

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The Ultimate Guide to Maternity

<p>It's very common for employees to temporarily leave their jobs to have a baby. As an employer, you have a legal obligation to ensure they receive the right maternity <a href="https://croner.co.uk/resources/pay-benefits/">benefits</a>. The Government’s <a href="https://croner.co.uk/employment-rights-bill/">Employment Rights Bill</a>, currently looking to be implemented sometime in 2026 will seek .....

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Young people in the workplace

As a new generation starts to enter the workplace there's a good chance that your business will employ young people under the age of 18 but having reached school leaving age. As an employer, you have a unique set of responsibilities and challenges when it comes to their employment and their health and safety. The working time regulations regulate the number of hours a young worker can legally work .....

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Identifying, Managing, and Preventing Stress in the Workplace

Today is National Stress Awareness Day. A day to reflect on what we can do to help ourselves, and others, better manage the stress they feel on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately, despite the fact that National Stress Awareness Day has been promoting meaningful conversation about the issue since 1998, seven in ten union representatives say stress remains one of the main issues facing the British wo .....

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Alternatives to fire and rehire

With fire and rehire being set in the crosshairs of the new Labour Government as part of their Employment Rights Bill, businesses will need to take heed to ensure they don’t end up on the wrong side of an employment tribunal.  Whilst the ethical practices of fire and rehire has often come under scrutiny there will doubtlessly be cases where the model is used as a benefit to both parties and HR te .....

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Redundancy

Sometimes, an employer may need to reduce the size of their workforce. One method they might consider is making them redundant. Redundancies should only be used in a correct manner. Meaning, employees must receive all their legal rights from start to end. If an employer neglects any of these steps, they could end up facing unfair dismissal claims. In this guide, we'll look at what redundancy is .....

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What are statutory employee rights?

If you’re an employer, you likely have a whole team of trusted employees under your wing, or maybe just that one trusted staff member. Either way, it is crucial to be aware of your employee’s statutory rights, so you can keep your workforce happy, productive, and legally covered. It’s less stress for you, after all. When thinking long and hard about your worker rights, the first step is to figure .....

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Working Time Regulations

The Working Time Regulations 1998 is the leading piece of legislation that determines your employees’ working hours. It dictates a lot of the rules and regulations concerning periods of work for your employees. This makes it vital to understand. Failure to comply with these regulations can seriously harm your reputation and lead to costly employment tribunals. For more information on UK Working .....

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Everything you need to know about gig economy workers

An evolution from the typical 9-5 job, gig work has risen to prominence over the last decade. Characterised by freelancing, flexibility and short-term contracted working, gig economy workers have greater control over their work-life balance, schedule and their clients and/or projects.  This flexibility comes at the expense of stability both in terms of income and working rights, with protections .....

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The Complete Guide to Paternity

Paternity leave is an almost inevitable part of managing your employees. All employees who meet the eligibility requirements are entitled to leave when they are expecting a child or going through the adoption or surrogacy process. This is either paternity, shared parental leave, maternity leave or adoption leave. In this article, we’ll explore the statutory rights for paternity leave in the UK. W .....

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White Ribbon UK’s ‘Right to Respect’: June campaign launched

Throughout the month of June White Ribbon will be promoting their ‘Right to Respect’ campaign, supporting an end to abuse towards women in the workplace. White Ribbon are the leading charity in England and Wales engaging men and boys to prevent men’s violence towards women and girls by addressing the causation at the root. This includes harmful views and attitudes, behaviour, language and express .....

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A brief employers’ guide to working with trade unions

As an employer you are obligated under employment law to ensure that you recognise trade unions and uphold the rights of employees affiliated with a trade union.   Understanding what a trade union is, how they operate and what you are legally required to uphold, is paramount to ensuring that you don’t fall foul of any employment legislation that may result in your business being taken to an emplo .....

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Gig Decisions Not Ground Breaking

Following last week’s tribunal win for City Sprint bicycle courier, Maggie Dewhurst, plus recent gig rulings against Uber and Deliveroo, Paul Holcroft, Head of Legal and Advisory at Croner is claiming that these so-called “ground breaking” cases, are nothing new and that cases determining employment status have been in existence since the late sixties. Paul Holcroft, says: “The issue explored in .....

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The importance of HR policies

As an employer, ensuring that your workforce is clear on what’s expected of them in the workplace is vital for avoiding any potentially legally compromising situations. It is vital therefore that you create clear policies that communicate these expectations and make these available to employees in your contracts and documentation, such as an employee handbook. Creating effective HR policy is not .....

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Flexible working: Four-day working week

With the Government’s Employment Rights Bill potentially opening the door for increased flexibility when it comes to working, a four-day week might very soon become a possibility for employees.  Employers will have to prepare for this eventuality as the improved rights means that all workers would be entitled to flexible working, and potentially a four-day week, from day-one of employment. This i .....

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Guide to TUPE

There are many reasons why an employer may want to sell their business. Maybe they're retiring early, can't afford to keep it open or change who provides their services. During these changes, it's important to follow the TUPE law (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment). Employers have a legal duty to protect staff during transfers. If you ignore these legal rights, you could end up pa .....

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Guide to COSHH for Employers

As an employer, you have a legal obligation to protect the health and well-being of your employees. Harmful materials can potentially lead to negative health impacts on employees. It's crucial to guarantee employees protection from such dangers.  Poor health not only affects employees, it can significantly impact your business with increased absenteeism and decreased productivity profits. Not to .....

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COSHH Risk Assessment Example

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 are required to be followed under law, which means that employers must manage materials, ensuring that all mandatory precautions are adhered to. Get a COSHH risk assessment example template today COSHH Regulations are hugely important to businesses. By non-compliance, not only is there a risk of harsh financial and reputation .....

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Employer Health and Safety Tips

It's an employer's job to ensure the safety of their employees and anyone who visits their premises. So ensuring you have a health and safety policy in place is vital. Our health and safety experts have put together some of their top health and safety tips to help you manage your workplace health and safety. If you need immediate support or advice, get in touch with one of our health and safety .....

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Minimum wage breaches result in £5 million of fines paid

The Government’s report on minimum and living wage enforcement for the financial year of 2023/24 indicated that there was a total of £7.6 million in arrears, identified for more than 52,000 workers. This resulted in HMRC issuing 720 penalties to the organisations involved for minimum wage breaches. In total this amounted to £5.2 million. Ensure your contracts and documentation are up to date, Con .....

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£1 million fine issued after worker killed by reversing HGV

The accident "Nearly a quarter of all workplace transport fatalities occur during reversing – a well-known and preventable risk" - HSE spokesperson In early 2019, Lee Warburton, a 53-year-old banksman for a wholesale supermarket supplier, was fatally crushed between a reversing Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) and a wall. An HSE investigation into the awful accident revealed that the wholesaler did not .....

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Demand for Early Conciliation Increases by 12%

ACAS recently published its figures regarding early conciliation. The results indicated that the number of employees citing an issue with their employer over compliance breaches increased by over 12%, when compared to the previous year. Close to 120,000 employees reported issues ranging from unfair dismissal to discrimination, as well as pay. This increase is the highest since pre-pandemic levels .....

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Flexible working - What do employers need to know?

