Sporting tournaments engage the nation in a rare sense of communal endeavour, with football – the country's most-supported sport - generating the most interest. Bunting will be hung, songs will be sung. For businesses, however, major sporting events can pose challenges in managing employee absences. And of course with the internet and smartphones, they now have more ways than ever to follow their favourite teams during work hours. So how do employers manage absence during this summer of sport? Work together with your employees Flexibility…
The government has introduced the WorkWell pilot, a £64 million initiative designed to offer tailored work and health support across 15 areas in England. Announced by the DWP and DHSC, WorkWell is aimed at helping individuals with health conditions stay in or return to work by connecting them with local services such as physiotherapy, counselling, and employment advice, providing a support system to enhance both health and work life. The pilots will launch in regions including Greater Manchester, Cornwall, and areas of London, impacting around…
Psst! There have been updates since this article was written. You can read our more recent article on the King's Speech here, or find the latest updates in our employment law guide. Since the July 4 General Election has now passed, organisations that employ people are bracing for significant upheaval with the new Labour government. A legislative nightmare: what’s at stake for HR? The snap election means many Private Members' Bills previously adopted by the Government hang in the balance. With only half of these…
…is a slogan first used by LGBTQIA+ activists back in the 1990s which continues to be used today. It’s an expression used to express frustration and disappointment in the way the people from the queer community continue to be discriminated against and poorly treated today. One of the main challenges when suffering from discrimination is the impact on the person's mental health. This includes the impact on the LGBTQIA+ community which we discuss here, but there are of course mental health consequences for those who have…
Timely, accurate payroll delivery is arguably one of the most fundamental parts of your business. Payroll has a key role to play in maintaining morale, productivity, and trust. Issues small businesses may face with their payroll Unfortunately, in-house payroll functions are as reliable as the people doing the work. There's always a risk of losing a key payroll staff member, along with the valuable knowledge they may take with them to another organisation. If this happens you could find it extremely difficult to replace them:…
The UK has seen a rise of 1-in-3 couples choosing a mid-week wedding during the past seven years, with the most popular day being Thursday. Couples are shunning the traditional Saturday as they seek to save money, secure availability for key roles (such as photographers and catering), and take advantage of cut-price deals. With this trend only set to continue, companies can be inundated during the summer months with employees asking for time off work for their wedding, or to attend another wedding as a…
As we stampede towards summer, beach bags and flip flops in tow, you might begin to see some of your employees pushing the boundaries of ‘working from home.’ While the Maldives looks unlikely for many, the Red Lion’s beer garden is looking very appealing. So, if your employees’ new address has ‘arms’, ‘inn’ or ‘crown’ in the title, it might be that they are perched in their local during working hours. But how does this impact your business? Do you have rights as an employer to enforce working locations? And what are the potential benefits of alfresco or ‘agile’ working? Five top tips for employers While shipping your whole workforce to the…
In January 2024, the government unveiled a series of measures aimed at streamlining and modernising the tax system, with a heavy emphasis on technology to boost productivity within the public sector. One stand-out? The mandate for payrolling benefits in kind, effective April 2026. This bold move aims to simplify tax procedures, cut administrative red tape, and propel businesses into the digital age of payroll processing. Let's dive into the details and unpack what this means for UK employers. When does the switch to mandatory payrolling…
Employees who are UK based and on a period of maternity, adoption or shared parental leave will probably be relishing the chance to get out and about with the family. Unless they are nearly ready to return, they probably aren’t thinking too much about work. But actually, as anyone who has taken an extended break from work knows, it can be daunting to return and pick up the reins as if nothing has happened. That’s where KIT (keeping in touch) days can come into their…
What should you do if an employee has been charged with a serious criminal offence for something that has happened outside of the workplace? Can you terminate their employment on the grounds that they will no longer be available for work? And what about the reputational risk to your business? Each case should be decided on its own merits and in some situations, it may be fair to dismiss an employee. However, there’s no automatic right to dismiss an employee because they’ve been charged with…
