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spike in sickness absence rates

The Sickness Absence Spike Employers Can’t Ignore!

The CIPD’s Health and Wellbeing at Work report supported by Simplyhealth, provides data and analysis on current health and wellbeing trends and practices in the workplace. The latest report has revealed worrying trends in sickness absence. In this article we have highlighted the key findings and measures employers could implement to help reduce sickness absence rates and maintain a healthy, productive workplace. Key findings of the report The report has revealed a spike in sickness absence, with mental ill-health a major contributing factor.

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22nd September 2025
health and safety inspector visit

How to Prepare for a Health & Safety Inspector Visit

Health and Safety Inspectors, from either the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or your Local Authority (LA), may visit your workplace for several reasons. These include following up on a reportable incident, investigating a complaint (e.g. from a whistleblower or concerned member of the public), or as part of a routine or unannounced inspection. Being prepared for any inspector visit is key to managing the process both professionally and legally. This practical guide walks you through the steps businesses should

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15th September 2025
Employee onboarding

Employee Onboarding – A Guide to Success!

A well-structured onboarding program is one of the most valuable investments an organisation can make. A strong onboarding experience makes for a seamless transition to integrate new employees operationally and culturally. It is a strategic process designed to strengthen organisation culture, boost engagement, increase productivity and improve retention. This guide covers the onboarding essentials every employer should know. What is onboarding? Onboarding is the process of integrating new employees into an organisation’s culture and expectations. It bridges the gap between

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8th September 2025
employment tribunal whistleblowing claim

Cafe Worker Awarded £20k After Being Made to Work in the Cold

A former cafe worker at Whipped in Covent Garden has been awarded more than £20,000 after she was dismissed following her complaints about working in the cold. An Employment Tribunal heard how indoor temperatures in the cafe fell as low as 12°C during the winter when managers insisted on leaving the door open to encourage customers to come inside. Ms Ayad said she had to wear ‘three layers and a thermal vest’ to stay warm but was not allowed to

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28th August 2025
Disability discrimination

Workplace Disability Discrimination Disputes on the Rise

Recent data from the government’s Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), has revealed that approximately one in six workplace disputes now involve disability discrimination, a rise of 31% in the past year. Disability is one of nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. A person is considered disabled under that legislation if they have ‘a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities’. An increase in mental

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18th August 2025
Understanding Protected Characteristics in UK Employment Law

Understanding Protected Characteristics in UK Employment Law

The primary purpose of employment law is to provide a framework that promotes fairness and equality to provide a safe, inclusive, legally compliant workplace for employees. The Equality Act 2010 outlines the protected characteristics which form a key part of this framework to protect employees from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Here we explain what the protected characteristics under UK employment law are, why they matter, and how businesses can ensure compliance to promote equality and prevent discrimination in the workplace.

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11th August 2025
maternity discrimination

New mum who claimed she was ‘laughed at’ for wanting her job back wins maternity discrimination case

An award-winning saleswoman claimed she was ‘laughed at’ by her new boss when she asked to return to her role after maternity leave. The claimant worked for Manchester based Bright HR in the web sales department and lost her job while on maternity leave in 2022. She claimed she was earning around £65,000 before taking maternity leave, and on her return was offered a role paying around £24,000. The tribunal heard that in May 2002, the claimant attended the company’s

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5th August 2025
What to Include in an Employee Handbook

What to include in an Employee Handbook: HR Essentials for 2025

Whilst not an absolute legal requirement, a well-structured employee handbook plays a critical role in building a compliant and productive workplace. It should outline key policies, standards and procedures, and provide consistent and accessible guidance for employees. Although an employee handbook should be tailored to the employer’s particular business and requirements, the following is a list of sections which should definitely feature: Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures Clear procedures should be included for handling disciplinary issues and grievances which comply with

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30th July 2025
bridging the soft skills gap

Making the Jump from Education to Work – A Growing Challenge for Employers!

Employers are encountering a surprising problem – a lack of essential soft skills in young workers, which is having a negative impact on workforce dynamics and productivity. Many school and college leavers are under-prepared for the journey from education to the workplace, and in particular for the significant change in approach and behaviour that is expected. Employers sometimes assume young workers understand office etiquette, whether it’s knowing how to communicate with colleagues, manage their time effectively, or handle sensitive topics like

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24th July 2025
wooden gavel and books

The Employment Rights Bill Roadmap Explained – Key Points Employers Need to Know

The government’s ‘Plan to Make Work Pay’ introduced wide-ranging changes to employment law in a bid to tackle low pay and working conditions and enhance employment rights. The Employment Rights Bill (ERB) includes key reforms such as extending protection from unfair dismissal from day one of employment, changes to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and a ban on fire and re-hire practices. On 1 July 2025, the government published a roadmap outlining the planned timeline for consultations, amendments, and enforcement of

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17th July 2025
fair redundancy alternative roles

Fair Redundancy Dismissal Requires Genuine Consideration of Alternative Roles

Mr Kennedy, a car sales training manager had 30 years’ experience in the motor industry and had worked for Hendy Group Ltd since 2013. During the 2020 COVID pandemic, a redundancy situation arose within the training team. Mr Kennedy accepted both the redundancy situation and his selection was fair, but his concern was with how the redundancy process was conducted. Mr Kennedy claimed that he was unfairly dismissed as his employer failed to properly consider alternative employment within the company. The steps

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8th July 2025
Employment contract

What Should an Employment Contract Include in 2025?

Explore the must-have elements of an employment contract for UK businesses in 2025. This guide breaks down the latest legal requirements and best practices to help you draft clear, compliant contracts that protect your business. What is an employment contract? An employment contract is a contractual relationship between employer and employee outlining the terms and conditions of employment, such as salary, working hours etc, and becomes effective when an employee accepts the job offer. Why do employment contracts matter? Employment

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2nd July 2025
Person using a laptop with digital document and folder icons displayed in a virtual interface.

Are you HR Compliant? A Quick Guide for SME Owners

This article provides an overview of HR compliance in the UK for small and medium-sized businesses. It covers key legal requirements and practical steps to ensure your business meets all essential employment regulations, helping you to avoid costly mistakes and protect your company. What is HR compliance? HR compliance means complying with statutory and contractual requirements with respect to engaging employee, workers or other staff. The objective of HR compliance is to minimise regulatory and legal risks. Failure to do

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23rd June 2025
security manager called slave

Security Manager Called ‘Slave’ by Colleague Awarded £361k

A security manager of African descent who was referred to by a white colleague as his ‘slave’ has been awarded £361,000, at an employment tribunal. In April 2022, the claimant resigned from Vigilant Security after raising grievances alleging he was subject to continuous bullying and racism. The tribunal heard that Vigilant Security had a ‘striking imbalance’ between racial profiles as guards were mainly from ethnic minority groups and managers were largely white. The Operations Director for Vigilant Security told the

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5th June 2025
nhs worker compared to darth vader

NHS Worker Strikes Back After Being Compared to Darth Vader

A London NHS blood donation worker has been awarded almost £30,000 in compensation after being compared to Star Wars villain Darth Vader. Lorna Rooke began working for the NHS Blood and Transplant service (NHSBT) as a training and practice supervisor in 2003 and claimed the incident was one of the reasons for her resignation in 2021. Members of Ms Rooke’s team completed a Star Wars themed Myers-Briggs personality test in August 2021, with the results characterising each worker as a

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28th May 2025