Flexible working has been making headlines recently, not least because several large companies have started a shift away from remote working and instead have adopted a hybrid system with a return to the office forecast for some.  The Employment Rights Bill, which is currently at the committee stage and scheduled tentatively to come into force in 2026, has some key changes to employment law that e .....

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Back to School Support for Working Parents

With the school summer holidays ending in September, working parents will need to re-organise their familial commitments and their working lives. As a business owner this can present challenges as there is a good possibility that you will employ staff who are also parents. Whilst the summer months can pose headaches for parents with children below school leaving age (16) due to childcare arrangem .....

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What is The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)?

The flagship for Health and Safety regulation in the UK, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the governing body of the nation’s workplace health and safety. The HSE makes proposals to the government, which then turns them into regulations. Both primary and secondary legislation are enforced by the HSE, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSAWA). The Establishment of the HSE an .....

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Absence Management: Creating a Policy That Works

Did you know that an unauthorised leave of absence could lead to disciplinary action or a misconduct claim for your employee? But what should you do if you have an employee who has taken an unauthorised leave of absence? What happens if an employee has taken an excessive absence from the business? In this article, we will take you through what an unauthorised leave of absence is and some of the .....

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Do your employees have a right to flexible working requests?

Workplaces are moving away from the traditional 9-5 and adopting a more flexible approach to work life. Work routines have changed after the COVID pandemic, and many businesses adopt hybrid working, with a set number of days to be present in the office, and other days working from home. With this in mind, there are more opportunities for employees to put forward flexible working requests. Flexibl .....

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What is a grievance policy?

Grievances in the workplace are bound to occur from time to time. While it’s never pleasant when they do occur, having an effective grievance policy in place means you’re always handling it the right way. Doing this could be the difference between a successful resolution and, in the worst cases, an employment tribunal. So, what should you include in your grievance policy? And how can you execute .....

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Lay Off Clause

We understand that laying off an employee is never pleasant or what you’d perhaps planned during the growth of your business. We also know that layoffs are often inevitable if the employee doesn’t align with your business goals, or you need to make cutbacks to get back on top financially. Letting a staff member go can be a difficult conversation, and having a lay off clause within their employment .....

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Employment Restrictive Covenants

When one of your valued employees leaves your business, you may have understandable concerns about them working for a competitor, taking on your clients, using your sensitive data, or setting up their own business using your contacts and expertise. To prevent this, there’s something called a restrictive covenant which can protect you and your business from this very thing. What is a restrictiv .....

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HR Auditing

Happy, motivated, and proactive employees are the driving force of any successful company. Ensuring your staff remain that way can often be challenging, but the key is in keeping your HR compliant and accessible. HR is incredibly important when it comes to your business thriving. Making sure that you have up-to-date policies and procedures that align with your business objectives ensures your emp .....

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What is quiet firing?

You may have already heard of ‘quiet quitting’, where employees do only the bare minimum within their roles to avoid being fired while they search for a different role. However, you might not have heard of ‘quiet firing’. Whilst quiet quitting is characterised by employee conduct, quiet firing is the opposite. It’s defined by how employers treat their employees in a way that will make the employ .....

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Breach of Employment Contract

Your employment contracts are legally binding agreements between you (the employer) and your staff member (the employee).  An employment contract does not need to be a physical document, although issuing written employment contracts is typically best practice. However, employment contracts can still be issued verbally. As well as recognising the rights of all parties, it also enforces their dutie .....

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Shared Parental Leave

Shared parental leave (SPL) is a useful tool to help reduce your organisation’s gender pay gap, as well as bolster the overall well-being of your staff. But what is it, and how should you promote and utilise it? What is shared parental leave? Shared parental leave allows eligible employees to choose how to share their time off work following the birth or adoption of a child. Shared parental lea .....

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How to write an employment contract

It's your legal obligation as an employer to provide each employee with a written employment contract. Within two months of the date of the start of employment, you must provide your new employee with either a full time or part time employment contract. Acas states that "simple misunderstandings over what is or what is not in a contract are one of the main causes of employment tribunal claims." .....

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Disability: employer responsibility

If you weren’t already, it’s important to be aware of your legal obligations towards disabled employees, as failing to do so can cause challenges for your organisation.   It may seem surprising, but simple steps can often prevent discrimination from occurring and can go a long way in making individuals with disabilities feel valued and cared for.   Understanding employer responsibilities when it .....

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Dismissal Procedures

Dismissal from work should always be your last resort. However, sometimes it’s unavoidable, which is why it’s important to undertake the proper procedure and conduct it fairly. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know in preparation for terminating an employee. Dismissing employees Firstly, you should have a distinct and clear dismissal procedure outlined in your handbook. Althou .....

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Disciplinary procedures in the workplace

When running a business, you will need to deal with grievances and disciplinary issues from time to time. There are several reasons that may lead to the need for disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, an employee’s behaviour, conduct, performance, and/or absence from work. Whatever the reason, you must have a fair process in place. If you’re looking for answers to immediate concerns .....

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Conflict Management

Conflicts in the workplace are bound to pop up from time to time. Sometimes, employees may channel their frustrations in the wrong way. Or maybe they're unable to deal with changes to their working conditions. Whatever the situation is, employers need to have a robust conflict management process in place. This will help deal with the problem whilst maintaining professional relations. Without it, .....

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Vicarious Liability

From time to time, employees may make a mistake at work and employers could be held liable for it. By law, employers can be held vicariously liable for certain acts of their employees. Vicarious liability can present a considerable area of risk which may require measures and management. If an employer is liable then they could face hefty compensation fees or even employment tribunal hearings. C .....

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Fire Door Safety Week 2025: What do employers need to know?

Fire doors are an integral part of fire safety in any industrial, commercial and even residential premises. With September 22nd heralding the arrival of Fire Door Safety Week we put the focus on what employers need to know when it comes to their legal responsibilities and proper maintenance so that the people under their charge remain safe and their business doesn’t suffer any reputational and fin .....

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How to Minimise HR and Health & Safety risks at the work Christmas party

The annual work Christmas party is the chance for colleagues to get together in the festive spirit and take a load off. However, workplace Christmas parties are also steeped infamy for being the source of a number of HR issues. Drunk and disorderly conduct, sexual harassment and damage to property are all frequently referenced in disciplinary hearings in the aftermath of the festive season. As wel .....

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ESQCR Regulations

As an employer it’s important that you ensure all electrical equipment is properly installed and maintained regularly. This includes ensuring that all live elements are safely covered while the equipment is in operation.  If you need immediate support or advice on anything relating to ESQCR, get in touch with one of our experts on 0808 501 6651 What is ESQCR? ESQCR stands for Electrical Safet .....

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Noise in the Workplace

According to the HSE, estimates of those suffering deafness, tinnitus or some kind of ear condition as a result of their working in excessively noisy environments, numbers somewhere in the region of 170,000. Employers are obligated to ensure the well-being of their staff when it comes to protecting their hearing from exposure to noise levels in the workplace of above 85 dB by providing hearing pr .....

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Mental Health First Aiders

With mental health awareness week upon us, it’s time to focus on what employers can do to improve their employees’ mental health at work and generally support emotional well-being. Government’s pledge in the King’s Speech the emphasis is to give equal parity to mental health and physical health and currently mental health is one of the most prominent causes of sickness absence. According to the .....

