News
HR & Health and Safety News
Welcome to Quest News.
For brand guidelines and how to use our articles, please see the Media Guide below. For HR and Health and Safety updates please subscribe to our newsletter.
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…
Read more
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.
Read more
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…
Read more
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…
Read more
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…
Read more
Whilst whistle-blowing must fall within public interest and thus must not relate to the employee’s individual concerns over his/her contract of employment but where the employee’s concerns suggest some overlap between personal and public interest then whistle blowing protection could still apply as…
Read more
From 28th October to 3rd November, the Fertility Network UK are raising awareness through to a wider audience. They are supporting employees and employers on fertility education and fertility in the workplace. Infertility is becoming a real issue where ‘1 in 6 couples in the UK are affected and majo…
Read more
Many employers use the photographs of their staff to promote their business websites and as part of their business marketing campaigns both in print and on social media. This is often done with good positive intentions to demonstrate that the company values its staff and the services they provide to…
Read more
By law, all employees have a right to be accompanied at a disciplinary and grievance hearing either by a work colleague or trade union representative. Employers must act fairly and reasonably and allow an employee to bring a companion. This is highlighted under the Employment Rights Act 1999 under s…
Read more
Commonly referred to as “vibration white finger”, uncontrolled exposure to vibrating equipment over time, will cause nerve damage in the fingers. Eventually, nerve endings die, blood circulation to the finger tips stops, and you end up with white fingers.
Read more
Work related stress translating to long term absence is growing and the impact to business’ is significant. So, when it comes to dismissing an employee due to ill health can be tricky if it is to do with a potential protected characteristic in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
Read more
World Mental Health Day falls on 10th October 2019. It is a day where mental health awareness is recognised on a global scale. Countries will share and promote a better understanding of mental health conditions.
Read more
Are you a producer of chemicals, or do you supply to or buy from the EU? Maybe you are just a business that uses chemicals? There may be some actions required in preparation for Britain leaving the European Union, including understanding changes to REACH (Registration, evaluation, authorisation and…
Read more
The Working Families Organisation (the UK’s leading work/life balance organisation) want to build employers awareness on balancing their employees’ working time with their personal leisure and family time. Therefore, they have introduced a campaign called the National Work Life Week, which will begi…
Read more
By 2020, one in two people (47%) will get cancer at some point in their lives (Macmillan Cancer Support) and it is important that employers become well equipped to deal with employees who may have the condition.
Read more
The Equality Act 2010 protects employees from pregnancy and maternity discrimination from day 1. An employer can face unlimited fines from an employment tribunal if an employee can demonstrate that they have been treated unfairly.
Read more
It is crucial that the use of equipment and handling of stock is managed correctly around the workplace as failure to do so could affect the business in a negative way. An example of where incidents could arise due to an incorrect process is racking.
Read more
Under s.10 of the Equality Act 2010 (the Act), “religious or philosophical belief “are protected characteristics and thus an employee cannot be treated unfairly in holding such believes otherwise the employee would have the following potential claims.
Read more
Much can be gained in having a relaxed work place environment where employees can talk and express opinions freely to each other however with workplace banter there is a very fine line which can easily be crossed and turn banter into unlawful bullying and harassment even if the purpose was not to ca…
Read more
For decades apprentice schemes have proved useful to both the employer and the employee. There are many advantages to an apprenticeship scheme as it allows the individual to learn on the job whilst gaining a recognised qualification.
Read more* Please note that all calls may be recorded for training or monitoring purposes.
EmailPartners and Accreditations
Useful Links
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)
© 2025 Quest Business Services Limited