In a Birmingham Employment Tribunal we have been given an excellent example of how easy it is to get hit with massive fines and negative publicity for your business because a key – but straightforward step was not taken in the redundancy process ‘Consultation’ so constituting an unfair dismissal.

In recent months there has been a lot of speculation both in the media and the courts on an employee’s right to ‘carry forward holiday leave entitlement not taken over into a new holiday year’.
Well at last some good news for business. A newsletter published by the law firm Wedlake Bell explains a recent judgement [...]

Hairdresser stopped from advertising for ‘junior stylist’ because it is ageist
A hairdresser has been told she cannot advertise for a ‘junior stylist’ because it would be ageist.

Less sick leave it just got better – or has it?
The sick note is being replaced by………..(listen to the sounds of trumpets and watch the dancers and fireworks etc)
“The Fit Note”
No, not a tenner that has been working out to avoid deflation but an initiative to cut the cost of sick leave for employers and [...]

The Labour Market Outlook report produced by the CIPD this week revealed that job security was under further threat from the outsourcing of jobs abroad and reductions in spending by the Public sector.

Dynamic Response Team Targeting Migrant Workers
2009 saw UKBA (UK Borders Agency) forming local ‘intelligence teams’ linking together various local & national agencies to enforce the right to work in UK legislation. Throughout 2009 there has been a steady increase in prosecutions which is expected to accelerate rapidly in 2010!!
I think this initiative is HMRC building [...]

Driver told he ’stank of BO’ awarded £3,000 for unfair dismissal
A delivery driver who was told he “stank of BO” by his female boss has been awarded £3,000 by an employment tribunal. Alex Frowd, 26, said office manager Julie Cummings was “worse than any male boss” he’d ever had, adding he feared being around her [...]

Each year the government sets new Limits with respect to ‘Compensation’ i.e.  maximum redundancy settlements and Payments i.e. ‘Statutory Sick Pay’.
For 2010 from 1st February and this April the increases have been minimal or frozen reflecting low inflation, the economic climate and a general election on the horizon.

New government plans are under way to extend the cigarette ban outdoors to include entrances to workplaces, bus shelters and pub beer gardens. Most businesses have probably stopped employees smoking in ‘front’ doorways/entrances because of the poor image it portrays.
Now however it is wherever smokers ‘herd’ together – which from my experience as an ex-smoker [...]

2010 Pay Rises Likely To Be Around 2%

An early indication that salary increases are beginning to recover is highlighted by a forecast predicting 2% median pay increase across the UK private sector this year – an improvement on predictions of just 1% in March 2009, a Hay Group survey has found.