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Herefordshire conservatory firm fined after man seriously injured during home extension work

The accident “This incident could have easily had fatal consequence, and it highlights the importance of undertaking a thorough assessment of the risks for all work at height activities” - HSE spokesperson A conservatory construction company based in Herefordshire has been fined £40,000 following serious injuries to one of its employees. The builder, a 56-year-old man, fell more than two meters .....

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Absence Policy & Procedure

Managing sickness absence across your workforce is a difficult and time-consuming task. It's also an inevitability in the modern business world—and a major part of employment law. So, you should prepare for staff taking statutory sick leave in the UK and provide employees with a thorough and fair process. You should also inform your staff members what this is. And in this guide, we'll guide you .....

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Supporting Epilepsy at work

Epilepsy is a common condition that affects the brain and causes frequent seizures. Seizures are bursts of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily affect how it works. They can cause a wide range of symptoms. Epilepsy can start at any age but usually starts either in childhood or in people over 60. It's often lifelong, but can sometimes get slowly better over time. Symptoms of Epile .....

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Protected Disclosures? Why a café worker was awarded £22,000 by an employment tribunal

“From an employer’s standpoint, the key takeaway is the importance of recognising and responding appropriately to health and safety concerns.” Early in 2023, a café worker was unfairly dismissed. The café that she worked for insisted that the café door needed to remain open at all times of the day and year to increase foot traffic. When the claimant insisted to close the door due to it being ‘too .....

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Effective Tronc Schemes Setup and Management

With the new law regarding tips and how they’re distributed coming into play in October of this year(2024), setting up a compliant tronc scheme is a necessity, particularly if your business deals with tips, gratuities and service charges. The question remains though how do you set up an effective tronc scheme? Not all schemes are the same and what works for one business might not work for all. Set .....

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Employer's Duty of Care

Employers have both a moral and legal obligation to protect the health and safety of their workforce, this is referred to as an employer’s Duty of Care. The responsibilities that are incorporated under this term include all health and safety considerations as well as legal and financial obligations. Ensure your business remains compliant with Employment Law, as well as Health and Safety regulati .....

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The Nine Protected Characteristics in UK Law

In UK employment law, the Equality Act 2010 identifies nine protected characteristics. In HR, we talk about them mostly in relation to preventing and tackling discrimination in the workplace. You need to understand them comprehensively to ensure that your business policies and processes remain legally sound and compliant with the latest legislation. Employment contracts and employee handbooks in .....

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What is Self-Certification Sickness?

A self-certification form for sickness is a document that your employees can use to certify an absence without needing a doctor's note. It can include details about the nature of the illness and the duration of the absence. This process can help you as the employer to manage and track your staff members’ sick leave more effectively.  Croner are experts when it comes to HR, employment law, and ma .....

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Why Optimism Bias Led to £54,000 Penalty for Sign Fitting Company

'Fall from height' is often the deadliest, yet most preventable workplace injury category.    Let’s discuss a tragic, yet preventable case of fall from height, the £54,000 penalty levied as a result, and why an employer's optimism bias led to this devastating outcome.    Need health and safety support? Call 0808 501 6651 for FREE, same-day health and safety assistance.   Lancashire: employee fe .....

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Return-to-work forms and interviews

Croner covers the importance of undertaking effective return-to-work procedures to manage the disruption caused by short and long-term absences, including return-to-work interviews and forms. Also covered: how to manage phased return to work after long-term sickness and maternity leave. Croner also supplies an easy-to-use return-to-work template. Go to template now. Inevitably, your staff will ha .....

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Council Fined After Failures Led to Death

Western Isles Council pled guilty to a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act following the death of a 69-year-old man at St Brendan’s Care Home in Castlebay. The doors at St Brendan’s Care Home were unprotected and did not have alarm systems in place. The council was fined £80,000 at Lochmaddy Sheriff Court on 6 August 2025. To ensure these incidents do not occur in your residential car .....

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Company Fined £270,000 After Worker Seriously Injured

A County Durham waste recycling company was fined £270,000 following the injury of an employee. The company did not ensure the implementation of an isolation procedure for workers when cleaning machinery. This ultimately led to an employee becoming trapped in a section of the recycling machinery, fracturing the worker’s shoulder, tearing ligaments, and breaking a finger. To ensure accidents like .....

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Manual Handling

As an employer, you have a legal duty of care for your employees. You must protect your workers from the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling in the workplace. Manual handling is responsible for over a third of all workplace injuries. It’s common in many business environments and still an issue many managers are uncertain about. So, in this guide, we look at its purpose in your business .....

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What you need to know about illegal deductions from wages

Croner covers what qualifies as an illegal/unlawful deduction of wages, unpacking what counts as a ‘wage’, instances where deductions can be counted as unlawful, and The Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA). If you make illegal deductions from an employee's wages, they can claim an unlawful deduction. In this guide, Croner will cover how to handle these claims, what your rights are, and when it is l .....

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Statutory Sick Pay Update (Employment Rights Bill)

Croner discusses the Government's intention to change existing laws that regulate statutory pay. New pledges will aim to give workers falling below the Lower Earnings Limit access to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). How does the Government intend to change the existing Statutory Sick Pay framework? What is the fair work agency? What this all means for employers Quick recap How can Croner help? .....

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Construction Company Fined £1 million After Worker Dies

A construction company specialising in road resurfacing in London was fined £1 million after a worker was killed by a reversing road-sweeper. Most construction transport accidents result from the inadequate segregation of pedestrians and vehicles. This can usually be avoided by careful planning, particularly at the design stage, and by controlling vehicle operations during construction work.  To .....

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What Is the Law on Breaks at Work?

Employees who work more than six hours a day are legally entitled to at least a 20-minute rest period during their work. Additionally, employees are not permitted to work through their 11-hour daily rest break. If they do work during this period, they must be given compensatory rest as soon as reasonably possible. There are some exceptions to this rule, which are detailed in this article. Laws .....

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Christmas in the Workplace: An Employers Guide

Most employees look forward to taking a well-earned break over the Christmas period. But staff holidays have to be balanced against ensuring business needs are met. Here we take a look at the considerations and rules around time off over the festive period. For immediate advice on how you can handle Christmas in the workplace, get in touch with one of our experts on 0800 141 3781.   The Worki .....

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What to do About Insubordination at Work

If you're an employer or someone managing staff your aim will of course be to create a harmonious workforce. However, even the best workplaces encounter staff issues. The key question is when does employee behaviour become insubordination? This article explores insubordination in the workplace and the correct process to handle it. Learn what insubordination is and what to do about it. You can ca .....

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SOSR Dismissals: When is it Fair to Use Them?

In order to dismiss an employee lawfully, you need to be able to provide a fair reason for the dismissal. Section 98 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, states five potentially fair reasons an employer can dismiss an employee. These potentially fair reasons are employee conduct, a breach of statutory restriction, redundancy, employee capability and performance, and 'some other substantial reason' ( .....

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UK Holiday Laws: A Guide for Employers

The case of Harpur Trust v Brazel has significantly impacted UK holiday entitlement laws, leading to pertinent changes in how holiday pay is calculated for certain categories of employees. This case has prompted a re-evaluation of holiday entitlement regulations, particularly concerning the treatment of part-time and irregular workers. In response to this legal development, UK holiday entitleme .....

