• Coronavirus

    Coronavirus

    On 2nd February I wrote to all our clients to provide some basic advice on the management of the Coronavirus in their workplace. With the Department of health today describing the outbreak in the UK as a “serious and imminent threat” to public health, the overall risk to the population now classified as “moderate”. Since…

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  • Feeling The Heat

    With temperatures soaring and no sign of an end to these wonderful hot days of summer, employees and employers are both feeling the strain. For absolute clarification …… there is no legal maximum working temperature and to this point, a group of MPs now want to introduce a maximum working temperature of 30 degrees (lowered…

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  • Do I have to pay staff if they don’t come to work due to the snow?

    On days like today, when the snow is falling steadily and settling rapidly, we are often asked about withholding pay for absent staff. Our first response is always “What does your contract say”?  As a general rule, if staff are absent from work and it is not for pre arranged holiday, then as an employer,…

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  • “Yes you can” vs “No you can’t”

    Is your business a “Yes you can” or do you suffer from “No you can’t”? As an HR support specialist, I never know what is going to happen when I pick up the phone. In the past week, we have had three potential clients contact us for support with HR issues: Employee in probation period, not…

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  • Does your sick pay policy have a purpose?

    Do employers pay sick pay because: a) They have tob) They feel it is the right thing to doc) They want staff to feel supported and valuedd) They want employees back to work quickly The answer is that each employer will make sick pay payments for different reasons depending on the culture of the business,…

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  • Are your employees trapped abroad?

    As a working mother, I am hearing lots of stories of friends and teachers stuck at a wide variety of holiday destinations unable to return to school. The current travel ban is affecting everyone, but how are employers coping? There are several issues to consider as an employer: ~ Firstly, the impact of having employees…

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  • Are you ready for fit notes?

    Did you know that the next time your staff are off sick, they no longer need to bring you a sick note. From April 6th, you need to ask them about a Fit Note. These are still issued by the GP, usually after seven calendar days of absence, but instead of just informing the employer…

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