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Tinnitus Awareness Week – 3rd to 9th February 2020

06 February 2020

Did you know up to 1 in 8 people in the UK live with a persistent form of Tinnitus, and over the next ten years this is expected to increase by a further 550,000 people*?

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Does TUPE apply to workers?

03 February 2020 | Jatinder Tara

If a person working in your business on a casual basis, such as a zero hours contract, they are not employees, they are classed as ‘workers.’  Workers currently have limited employment rights, for example they do not acquire unfair dismissal rights against an employer, even after 2 years’ service.

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The effects of the Coronavirus

29 January 2020

So, I’m sure you have by now heard of the Coronavirus over in China, which has now started to spread into Europe, the USA and other places and now at the time of writing this, over 4,500 people have been infected and 106 people have sadly died.

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Recovery cost for suing a client not paying an invoice

27 January 2020 | Raj Laxman

Many small medium sized businesses often face the situation where a client fails to pay an invoice. This can cause the business financial problems and cause the business owner a lot stress.

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When to allow ‘positive action’

21 January 2020 | Eleanor Greenwell

Many organisations have come to realise, mainly through the Equality Act 2010 and the media, the need to increase diversity within the workplace. Diversity is about respecting every person based on the 9 protected characteristics outlined in the Equality Act 2010.

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Is Veganism a ‘philosophical belief?’

17 January 2020 | Jatinder Tara

In a previous article published on the Quest website on 25th September 2019 a case was reported that asked whether veganism was a philosophical belief.  The outcome of that case has been questioned as there is now a preliminary hearing finding of an employment tribunal in the case of Casamitjana V L…

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How does an employer deal with inclement weather?

15 January 2020

All employers owe a duty of care towards their employees, and to non-employees such as contractors under the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974, and various Regulations made under it. This duty of care is extended towards visitors by the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957.

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How should I deal with a problem raised by an employee?

13 January 2020 | Eleanor Greenwell

ACAS guidelines state it is important to try to resolve any workplace complaint without undue delay. The complaint could be formal or informal – in writing or verbally. The matter could be addressed swiftly through a 121 meeting – the employer could save a lot of time by avoiding a full grievance pr…

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Alterations to the 2020 Early May Bank Holiday

09 January 2020 | Raj Laxman

The Government has decided that in 2020 to honour the 75th anniversary of VE Day the Bank Holiday in May will be altered from Monday 4th of May to Friday 8th of May.

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What to do if your employee goes AWOL

02 January 2020

With it being January, the month of post-Christmas blues there can be an influx of sickness absences or more specifically absences without leave (AWOL). Employers may be faced with how to move forward with employees who have not come into work as they have gone on holiday without having prior author…

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Suspended Sentence for Contractor Following a Fatal Accident

17 December 2019

A west midlands Scaffolding Company director has been handed a suspended sentence after failing to protect his employee so far as reasonably practicable by ensuring his safety at work. The company were engaged by the main roofing company undertaking the refurbishment of a factory roof.

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Who owns rights to an invention, the employer or the employee?

12 December 2019

The general position is stated in statutory provision namely section 39 of the Patents Act 1977 which states that any invention made by an employee belongs to the employer.  It has clauses to satisfy this provision;  if they are made,  ‘in the course of the normal duties of the employee or in the co…

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Third party discrimination of employees

09 December 2019 | Cheryl Lacey

here are many sectors like hospitality, health care and retail where staff work closely with the public and other third parties, whilst performing their duties.  With such close connections, staff could be subjected to verbal abuse, threatening behaviour or assaults that could also be of a sexual na…

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Getting prepared for the adverse weather conditions

04 December 2019

Now the weather has turned colder, our attention turns to the risk of show and ice and the disruption this can bring. We don’t have to think back too far to remember at the start of the year when widespread snow practically shut down several airports and rail stations.

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Does whistleblowing protection extend to workers and others?

29 November 2019 | Shabir Karatella

Ms Gilham was a district judge and during her tenure, she raised various concerns about cost-cutting reforms, excessive workloads and alleged poor working conditions, which she alleged amounted to “protected disclosures” under the whistleblowing provisions.

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Guidance for employers when throwing a christmas party

29 November 2019

The long-held tradition of the works Christmas parties are now in full swing, a chance to forget about work and enjoy relaxing with your colleagues. Due to fear of the reputational and legal fallout from bad behaviour at parties many employers cut back the plans and introduce measures which shield…

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Right to Notice Pay After Long-Term Sickness Absence

27 November 2019 | Jatinder Tara

With long-term sickness absence, employers have a duty of care to support the employee, which extends to making reasonable adjustments to the employee’s role. This is to assist the employee’s return back to work in circumstances where the medical prognosis suggests adjustments are desirable.

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Sickness days on the rise

21 November 2019

Sickness days are increasing once again according to the Office for National Statistics.  In 2018 – employees took 141.1 million sick days costing companies millions of pounds in absenteeism.  There were a multitude reasons for taking sick days last year ranging from coughs and colds, musculoskeleta…

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Workplace Relationships

18 November 2019 | Kavita Parmar

Following the recent news on McDonald’s Chief Executive, Steve Easterbrook who was fired after having a consensual relationship with one of his employees, it is important for employers to understand how to deal with relationships in the workplace. The Chief Executive was found making “poor judgement…

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Alcohol awareness week - Monday 11th November 2019

08 November 2019 | Eleanor Greenwell

Alcohol awareness week commences 11th November 2019.  The theme is ‘alcohol and me’.  The purpose ‘alcohol awareness’ is to discuss the impact of alcohol and health.  In today’s society alcohol plays a big part; whether it is due to celebrations or a quite drink in a pub we all have a duty to look a…

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