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Company Relocation Employee Rights

Sometimes relocation is unavoidable. That doesn’t mean managing the transition of key employees to the new workplace is any less complex. To ensure you don’t open yourself up to claims of unfair or constructive dismissal, you need to know your employees’ rights. Why do employees have relocation rights? Sometimes relocation is reasonable—other times it isn’t. Employees have specific rights in pl .....

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Shift Pattern Change Laws

It doesn’t matter how rigid your employment contracts are, employees can still request changes to their working hours. Or, if you’re the one to change the contract, then you’re still bound by shift pattern change laws. No matter where the change comes from, handling correctly is tricky. In this article, we’ll take a look at what you need to know, and how to manage requests and the change itself. .....

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Workplace Discrimination

Individuals from diverse backgrounds and with a variety of life experiences make up the modern workplace. Whilst diversity in the work environment is certainly positive, it also increases the opportunities for discrimination in the workplace.  Despite the progress made in eliminating workplace discrimination, it is still a part of the modern business world. This is in part due to misconceptions a .....

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The Role of HR Compliance

At Croner, we use the term ‘HR compliance’ frequently because compliance is critical; not just to run your business successfully, but to avoid severe fines and criminal charges. Understand that any commitment to compliance without expertise is a lost cause. In this guide, we will take you through everything you need to know about HR compliance. What is HR compliance? A commitment to following the .....

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Work Uniforms: Employer's Guide

You may need to do it for the safety of your staff, or to uphold a professional company profile. Other uniforms are simply appropriate for certain work environments. But despite these use cases, you may find employees refusing to wear their uniform or causing other issues. For this reason, we’ll take a look at some of the most common problems you might face when it comes to staff dress codes. But .....

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Employment Rights in Question among the Gig Economy

New research published by the CIPD has revealed that many workers in the gig economy may be eligible for certain employment rights, but are confused by the issue of employment status. The CIPD’s ‘To gig or not to gig: Stories from the modern economy’ report has revealed that some 1.3 million individuals are engaged in ‘gig work’, and almost two-thirds of them believe that the Government should reg .....

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Health & Safety Policy

No matter the industry, size, or nature of your organisation, health &amp; safety plays a vital role. That’s why it’s important to have a clear and comprehensive policy in place, for the protection of your employees—and your business. As an employer, you have a duty of care for your staff. Failing to keep them safe could result in heavy fines or prison sentences. In this article, we’ll break down .....

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Managing strikes in the workplace

Strikes are becoming the norm. Different trade unions have decided to take industrial action to get better pay and work conditions for their members. For employers, however, and the general public, this can cause widespread disruption. We've put together a short guide to help you manage strikes in your workplace. If you need support or advice, get in touch with one of our experts here. How do the .....

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What is the Care Quality Commission (CQC)?

The CQC stands for the Care Quality Commission, which is the independent regulatory body for the care sector in England only. They cover all aspects of health and care services from local authorities, independent care providers and NHS, amongst others, ensuring that they are compliant with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.  If your business operates in the health and care sector, then understan .....

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Guide to Employee Improvement Plans

A performance improvement plan, or PIP, is an approach used by employers to help an employee improve their job performance if they are not meeting their targets adequately. It outlines specific issues, sets clear goals, and provides a timeline for improvement, aiming to support the employee in achieving success in their role. Contact our experts at Croner for immediate advice on people management. .....

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Who is Responsible for Health & Safety in the Workplace?

Employers are legally responsible for workplace safety and must appoint a competent person (with training, skills, and experience) to manage it daily — though liability stays with the employer. Employers must ensure safety through risk assessments, clear signage, proper PPE, staff training, and open communication. Maintain competence at all levels via ongoing development. Employers often get confu .....

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ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)

In this article, Croner covers ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation, and Arbitration Service). Acas is an independent UK body offering free advice, conciliation, and arbitration to resolve workplace disputes like pay, dismissal, and discrimination, helping avoid tribunals. Conciliation negotiates informal settlements; arbitration delivers binding decisions after hearings. Acas provides guidance and codes .....

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Gross Misconduct: Everything You Need to Know

When an employee commits gross misconduct, an employer can terminate the employee with no notice period or payment. This is referred to as summary dismissal. When the employee receives summary (instant) dismissal, you’ll need to provide them with a contract termination letter explaining the reasons for your decision. This is an important document to write. In this guide, we’ll take you through wha .....

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HSE RIDDOR Statistics 2025

RIDDOR or the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations is the law requiring employers and those in charge of working premises to report and make a record of all instances of work-related injuries, occupational (reportable) diseases and incidents that have the potential to cause harm. The law also covers the reporting of workplace fatalities. The purpose of RIDDOR regula .....

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Croner's view on Tesco increasing pension age

Tesco's recent decision to increase the age at which workers can claim their full pension entitlement has sparked concern from Croner customers, but what does this mean for British businesses? With proper consultation a company can increase the age at which an employee can take advantage of their full pension entitlement. Following the abolition of the Default Retirement Age of 65 on the 6th Apri .....

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What is Pension Auto Enrolment?

The pension auto enrolment scheme is a government initiative. Its aim is to help more people save for their later life. What Does it Do? Auto enrolment forces employers to "automatically enrol" their eligible staff into a pension scheme. One benefit for staff, first of all, is that the employer must pay money into the scheme. It also takes the responsibility of having to enrol themselves in a pe .....

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Uber Files - Key Learnings on Workplace Violence

A recent leak of 124,000 records from Uber brings several issues to light. There is a lot to cover, so we’re going to tackle one issue at a time. In this article, we’re focusing on what the Uber Files can tell us about workplace violence. To stay up to date with the latest news in employment law, HR, health &amp; safety, and pay &amp; reward, sign up to our FREE monthly newsletter here. The taxi .....

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Hug or Harassment? How Can You Be Sure?

Reports have come to light of a culture of ‘forced hugging’ within the fashion chain, Ted Baker. More than 60 staff members have complained about the behaviour of Ray Kelvin, the founder. A petition was signed by more than 1,000 people, which called for an end to the forced hugging, as well as other behaviour, such as kissing ears and massaging employees’ shoulders. While this type of behaviour .....

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8 Top Tips for Investigating a Claim of Harassment

In cases of harassment you must follow a set process and deal with any harassment complaint quickly, without delay. Even if you feel that there's no genuine complaint or no substance to a complaint - don't ignore it. Eight Top Tips Listen to their concerns: If an employee alleges that they have been harassed, you should deal with their concerns sensitively and sympathetically, reassuring them .....

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10 Top Tips For Managing Workplace Harassment

The fight against harassment has spread to all corners of society – from Hollywood and the Golden Globes to everyday workplaces. Here are 10 top tips for employers about dealing with harassment in the workplace. Managing Workplace Harassment - Infographic   Top 10 Tips for Managing Harassment Know what Harassment is: It’s defined as ‘unwanted conduct’ that violates, intimidates, is hostile .....

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7 Steps for Managing Harassment in the Workplace

Unfortunately, harassment in the workplace is still a serious problem in the UK. Protecting employee is one of your main duties as an employer. To help you safeguard your workforces, we’ve put together 7 helpful steps for managing harassment in the workplace. 7 Steps for Managing Harassment 1. Know what Harassment is and Who it Applies to Harassment is unwanted conduct related to a relevant p .....

