As of next month, the furlough scheme which at its peak in May 2020 supported 8.9 million employments, will be winding down. ...
In reaction to the Government’s decision to extend the date for the easing of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions by four weeks, the Home Office has announced a further extension of the temporary COVID-19 adjusted right to work check period....
For over 20 years, Clarkslegal has been an integral part of the UK delegation to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations agency which sets international labour standards and monitors compliance with them....
The deadline for EU (including EEA and Swiss citizens) to apply to continue living in the UK is fast approaching, with the EU Settlement Scheme set to close in less than two weeks’ time on 30 June 2021. UK employers should be working with their EU staff to ensure their registration to the Scheme by this date. ...
Scottish brewer and pub-chain BrewDog has received a scathing open letter from former employees alleging there was a toxic work culture at the company, where staff were fearful of speaking out about concerns. The open letter from former staff members complained of a culture which gave weight to sexist and misogynistic brewers, of having genuine safety concerns and being pressured into working beyond their capacity, of fearing their mistakes could get them fired and of those in positions of power feeling enabled to act in a toxic manner. ...
Workers philosophical beliefs are protected but can amount to discrimination or harassment in the workplace for asserting beliefs that are considered offensive. ...
With time pressures on project delivery, getting the contract agreed before works start is a recurring issue in the construction industry. In the recent case of Balfour Beatty Regional Construction Limited v Van Elle Ltd [2021] EWHC 794, the Technology and Construction Court (TCC) held that works carried out by a sub-contractor before a sub-contract was executed were still subject to the terms of that sub-contract. ...
The past year has seen a significant increase in the amount of homeworking taking place. Before the pandemic, around 5% of those in employment worked from home, whereas during the pandemic this number increased to around 43% of workers. ...
Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that in July 2020, 86% of individual’s working remotely, were doing so due to COVID-19. With businesses now welcoming staff back to the office, it is a prudent time to reflect on some positive working practices adopted in the last 15 months that can continue to benefit your business moving forward. ...
Whilst the remaining restrictions are due to end in July, many businesses remain, and are likely to continue to do so, in a difficult trading environment saddled with COVID-19 related debt that will need servicing. It is because of this that many predict that these otherwise strong businesses will seek to explore the ‘Pre-Pack’ Administration process. ...
The UK government has confirmed that the rights of EU citizens living in the UK will remain the same until 30th June 2021. The Home Office has rolled out the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS/the Scheme), giving EU citizens (who started living in the UK before 31st December 2020) pre-settled status (the right to live in the UK for 5 years) or settled status (the right to remain indefinitely in the UK). ...
As pandemic-related government support for businesses starts to taper from the end of this month and with flexible furlough due to end altogether at the end of September, employers in some sectors will face difficult decisions impacting their workforce, including possible restructures and redundancies. ...
While the Government grapples with easing of lockdown restrictions, employers are continuing with their preparations to welcome employees (at least partially) back to the workplace....
Russell Dann comments in Personal Today on the omission of the long-awaited Employment Bill in this year’s Queen’s Speech....
Whistleblowers are in the headlines following the Dyson report into the Panorama interview in 1995 with the Diana, Princess of Wales. Lord Dyson found that Martin Bashir had acted deceitfully in the way he obtained the interview with the Princess of Wales. ...
Fire and rehire involves terminating an employee’s existing employment contract and offering to rehire them on new terms, usually as a last resort, where an employer cannot make the proposed changes using existing powers in the employee’s contract and the employee has not given their agreement to the changes. ...
The Hong Kong British National Overseas (BNO) visa was opened to BNO Passport holders (and their family members) from Hong Kong earlier this year. The route normally requires an application for entry clearance from outside the UK. However, since its announcement, the UK Government has allowed applicants to seek ‘Leave Outside the Rules’ at a UK Border. This concession has now been extended until 21 June 2021. ...
In modern employment terminology, the word ‘work’ is often associated with the word ‘life’ as companies and employees alike pursue the Holy Grail of work-life balance and work-life integration. However, a joint World Health Organisation/International Labour Organisation report released at the beginning of this week, suggests a strong relationship between the words ‘work’ and ‘death’!...
Since the launch of the Health and Care visa in August 2020, more than 20,000 individuals have been granted with a visa for the UK under this category. ...
A survey conducted by the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) found that 78% of employers had no plans to check employee’s vaccine status before returning to the workplace. ...