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Beth Hale and Sophie Rothwell explore the alternatives to redundancy that businesses could consider as the furlough scheme in its current form comes to an end Stop press On 24 September, the Chancellor announced a Job Support Scheme which will commence on 1 November 2020 and run for six months. Under the scheme, the government …
Continue reading "Workforce changes: Redundancy: ten alternatives to consider"
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With the UK braced for a second wave of the pandemic, Kathy Halliday investigates the steps employers should be taking to support employees’ mental wellbeing in these difficult times Following the nationwide lockdown in March this year, a rise in mental health issues stemming from increased feelings of isolation was widely reported. As we head …
Continue reading "Coronavirus: Protecting employees’ mental health in the Covid workplace"
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Nick Hurley and Rachel Warren consider how employers should respond to sexual harassment allegations in light of a growing risk of regulatory action if they mishandle complaints October 2020 marks the third anniversary of Alyssa Milano’s tweet responding to the Harvey Weinstein allegations. This tweet galvanised the #MeToo movement and increased the confidence of victims …
Continue reading "Sexual harassment: Professional firms should prepare for increased scrutiny by regulators "
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Brigitte Weaver answers some common questions about holding disciplinary and grievance hearings remotely Going through an employment process is always stressful for those involved but working from home, being isolated and having caring responsibilities can make things much more challenging for a lot of employees. Over the past few months, questions from employers about dealing …
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Gillian Duffy considers how businesses can protect their reputation when making difficult decisions about redundancies and pay cuts If business decisions like redundancies are getting the attention of mainstream or social media audiences, the key is to not panic. As the UK officially enters recession, we are seeing perhaps the toughest landscape in the corporate …
Continue reading "Reputational risk: Prepare to have right on your side when making efficiency savings"
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Claire Scott and Chris Evans round up recent case law affecting employers and their advisers HMRC has civil and criminal powers to investigate and is likely to want to take a firm stance if it finds that employers have abused the system. EAT considers whether beneficial TUPE-related changes are void In Ferguson v Astrea Asset …
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Employers could face employment tribunal claims and HMRC penalties if they have any employees who have worked during furlough. Alan Lewis, Caroline Glacken, Sarah Wallace and Ami Amin look at steps employers can take to rectify errors We have now started to see employees resist their own redundancy by alleging that they have completed work …
Continue reading "Furlough errors: Working while furloughed – manage the risk of furlough fraud allegations"
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At the end of July, the government issued new regulations on redundancy and notice pay for furloughed staff, as well as further details of the job retention bonus. Amanda Sanders and Aida Geragusian examine these developments It is possible to make employees redundant and to give them their notice while on furlough. On 17 July, …
Continue reading "Coronavirus job retention scheme: New law to ensure furloughed employees receive full redundancy payments"
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The coronavirus outbreak may widen the gender pay gap and have a distorting effect on the next set of statistics, warn Jennifer Millins and Martha Averley It is becoming apparent that this recession is different and working women are shouldering the burden of the economic turmoil caused by Covid-19. Less than two weeks before the …
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Joanna Chatterton and Ed Livingstone discuss how employers can manage the return to the office following government guidance for businesses to bring an end to homeworking arrangements where possible Employees should be encouraged to consider their personal circumstances and whether or not they should (or can) return to work. On 20 July, the government announced …
Continue reading "Covid-19: Back to the office"
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