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[Mythbuster] There Are No Real Health & Safety Risks When Working at Home

Since there’s been a large increase in the number of people working from home in the past month, it only seems fair to address one of the most common myths about homeworking. Accidents happen. And sometimes, they happen at home. However, if an accident happens at home while the employee is working, you may be liable. Unfortunately, many employers believe the home to be a risk-free environment. Th .....

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Imprisonment for Company Director under RIDDOR Offence

The Director of a construction company has been jailed for eight months after failing to ensure the safety of a young worker who sustained serious injuries as a result of the negligence. David Gordon Stead of Beddau has been sentenced to imprisonment after pleading guilty at Cardiff Crown Court to breaching s.4(1) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (R .....

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Employer's Obligations in Relation to RIDDOR & COVID-19

As an employer, you’re undoubtedly familiar with RIDDOR and your reporting obligations. However, the COVID-19 outbreak poses a new challenge. In this article, we’re going to take a look at whether coronavirus changes the way you report incidents in the workplace. And, if it does, what those changes mean for your business. But before you read on, remember you can contact us on 01455 858 132 for i .....

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Accident Book Template

Nobody wants accidents to happen in the workplace. At the same time, we cannot fully eliminate risks, so they will occur, due to unforeseen factors. Using an accident report form marks the first positive step in dealing with such occurrences. The law requires you to record and report details of any work-related incidents. To do so, you need an accident book template that will cover these legal re .....

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HR During the Coronavirus Crisis

Your staff are furloughed. So you could be forgiven for thinking that usual employment obligations no longer apply. After all, they’re doing no work for the company. Surely this means that normal rules are essentially placed on hold for this period of time? This couldn’t be further from the truth. Furloughed staff are still technically contracted to work for the company. This means that they’re .....

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Statutory Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay

Sadly, bereavement is something that will affect all of us in our lives. 1 in 10 employees are likely to be affected by the death of a loved one at any point. This impact on an employee’s wellbeing will make it hard for them to perform in their role, which is why we have Some employers may have offered bereavement leave before, but it would have only been their own internal processes. However, .....

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Civil Service Scrap Unconscious Bias Training

What is unconscious bias? It’s the idea that individuals are unconsciously drawn to an individual due to a certain characteristic. Or are put-off by something of this nature. This type of bias can be related to a protected characteristic. If it is, you need to consider the Equality Act 2010. If left unchecked, it can cause numerous issues in the employing and managing of staff. Unconscious bias .....

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What is a Flexible Working Policy?

As business are increasingly adopting more agile working methods, your HR department may need to revisit its working policy to reflect the new norms. In this article we’ll take a look at the role documentation plays in your flexible working strategy. But first, let’s take a look at some of the ways flexibility in the workplace actually, well, works… Flexible working practices When employers th .....

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Conducting an Equal Pay Audit

The equal pay act sets provisions for organisations to follow the same pay system. Under the Act, you must give men and women doing identical work, the same treatment. Equal recompense applies to all contractual terms of employment and not only an employee’s salary. It should include benefits such as holiday entitlements, bonuses, pension contributions and more. The aim of this audit is to impro .....

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The Equal Pay Challenge

The news that women working in Morrisons supermarkets are bringing an equal pay claim should serve as a warning to employers with unequal pay systems. ASDA is already in the middle of an employment tribunal battle that is likely to drag on for years, and other supermarket chains could face similar claims, with women who work in the stores comparing their earnings with those of men who work in the .....

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Equal Pay Claims are Rising

In July 2017, tribunal fees were ruled to be unlawful, and so the barrier that stopped employees claiming against their employers was opened, and the claims started to flood in. The number of claims being made has risen, quarter-by-quarter, month-by-month, ever since tribunal fees were scrapped. A whole host of issues can end up at an employment tribunal, including HR and health and safety issues .....

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Latest Update: The Axing of Tribunal Fees

Since the Supreme Court ruled tribunal fees were ‘unlawful’ it is widely expected that the number of cases going to employment tribunal will increase rapidly. On July 26th, 2017, the Supreme Court ruled that tribunal fees are a ‘barrier to justice’ - abolishing them with immediate effect. Employment tribunal fees have raised around £32 million since their introduction in July 2013, with the thous .....

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Settlements & Mental Capacity

The case of Glasgow City Council v Mr Dahhan UKEATS/0024/15 By Amanda Beattie Employers often use settlement agreements to protect themselves from future liability of court or tribunal claims against an employee or ex-employee. Fundamental to making a legal binding agreement is that both parties must have the mental capacity in order to enter into the contact. But what happens when there is an is .....

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Tribunal Quarterly Statistics

With the Ministry of Justice releasing the statistics for April-June 2020, we can take a look at employment tribunal numbers for this quarter alongside the largest amounts awarded from successful claims within financial year 2019/20. Our Quarterly Statistics Analysis... These statistics are useful indicators of the most prevalent claims being made against employers alongside how many cases are b .....

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Uber Lose Appeal: 40,000 Drivers Entitled to Rights

This morning has brought the news that Uber has lost its appeal against the Employment Tribunal judgment that their drivers are workers; Uber had insisted that the drivers were self-employed contractors. This means that some 40,000 drivers are entitled to rights such as holiday and sick pay, rest breaks, national minimum wage, and more. Amanda Beattie, Croner Employment Law Expert, says: “On 27  .....

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Tribunal Claims - 2020

The first year of the pandemic saw a sharp rise in tribunal claims. To ensure employers are fully aware of the risk, Croner has broken down the numbers so you can see the clear trends emerging... Tribunal statistics What they mean These latest set of statistics are a helpful look at a period of time in which we faced increased restrictions across the UK as a result of the rise in coronavirus ca .....

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Wrongful Dismissal

Understanding employment law on wrongful dismissal in the UK will spare you not only unnecessary headaches, but costly tribunal claims too. Although the maximum wrongful dismissal UK compensation doesn’t go above £25,000 in a tribunal, no employer wants to waste money on avoidable mistakes. When faced with the unpleasant situation of dismissing an employee, you need to follow due process. This me .....

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Conducting a Disciplinary: 10 Top Tips for Employers

Managing a disciplinary investigation can be complicated. There's likely to be a lot of emotion flying around and you must ensure you follow an exact process. Conducting a Disciplinary Add this infographic to your website by copying and pasting the following embed code: &lt;div style="clear:both"&gt;&lt;a href="https://croner.co.uk/media/1875/Top-10-Disciplinary-Tips.pdf"&gt;&lt;img src="http .....

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What is a Disciplinary Hearing?

From time to time, your business can face situations where an employee’s behaviour breaches your rules. If this breach is serious enough, you may want to take disciplinary action to ensure it doesn’t happen again. In this guide, we will provide you with expert insights on how to properly hold a disciplinary hearing, along with looking at the various laws you need to keep in mind. Understandin .....

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10 Top Tips for Managing a Grievance

Handling an employee grievance correctly can mean the difference between a successful resolution and it escalating to an employment tribunal. You should have a clear grievance procedure in place, which must be easily accessible for all employees and be part of your employee handbook and their employment contract. Managing a Grievance - The Stats   Add this infographic to your website by copy .....

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Grievance Procedures in the UK

Your working environment consists of individuals from different backgrounds, with unique life experiences. Because of this, conflicts around the workplace are unavoidable. However, you can avoid an employment tribunal claim if you have a formal procedure in place to deal with a workplace grievance. If you’re experiencing issues with employee conduct and need immediate advice, you can contact the .....

