Flexible Working Arrangements

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 15/04/2014 I have had a query from a member of staff about the possibility of flexible working arrangements starting in July. What should I do? Patricia Rooney, Tughans Solicitors, Belfast writes: The current statutory right to request flexible working under The Flexible Working Regulations 2003 and 2007 appl...

Reasonable Adjustments

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 11/03/2014 We are a retail store and one of our managers is seeking a permanent reduction in her working hours. She is employed on a full time basis but reduced hours have been facilitated for her for approximately 18 months to assist her recovery from treatment for breast cancer. She has requested that this ...

Obligations for Pay Reviews

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 11/02/2014 This month’s problem concerns: Our Company has had a particularly tight financial year. It is coming round to pay talks shortly and on the last management accounts, it appears unlikely that we will be able to afford a pay rise. What does the Company have to do in order to comply with its obligation...

Zero-Hours Contracts

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 14/01/2014 I want to engage new staff on zero-hours contracts, but I am aware that there has been a lot of bad press about these recently. Does this mean I should not use zero-hours contracts anymore?”Amanda Espey from the Employment team at Tughans writes:Despite the media spotlight on zero-hours contracts i...

Bribery or Christmas Giving?

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 17/12/2013 Bribery – Or Christmas giving?Patricia Rooney of Tughans writes:As we approached the Christmas season we had a number of enquiries about corporate hospitality and the implications for our clients, in view of the provisions of the Bribery Act 2010. When does giving or receiving a gift become a bribe...

Conflicting Medical Advice

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 26/11/2013 We are currently considering dismissing an employee who is absent from work on grounds of ill health. However, we have received conflicting medical advice in relation to his absence. His GP is saying he is not fit to return to work. However, the company doctor has said he is fit to return to work b...

Covert Monitoring of Employees

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 15/10/2013 We want to hire a private investigator to monitor an employee who we suspect is submitting false timesheets, but I’m worried that the employee will say we are invading their privacy. How do I handle it?” Amanda Espey writes: The Information Commissioner’s Code of Practice on Employment Practices st...

Holiday Pay

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 10/09/2013 We are a road haulage firm and drivers are claiming that holiday pay should be calculated to include payment for overtime. The firm pays holiday pay on a set rate based on basic salary and does not include any payment to reflect overtime because the overtime is voluntary. How do I handle it?Sharon ...

Electronic Pay Slips

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 11/06/2013 We have recently decided to stop providing pay slips in paper format to and to instead use email to distribute pay slips to employees. 90% of the workforce has agreed to this and we have had no issues. However, a small number of employees are either refusing to give us an email address or telling u...

Bullying and Harassment via Facebook

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 14/05/2013 A staff member has complained that a fellow employee has been spreading rumours about their sexuality on Facebook. The employee at the centre of the rumours is understandably distressed by the comments and has submitted a grievance complaining of bullying and harassment. However, I am worried that ...