How to Avoid Discrimination When Enhancing Family-Related Employment Benefits

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 09/07/2019 "I am HR Manager at a company which provides enhanced maternity pay. A male employee who is about to take shared parental leave has asked for confirmation that he will also receive enhanced pay. I want to treat employees equally, but I’m unsure of the legal position. How do I handle it?" Your issue...

Returning to work from long-term sick leave

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 18/06/2019 In this months article, Patricia Rooney, Partner in the Employment Team at Tughans, addresses a query regarding payment for employees returning early from sickness absence. This month’s problem concerns: “We have an employee who has been on long term sick leave and wishes to return to work. We a...

Enhanced Redundancy Payments – How Do I Handle It?

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 20/05/2019 For May 2019, we have asked the employment team at Tughans Solicitors to provide practical answers to unusual, sensitive or complex work-related queries. We call this feature “how do I handle it?” In this article, Jack Balmer, Associate Solicitor at Tughans, offers advice on how employers who wish...

Increases in NMW and Pension Contributions: How Do I Handle It?

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 16/04/2019 This month’s problem concerns: “I have responsibility for human resources/finance functions in a small business. I am aware of the increase in the minimum wage, and a rise in contributions under auto-enrolment arrangements. These additional amounts are causing extreme financial pressure on the org...

Political Debates around Brexit in the Workplace: How Do I Handle It?

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 25/03/2019 This month’s problem concerns: “As an HR Manager, I try to keep the workplace free from any political debates which might be controversial or offensive. With Brexit looming, conversations between staff have become heated and I’m concerned that someone will cross the line and act in a discriminatory...

The Good Work Plan: Employment Law Reforms

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 19/02/2019 This month’s problem concerns: “I am a HR Manager for a company with sites throughout the UK. I am concerned that the Good Work Plan was issued in December 2018 and that there are some changes which will come into effect in April. What can I do to prepare for these changes in our workforce?” The G...

Sexual Harassment Outside the Workplace: How Do I Handle It?

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 14/01/2019 I am a HR Manager and have been made aware that one of our employees has been sexually harassing a colleague outside of the workplace. The aggrieved employee has not lodged a grievance, and we have no formal record of any alleged misconduct by the alleged perpetrator. Whilst everything is happening...

Protecting the Integrity of an Investigation: How Do I Handle It?

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 18/12/2018 "I am a member of a Human Resource team and with some other members of staff, I received an email from an employee which I find upsetting. I have recommended that senior management undertake an investigation and dismissal of the individual who sent the email. Now, however, I am wondering if I am do...

Refusing to Work at Christmas: How Do I Handle It?

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 16/11/2018 I am a HR Manager at a company which provides emergency repair services. One repair engineer has to be available every day, including on public holidays. An engineer has complained about his annual leave request for Christmas Day being refused – but the other engineers had already booked the day of...

Failure to Inform or Consult Prior to TUPE Transfer: How do I handle it?

Posted in: How do I handle it NI on 18/10/2018 "I am a Human Resource Manager in a business which is being sold imminently with all staff transferring to the purchaser. There is very little time to inform and consult the employees about the sale before it happens. I believe that they may be entitled to bring claims for a protective award. Who c...