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Food Allergy Awareness Week

A food that is safe for most people to eat may be hazardous to others because of a food allergy. A food allergy is a response by the immune system to a food that is considered a threat. Reactions vary from a rash or hives to diarrhoea and vomiting or anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is serious because it can lead to anaphylactic shock (often fatal). In the UK, at least 10 people die from an allergic reac .....

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Redundancy Notice Period

Resorting to redundancy to restructure your business, change location, or reduce costs involves legal aspects that you want to get right. By giving your staff the necessary redundancy notice period, you will minimise the risks of tribunal claims. When you make employees redundant, you need to cover all legal requirements for a fair, compliant process. This includes providing reasons for redundanc .....

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Temporary Redundancy, Lay-offs and Short Time Working

As a result of business downturn, it may seem like you will have to make employees redundant. While sometimes this is the case, there are some other options. You can avoid losing valuable employees while also keeping the business healthy. This is through temporary redundancy, lay-offs and short term working. These options may help avoid redundancies in the long run. But this should be a last res .....

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Sex Discrimination

Sexual discrimination can be difficult to root out in organisations. Especially when it’s not obvious that it’s happening. Here, we highlight everything you need to know about discrimination of sex. This includes a detailed breakdown of the types of discrimination employees can be subject to. Your legal responsibilities. And, frequently asked questions regarding discrimination in the workplace. .....

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Gender Reassignment in the Workplace

An employee comes into work one day and let’s you know that they are undergoing surgery to reassign their sex. You may have concerns that the individual will struggle with discrimination from their colleagues or management. How can you support them and ensure discrimination doesn’t occur? Gender reassignment in the workplace is frequently misunderstood and as a result can lead to unwanted behavio .....

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Pay Protection

Employers have a duty (under Section 20 of the Equality Act 2010) to take such steps that are reasonable to avoid a disabled worker being at a substantial disadvantage – this is often called the employer’s ‘duty to make reasonable adjustments’. A worker’s consent to an adjustment and protecting a worker’s pay as a reasonable adjustment has recently been examined in the Employment Appeal Tribunal; .....

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Objective Justification

In UK employment law, discrimination in the workplace is illegal under the Equality Act 2010. However, in some cases, it may even be legal to put a particular group at a disadvantage. This is 'objective justification'.  In this article, we’re going to take a look at exactly what it is and when you can use it as a defence. What is objective justification? Objective justification gives a defence .....

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Types of Discrimination

At first glance, it seems quite simple. There are nine protected characteristics—so there must be nine types of discrimination, right?Well, yes and no. It is against the law to discriminate against someone because of one of these characteristics. Each one is a type of discrimination that can, and does, occur. However, there are other ways to categorise discrimination. These are terms you have lik .....

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What Would a Second Wave of Coronavirus Mean for Your Company?

Health leaders have suggested a second wave of coronavirus infections could occur in the winter. If this does happen, the first signs will appear in the Autumn. That gives the UK a few months to prepare… A second wave of coronavirus What could the impact be? A letter published in the British Medical Journal has warned UK ministers that urgent action is needed to ensure that there’s no further .....

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Vaccines and Testing – What To Do When Staff Don’t Want It

A number of Covid-19 vaccines have been approved for use in the UK. The virus remains a present threat, with many employers asking how they can help to reduce the virus’ spread. Workplace COVIID-19 testing and vaccine take-up come to mind. However, not everyone will be willing to be vaccinated. What are your options? What makes staff refuse in the first place? We’ll answer these questions and mor .....

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Fraudulent Furlough Claims - Penalties Explained

The furlough scheme was put in place to support employers who were not able to operate as normal due to the pandemic. However, some employers may have overclaimed. Unintentionally or otherwise, you could face sanctions if this is not reported and rectified. Furlough claim mistakes Your business under scrutiny… The government is committed to investigating situations where employers have been ov .....

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End of Furlough Letter

There is no set format for ending a period of furlough. That doesn’t mean you should approach it casually. Issuing an end of furlough letter makes the process formal and ensures all parties are aware of the steps and dates of the return. In this article, we’ll take a look at the return to work process and provide you with a free letter template you can use to return people to work. Return to wor .....

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National Minimum Wage: The Current Situation

The National Minimum Wage has been the focus of many legal cases recently, with everything from sleep-in shifts and whistleblowing, to national naming and shaming for firms failing to pay the NMW. With so much going on, it can be easy to lose track of what you need to be aware of, and what the latest ruling is. So, here is a quick rundown of all decisions, deadlines, and data you need to be aware .....

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What Are the Rules Around Paying the National Minimum Wage?

On April 1 2018 the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates increased to £3.70 for apprentices, £4.20 for 16-17 year olds, £5.90 for 18-20 year olds and the adult rate rose to £7.38. The new ‘Living Wage’ for workers aged 25 and over, which has effectively added an additional tier to the National Minimum Wage, increased from £7.50 to £7.83. We are all aware of our obligation to ensure that a worker is .....

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LGBTQ+ Inclusivity – Token Gestures vs Real Change

Lego recently made headlines for introducing a new LGBTQ+ set, entitled “Everyone is Awesome”. The new range includes 11 minifigures, each representing one of the coloured stripes of the pride flag. All but one of the figures has no specific gender, with the intention to “express individuality, while remaining ambiguous.” Staff at Lego have applauded the move, but it isn’t this act alone that ha .....

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Is The Cost of Living Crisis Pushing People Back to the Office?

As the cost of living crisis worsens, and the colder months creep ever closer, some staff are considering a workplace return. Is this the start of a larger trend, or is it a temporary shift that’ll go away once we hit Spring 2023? In the same way the coronavirus pandemic altered the working landscape, the cost of living crisis promises to deliver a similar shift. Time will tell how long the effec .....

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Constructive Dismissal Examples

In a previous article, we defined constructive dismissal and explained how to avoid it. In this article, we’ll provide examples of what constitutes a fundamental breach of contract and how the situation may develop. So, if you’re still uncertain whether a situation constitutes constructive dismissal or not, read on… If you need immediate advice on constructive dismissal or the end of an employme .....

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New Sexual Harassment Prevention Duty Announced

The Government has given its response to the consultation on sexual harassment in the workplace. This outlines a new duty on organisations to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. Currently, you have an obligation to protect staff from discrimination and harassment in the workplace. This is set out in the Equality Act 2010. However, this upcoming change will mean you have to make a concerte .....

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Duty to Make Reasonable Adjustments for Wheelchair Users

On the buses – the duty to make reasonable adjustments; The case of First Group PLC v Paulley [2017] UKSC 4 Public Service Providers under the Equality Act 2010 (“the Act”) are under a duty to take such steps that are reasonable to avoid a disabled person being at a substantial disadvantage – often referred to as the duty to make reasonable adjustments.  The Supreme Court has recently examined t .....

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Dobson v North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

An employment appeal tribunal (EAT) has upheld a claim of indirect sex discrimination because the employer had not considered the employee’s childcaring responsibilities. The Equality Act 2010 provides protection against unlawful direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, and victimisation for the protected characteristic of ‘sex’. Indirect sex discrimination occurs when a provision, criter .....

