Hints & Tips

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Avoid falling foul of a subject access request!

Employers inevitably process significant amounts of personal data relating to their employees. This means employers are Data Controllers and are bound by the rights their employees have as Data Subjects. Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), one of those rights is to ask their employers for copies of any personal data relating to them. These are known as Data Subject Access Requests and are sometimes referred to as SARs or DSARs. Personal data is any information relating to

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23rd September 2024

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Tips for employers on how to avoid the ‘summer slack’

Summer is here at last with the UK having experienced a recent heatwave. But as temperatures continue to soar over the summer months (fingers crossed), employers should brace themselves for a less motivated workforce and a flurry of ‘sickies’. According to new research by Dayforce, 45% of full-time employees in the UK admit they are less productive during the summer, and for those aged 18-34 this jumps to 57%. During nice weather, everyone is yearning to get outside and enjoy

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3rd July 2024

Did sending a pregnant woman home during lockdown amount to discrimination?

That is the question the Tribunal had to answer in the recent case of Prosser v Community Gateway Association Ltd and they found, on the facts of this case, that it did not. Ms Prosser was employed by the Association on a zero hours contract, working an average of 4 shifts per month prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Having informed her Line Manager on 13 March 2020 that she was pregnant, she was forwarded a link to the government advice

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9th August 2021

Remote Working: How Secure Is Your Data?

As businesses start to return to ‘a new normal’, there are some difficult conversations to be had between employers and their staff. With a growing desire for flexible working across all industries, businesses have some critical decisions to make on the technology they are using and how they decide to operate long-term. There are three key choices that all companies are facing right now; bring everyone back to the office when safe to do so; operate via a hybrid work

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23rd June 2021

The Kickstart Scheme partner you’ve been waiting for…

During summer last year, the Chancellor announced a new employer initiative ‘The Kickstart Scheme’ aimed at supporting unemployed young people. Those aged 16-24 on Universal Credit would be provided with a 6 month paid work placement that would set them up with the experience needed to get them back on their feet and in the direction of a future career. The Kickstart Scheme is an opportunity for YOU to recruit the latest talent and grow your business, all fully subsidised!

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25th May 2021

Mediation – An effective and low-cost way of resolving workplace conflict

Conflict in the workplace is unavoidable. Everyone has experienced it to some degree. Some conflict can be positive and constructive, but more often, it can be damaging and destructive to an organisation and intervention will usually be required to get a working relationship back on track. When disputes occur, it will almost always result in a stressful and unpleasant working environment for the people involved and colleagues who have to work alongside them. This can lead to a lack of

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24th May 2021

Is workplace conflict costing you more than you think?

When it comes to Mediation in the workplace and managing the wellbeing of your team, any concerns must be dealt with effectively. If not, they could escalate to much more serious problems such as stress-related absenteeism, grievances and even tribunal claims. According to this year’s report from ACAS ‘Estimating the Costs of Workplace Conflict’, 485,800 employees resign each year as a result of conflict. This analysis also estimates a total cost of £28.5 billion to businesses due to poor management

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24th May 2021

Are you ready to step it up when it comes to HR?

Take advantage of our cloud-based HR Software Solution that’s more organised than a spreadsheet and ready to use anytime, anywhere. Compatible with all mobile devices, tablets and smartphones, it’s easy to manage your HR effectively for businesses working remotely, maintaining full control over the day-to-day HR management. Some key features include: Employee database: Easy access to employees’ contracts, holiday and absence records, pay details, appraisals, training and performance reviews as well as time-tracking and expenses. Holiday and absence management: Clear visibility of

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20th May 2021

You are not alone….

91 million working days are lost annually in the UK due to mental health issues, costing £30 billion per year. The COVID pandemic has resulted in mental health support and employee wellbeing becoming more of a priority than ever before. With more and more people suffering from isolation and anxiety caused by lockdown, employers have a duty of care to up the ante when it comes to their support. More people are working remotely, so they may feel the affects of

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18th May 2021

How can you support your team’s wellbeing?

Over the past year, we’ve all had to deal with change. Change in the way we live, work and socialise. These changes have meant that the mental health and wellbeing of employees has had to become a focus for employers. With 30.9% (7.4 million adults) people reporting that their well-being has been affected by loneliness in 2020, suggesting a direct link with remote working, employers have a legal duty to take practical steps in helping their employees. In this article,

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10th May 2021

Burnout: The early signs to look out for as an employer & how to tackle it

Following the past year, it’s no surprise that psychologists are reporting a rise in “pandemic burnout” according to The Guardian. Many people have found themselves isolated with financial difficulty, on top of the obvious health concerns. Reports are showing significant percentages when it comes to people feeling the pressures of working from home. For example, 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point over the last year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope according to the

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12th April 2021

The benefits of an active commute

It goes without saying that one thing all employers want is to develop and create a productive workforce. There are so many workplace commentators and experts these days that will talk about engagement, reward, or employee satisfaction as the key to productivity, and whilst there is absolutely a place for this, it’s important to consider what else employers can do to get the best out of their workforce. One thing is to encourage and to facilitate an active commute. The

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5th September 2019

TUPE, due diligence and the data protection challenge

How can you undertake thorough and effective due diligence in the context of a TUPE transfer without breaching data protection legislation? This is a question we have been asked by clients a few times of late and so we thought it would be useful to get the answer out there for the wider benefit of employers in general. In summary, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), duly tailored by the Data Protection Act 2018, requires UK employers to comply with

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30th August 2019

5 common mistakes employers make at Employment Tribunal hearings

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. It’s a common utterance but when it comes to employment tribunals, so often organisations fail to heed this crucial piece of advice. Defending a claim brought in the Employment Tribunal can be both costly and time consuming for employers. Factor in the very limited grounds upon which an Employment Tribunal judgment can be appealed it becomes clear that getting it right first time is critical to achieving a favourable outcome. As we prepare for

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14th June 2019

This is the Hints & Tips section of our blog. A useful resource for employers.

Hints & Tips

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