The Labour Party's Manifesto 2019
Alan Kitto
The Labour party has published its manifest for the 12 December 2019 general election; key manifesto pledges are:
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With the National Minimum Wage (NMW) now almost fifteen years old, and with another increase pending on 1st April 2017 HMRC have issued a list of the most elaborate excuses they've been given by employers for not paying the appropriate rates:
Recruitment, Remember it’s a Buyers Market
Alan Kitto
We’re regularly hearing from our clients about how challenging it is for them to find good candidates to fill vacant roles and that it’s now not uncommon for candidates to reject their offers of employment.
Read MoreHealth and Wellbeing Challenges in the Workplace
Alan Kitto
A recent study by Willis Towers Watson, one of the country’s largest providers of employee healthcare and risk management services has highlighted a number of interesting challenges for employers:
Read MoreLabour Party Proposes a Ministry for Employment Rights
Alan Kitto
The Labour Party is today announcing plans to create a Ministry for Employment Rights, along with a Workers' Protection Agency to enforce those rights, in what would be substantial repositioning of employment and trade union law.
Read MoreBarclays Eagle Lab in Cardiff
Alan Kitto
We’re delighted to announce that from the beginning of October, we’ll be collaborating with the Barclays Eagle Lab in Cardiff, giving HR advice and guidance to their resident start-up businesses.
Read MoreThe Effects of Alcohol in the Workplace
Alan Kitto
One of the essential HR policies that we advise all companies to have is a policy on ‘Alcohol at Work’, covering what is and isn’t allowed and also the consequences of non-compliance. The following statistics, taken from the Willis Towers Watson Employee Health, Wellbeing and Benefits Barometer 2019, are cause for significant concern for most employers:
Read MoreIt's Hot Outside (and Inside Too)
Alan Kitto
With temperatures outside souring to 30 degrees and more, we’ve had an increased number of enquiries around how hot it has to be before employees can complain about their working conditions. The following information from ACAS may be helpful when deciding what you may be able to do in your workplace to make working conditions more bearable.
Read MoreThere's More Than Just a Gender Pay Gap
Alan Kitto
As Pride month comes to an end, a survey of over 4,000 workers by YouGov for LinkedIn and UK Black Pride identified a pay gap of 16% between straight and LGBT+ workers, equivalent to £6,703 per annum before tax.
Read MoreDealing With Trauma at Work
Alan Kitto
A serious accident or worse, a death in the workplace would be most employer’s worst nightmare and yet most employers don’t plan for how to deal with these eventualities should they happen.
Read MoreProviding Employees With Support in the Workplace
Alan Kitto
With ever-increasing pressures on our lives, trying to balance the competing demands of our work, personal and family lives can be very difficult, frustrating, time-consuming and even expensive. Help is available via an Employee Assistance Programme …
Read MoreEmployment Law Update
Alan Kitto
Our April 2019 Employment Law Update summarises the changes to employment law, including changes to the National Minimum and Living Wage and statutory rates that take effect from the beginning of April 2019.
Read MoreThe Menopause at Work
Alan Kitto
Women over the age of 50 are now one of the fastest growing segments of the workforce, and most will go through the menopause during their working lives; sadly many won’t be able to meet their full potential unless they get the right support from their employer …
Read MoreModern Slavery: Spotting the Signs
Alan Kitto
Modern slavery is real and is happening all around us. We can all play a part in stamping out exploitation by knowing what to look out for and reporting any concerns to the Modern Slavery Helpline.
Read MoreA Guide to Fit-Notes
Alan Kitto
When presented with a Fit-Note by an employee, keep the following things in mind …
Read MoreManaging Beyond Stereotypes
Alan Kitto
We recently came across an article entitled ‘How Millennials want to Live and Work’. It’s key findings were that there are six functional changes that ‘Millennials’ now want. These are ….
Read MoreAge Discrimination - New ACAS Guidelines and Myth-Busting
Alan Kitto
Age discrimination, apart from in very limited circumstances, is unlawful. It will create problems and upset within an organisation. In many cases, employers unintentionally discriminate because they are unfamiliar with the law.
Read MoreEU National Employees and BREXIT
Alan Kitto
EU nationals will be able to continue to live and work in the UK after 29th March 2019 but will need to apply for settled status if they wish to remain living and working in the UK after 30th June 2021.
Read MoreCrisis at Christmas Donation
Alan Kitto
As we have in previous years, rather than sending gifts or cards to our customers this Christmas, we’ve made a donation to the Crisis at Christmas appeal to make sure that ten homeless people all receive from us ….
Read MoreGay Cakes and Vegans
Alan Kitto
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court unanimously reversed the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal’s decision in what is being reported in the press as the ‘gay cake’ case.
Read MoreEmployment Tribunal Update
Alan Kitto
The minutes of the most recent Employment Tribunals User Group meeting show that the most recent ET statistics show 165% increase in single claims, not quite back to the pre-tribunal fee levels but approaching that level.
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