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Sexual Orientation Discrimination

Although there have been huge strides in equality in the past few years, discrimination in the workplace is far from over. Discrimination based on sexual orientation remains a prevalent issue in many workplaces. A study from the CIPD found that more than 40% of LGBTIQA+ staff experienced conflict in the workplace, compared to 29% of heterosexual employees. The data from this report shows harassm .....

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One in Five Eateries Failing to meet Food Hygiene Standards

A new investigation by the consumer group Which? has revealed that one in every five eateries in the UK does not meet food hygiene standards, with huge variations across the country and around 500,000 cases of food poisoning each year. As the Food Standards Agency (FSA) undertakes a fundamental review of how the food enforcement system works, Which? analysed council data submitted to the FSA, ran .....

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The Five Fair Reasons for Dismissal - A Guide

Removing staff from your company can be challenging. if you get it wrong it can be very costly for your business. Staff with at least two years of service can bring tribunal claims for unfair dismissal. However, any employee can bring a claim if they feel they have been discriminated against. Of course, if you own a business, chances are you will face this situation at some point. So, when can y .....

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What is a Critical Incident Report at Work?

You have a duty of care to your employees, which means you’re required to take all necessary precautions regarding their health &amp; safety. However, it’s not always possible to eliminate all risks in the workplace. So, when an incident does happen, you’re required by law to report it. In this article, we will cover the different types of near misses and incidents that can happen at work, as we .....

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Neurodiversity

Many businesses celebrate workplace diversity and inclusion. But that doesn’t just cover sexuality or gender terms. It also includes neurodiversity. Sociologist Judy Singer first used the term 'neurodiversity' in the late 1990s. Since then, more of us encourage ‘neurodiversity acceptance’ in our everyday life. Employers must know the rights of neurodivergent workers. If not, they could face disc .....

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The National Living Wage on Living Wage Week

As Living Wage Week rolls around again, Croner take a look at what the current National Living Wage is, what it means, and how it is going to change. What is it? First thing’s first, let’s clear up the confusion regarding the difference between the National Minimum Wage, National Living Wage and the ‘real living wage’. The terms are often used interchangeably, but there is a small difference. T .....

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Constructive Dismissal: A Pay Day for Predatory Lawyers?

Constructive dismissal is a big worry for employees. Why? Because you don’t even need to dismiss anyone to be accused of it… Your disgruntled employee simply has to resign and claim that their working conditions forced them to leave. And there are hundreds of no win no fee lawyers ready to take up their case.   Successful cases of constructive dismissal can lead to businesses paying out hundreds .....

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Nursery Managers Get Tribunal Tips from Croner

Dot2dot nursery insurance services &amp; HR experts, Croner, joined forces to give managers a first-hand experience of what it is like in an employment tribunal. Croner’s Litigation Manager, Zuraida Curtis, started proceedings by talking about what an employment tribunal is, the employment tribunal process, hearing and coping strategies and the financial implications of tribunal litigation. Armed .....

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Indirect Discrimination in the Workplace

How do you best avoid discriminating against an individual? The obvious first thought that comes to mind tends to be treating everybody equally. But what if by doing so you place somebody in a disadvantaged position from the start through indirect discrimination? Most companies promote a zero-tolerance policy in this respect. However, making sure that no discriminative treatment happens in the wo .....

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My Staff Are Quarantined - What Do I Do?

An increasing number of countries are being added to the COVID quarantine list. Individuals who return from these areas are being asked to self-isolate for 14-days to reduce risks of spreading coronavirus. As of August, places that fall into this bracket include France, Spain, and the Netherlands. This list will continue to change as the situation develops. So what do you if staff are quarantine .....

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How to Tackle Gender Diversity in Male Dominated Industries

Despite the fact several industries have closed the gender gap, there are still many sectors that are male dominated. For women working in male dominated industries and for employers looking to create a more inclusive culture, this represents a challenge. This article explores how to close gender gaps and how to tackle gender diversity in a male dominated field.   What is gender diversity? For .....

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Can I Complete My Own Fire Risk Assessment?

Keeping your employees safe should be one of your main concerns as an employer. This includes implementing fire safety plans and carrying out the appropriate fire risk assessments. In this article, we are going to look in detail at what you should be including in your risk assessments and who they should be carried out by. If you need immediate support in improving the fire safety of your buildi .....

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Sample Letter to Employee Reducing Working Hours

From time to time, your business may not have a set amount of work for your employees. If this is the case, you can look to reduce their hours. As such, you can look to either using the government’s Job Retention Scheme and furlough employees. Or, you can reduce the number of hours they work—and that process will require a letter to reduce working hours. So, how do you go about doing that? You c .....

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Do I Need a Sporting Events Policy?

The 2024 Olympics started last week, meaning that it's more than likely you are to see increased sickness absences, and other changes in the workplace. Whether you fully embrace the Olympics, with flags in the workplace and sweepstakes, or try to block it out, a Sporting Events Policy can help support your position... If you're struggling with a sport related HR issue, get immediate advice today .....

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Fire Safety in the Workplace for Employers

In light of the recent horrendous tragedy at Grenfell Tower in London, the safety of our premises, including workplaces, is at the forefront of many people’s minds. It has never been so important, as an employer, to ask the question “is our workplace safe from fire, and do we comply with the law”? Fire Regulations Modern fire safety legislation applies to virtually all premises and covers nearly .....

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Workplace Reasonable Adjustments: An Employer's Guide

The Equality Act 2010 defines disability as any ‘Physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day to day activities. Reasonable adjustments at work refer to alterations adapted equipment within the workplace or to work processes and to the premises itself. The aim of reasonable changes is to ensure your disabled employees aren't .....

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Redundancy: The Guide

Sometimes, an employer may need to reduce the size of their workforce. One method they might consider to do this by making them redundant. Redundancies should only be used in a correct manner. Meaning, that employees must receive all their legal rights from start to end. If an employer neglects any of these steps, they could end up facing unfair dismissal claims. In this guide, we'll look at wh .....

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Toilet Breaks at Work

As an employer, it's nearly impossible to track how many times employees take 'loo breaks' per day. But that doesn't mean you should start imposing restrictions on their bowel movements. Employers cannot stop workers from taking a toilet break. However, you can manage the number, length, and impact these breaks have on your business. In this guide, we'll look at what toilet breaks at work are, U .....

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Summary Gross Misconduct Dismissal Letter

When an employee commits gross misconduct, an employer can terminate the employee with no notice period or payment. We call this summary dismissal. When an employee receives an instant dismissal, you’ll need to provide them with a contract termination letter explaining the reasons for your decision. This is an important document to write. In this guide, we’ll take you through what to include in .....

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Constructive Dismissal

Sometimes it can be complicated trying to understand constructive dismissal. When an employee resigns from their position, in extreme cases this can be referred to as a dismissal Constructive dismissal claims can lead to the company having to pay the employee compensation and reputational damages. Under UK law, this type of resignation is treated as a form of unfair dismissal. This article explo .....

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Mental Health Discrimination at Work

Sometimes, people treat those who have mental health problems differently at work because of their mental health condition. This can be discrimination and, if an employee experiences discrimination at work, they have a legal right to challenge it. If they do, this can lead to a costly employment tribunal. Discrimination cases have an unlimited fine and no minimum service period for employees, so .....

