News & insights
Disability discrimination – failure to make reasonable adjustments
The case of Miller v Rentokil highlights how a trial period in an alternative role potentially amounts to a reasonable adjustment. Adjustments to working arrangements Mr Miller was employed as a pest control technician, described as a ‘field role’. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in March 2017. The employer made various adjustments and modifications […]
Read MoreUpdated code of practice – fire and rehire
In February 2024, the Department for Business & Trade issued a draft new code of practice for fire and rehire (dismissal and re-engagement) situations. The code recognises that fire and rehire can give rise to conflict between employers, employees and trade unions and the code is intended to provide practical guidance in avoiding disputes and […]
Read MoreKinship carers
Kinship care (also known as family and friends care and/or connected person care) is when a child lives with a relative, or a close family friend, usually because their parents are not able to look after them. With more than 180,000 children in the UK currently in kinship care arrangements, it is important for employers […]
Read MoreUnfair dismissal – EAT finds dismissal relating to a racist ‘joke’ fair
The case of Vaultex UK Ltd v Mr Robert Bialas highlights the importance of considering all the facts when determining the fairness of dismissal. Mr Bialas was employed as a Super Operator/Coin Processor. In September 2021, he searched for and shared what he believed to be a ‘clean’ joke on the company’s Workvivo system. The […]
Read MoreEnhancing occupational health awareness
The government has recently appointed Dame Carol Black as the government’s new Occupational Health Tsar. She will lead a new taskforce with the purpose of improving employer awareness of the benefits of occupational health in the workplace. Despite the importance of occupational health services, only 45% of workers in Britain currently have access to such […]
Read MoreCIPD guidance – Neuroinclusion at work
The CIPD has recently published guidance aimed at people professionals and leaders who want to learn more about neurodiversity. Neurodiversity is described as ‘the natural variation in human brain functioning. It refers to the fact that all human brains are wired differently in terms of information processing, communication and sensory processing’. The guidance focuses on […]
Read MoreUpdated Home Office guidance – Employer’s guide to right to work checks
The Home Office has updated its guidance Employer’s guide to right to work checks. The guidance applies to right to work checks conducted on or after 13 February 2024. The most significant updates relate to: An increase to the maximum civil penalty for non-compliance with the Right to Work Scheme. The civil penalty for employers will be […]
Read MoreNew CIPD guidance – terminal illness
New guidance for people professionals has been provided by the CIPD on supporting and managing employees with a terminal illness. Many employees need or want to carry on working with their diagnosis. The guide provides practical strategies on creating an inclusive and supportive culture, developing a framework to support employees, managing absence and leave and […]
Read MoreChanges to flexible working requests
The introduction of The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 and The Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023, both of which come into effect on 6 April 2024, make significant changes to flexible working requests. The key changes and the implications for both employers and employees are considered in this article. Consultation One of the key changes under this […]
Read MoreHoliday pay guidance
The government has released new guidance entitled ‘Holiday pay and entitlement reforms from 1 January 2024’. The guidance follows reforms made to the Working Time Regulations to simplify holiday entitlement. The changes came into effect from 1 January 2024. We reported on these changes back in November in our News & insights section of the CEFM website. […]
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