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Supporting pregnant employees: An employer’s guide

Colleagues who are pregnant have both employment law and health and safety protections afforded to them under UK law. As an employer you are duty bound to support pregnant colleagues ensuring both their employee rights are addressed and that their health and safety is assured.  Failing to protect the health and safety or denying the rights of a pregnant worker or a new mother is grounds not only .....

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The Correct Lifting Technique for Workplaces

Regardless of industry, your workers will find themselves in situations where they need to lift and move an object. Ensure they use the correct lifting technique, to avoid losing working days to ill health. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), millions of working days are lost annually in the UK because of injuries related to bad manual handling. Avoid contributing to these concern .....

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Sexual Harassment at Work

Sexual harassment isn't always easy to spot or remove in a business. But, every employer has a duty of care to protect their staff from all forms of harassment whilst at work. Failing to do so may lead to claims being raised against you to an employment tribunal. This could lead to losing employees, financial, and business damages. In this guide, we'll look at what sexual harassment is, the diff .....

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What Can Employers do to Improve Gender Equality?

Gender equality in the workplace has been making headlines in recent months and, along with workers’ rights, is one of the most significant issues facing employers in 2018. Gender pay gap reporting, which required companies with at least 250 employees to publish a report detailing various aspects of pay and bonus comparisons by 5th April 2018 garnered significant attention for larger employers. S .....

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Disability Discrimination at Work

As an employer, you need to understand disability discrimination. Whether you employ disabled staff members or not, you have rights and responsibilities under discrimination law which is covered by the Equality Act 2010. Getting your treatment of staff with a physical or mental impairment right is essential. Whether that's with current staff or job applicants, this will ensure you avoid claims of .....

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What is Constructive Dismissal Compensation?

Constructive dismissal compensation, sometimes referred to as “unfair dismissal compensation”, is the monetary amount awarded to an employee who is found by an employment tribunal to have been under the employ of an organisation that breached their employment contract.  As an employer, if you act in a way that constitutes a contract breach, the employee may be able to resign and make a claim again .....

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Automatic Unfair Dismissal – A Croner Guide

Typically, an employee is required to have worked for at least two years for an employer to qualify for unfair dismissal. However, under certain circumstances, individuals can claim automatic unfair dismissal even when they’ve been employed for under two years. If you’re not compliant with these regulations when dismissing an employee, you put yourself at risk of tribunal claims.  It’s important .....

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Redundancy Process & Guide | Croner

Redundancy is an unfortunate part of running a business. Sometimes it is necessary for an employer to reduce the size of their workforce and one method that could be considered is staff redundancies.  Redundancies should only be used in a correct manner and for the correct reasons. Meaning, employees must receive all their legal rights from start to end. If an employer neglects any of these steps .....

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Dismissal Due to Depression

Mental health can have a tremendous impact on work performance. You should always do whatever you can to support employees through this. However, at a certain point, you may need to consider dismissal. There is no legal definition of mental health but is generally understood to be the emotional state in which you can cope with the normal pressures of everyday life. This will include your mental h .....

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Disciplinary Procedure Policy Template

When a conduct issue occurs, you will need to follow a comprehensive disciplinary procedure. While every business is different, and each conduct issue needs to be addressed based on the facts, having a solid disciplinary and procedure template can help you mitigate the risks. If a business doesn’t follow a fair procedure, you can find yourself at risk of unfair dismissal claims or constructive di .....

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Ageism in the workplace

When you think of age discrimination, perhaps your mind automatically assumes a young person is being passed over for employment in the place of a more experienced employee. However, ageism can refer to discrimination of people of all ages, including older employees. So, ageism is important for employers to be wary of. Age discrimination can happen more frequently than you may think. In fact, it .....

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Direct discrimination at work

Did you know that direct discrimination at work can occur as early as the interview stage in employment? Whether intentional or not, discriminating against employees or candidates can lead to tribunal claims, damaging your companies’ reputation, and demotivating staff. Direct discrimination is outlined by the Equality Act 2010, which includes certain things called ‘protected characteristics’, whi .....

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Gender discrimination

Discrimination in the workplace occurs when you treat an employee less favourably because of Protected Characteristics. At Croner, we’re knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to identifying and preventing discrimination within the workplace. If you need immediate support on an HR issue within your business, give us a call today on 0808 501 6651 for FREE, expert advice. Protected character .....

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Pregnancy Discrimination

Pregnancy discrimination happens when someone is treated unfairly at work, on areas such as hiring, pay, promotions, or firing, because they’re pregnant, might become pregnant, or are on maternity leave. It’s illegal to discriminate against pregnant people, yet this still occurs in the workplace.  Croner are experts on advising how to prevent discrimination in your business. For immediate support .....

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Everything Employers Should Know About Statutory Redundancy

Redundancy is a form of dismissing employees. In most cases, redundancies can happen when you decide to close down your business or if you no longer need certain employee roles. You may also make an employee redundant if you wish to reduce your workforce due to the lack of demand for particular work, or you intend to move the business to another location. As an employer, you must utilise redundan .....

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Top Tips for Avoiding Discrimination in Recruitment

Recruitment can be a costly and time-consuming business. It can also be litigious. There’s legislation governing discrimination that employers need to be mindful of. Otherwise, you could face claims of unlawful discrimination. To avoid claims, judge job applicants against a range of objective criteria, such as: Skills Knowledge Experience You should not judge applicants based on personal .....

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The Right to Freedom of Association in the Workplace

Croner covers freedom of association, guaranteed by Article 11 of the ECHR and UK laws such as the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, which allow workers to join trade unions and assemble. Recognising unions helps businesses improve trust, communication, conflict resolution, morale, retention, and productivity. Historical examples like that of The Ford Motor Company show wo .....

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Perceptive Discrimination

Did you know that an employee doesn’t have to have a protected characteristic to claim discrimination? as an employer, you need to understand discrimination (including its risks and issues), in its various forms. Each one poses its own risks and challenges in a workplace environment. This article outlines the definition of perceptive discrimination, whether it’s considered unlawful, and how you ca .....

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How to Work Out Pro-Rata Pay

Croner covers all the pro-rata essentials for employers, including how to calculate pro rata salary, who qualifies for pro rata salary, pro-rata for a part time working pattern, and how to calculate it for holiday entitlements. As an employer you've undoubtedly heard the term ‘pro rata', but do you know exactly what it means and how to work out pro-rata pay and holiday entitlement calculations for .....

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How to Deal With Employee Victimisation

How do you deal with victimisation at work, as an employer? This type of mistreatment in the workplace can occur subtly, without management or other colleagues noticing it. However, a tribunal claim due to victimisation could still cost you money and affect your business reputation. Here, we’ll discuss how to identify, manage, and prevent victimisation at work. This guide also covers advice on how .....

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Understanding Wage Differentials and Identifying Factors That Affect It

Wage differentials are pay gaps between similar workers due to occupational (skill/role variance), regional (cost of living), personal (individual skills), organisational (policies/finance), and industrial (demand/supply) factors. They motivate training, allocate resources economically, and help firms attract talent. Compensating differentials offer higher pay or benefits for undesirable jobs (e.g .....

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Guide to Disciplinary Procedures

When dealing with employee misconduct or underperformance, you will often give them feedback and try to nurture the employee to be better. Informal processes allow you to keep a good working relationship and to avoid legal matters. However, sometimes an employee will simply not get the message. An employee may repeatedly commit the same offence, or they may have one serious incident. This can lead .....

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