2005 - June
When using agency staff, you need to clarify the terms of engagement carefully. However, following a recent appeal case, this isn’t all you need to do. What’s the latest position?
Problems caused by second jobs
A subscriber suspects that an employee has a second job. Their concern is that they’re in breach of the Working Time Regulations if he’s working excessive hours. What should they do?
An employee’s been signed off sick for a couple of weeks. You thought nothing more of it until you saw him in the street sporting a healthy tan. Further (discreet) enquiries reveal that he’d been holidaying in Spain. What should you do?
Your accountant has advised you to make some cost savings. Inevitably this will mean redundancies. One short-service employee has already said he’d be prepared to cut his hours instead. Must you agree?
Many employees are trading their company cars for cash. But if you’re not careful they could be worse off. Will you have to compensate them?
Your new admin assistant has just told you she’s three months’ pregnant (she’s only been with you for six weeks). Rather than pay for all those maternity rights, can’t you give her a cheque now and ask her to go quietly?
You’re doubtless fully aware of the damage an unfair dismissal claim could have on your business. As a result you have procedures etc. in place. But might this mean you’re overlooking the risk of a wrongful dismissal claim?
A government-backed campaign will highlight new noise regulations being introduced in the UK in February 2006. What should you be aware of?
A colleague recently asked you about the safety procedures that you have in place should one of your employees experience a vehicle breakdown whilst on company business. You don’t have any, so what should you introduce?
Assessing less obvious problems
In light of a new European campaign on noise, you’ve decided to see whether you’ve a problem in your business. How should you approach this and how can you deal with any issues that arise?
Backs! 2005 - a new initiative
The Health & Safety Executive is launching a new manual handling blitz this summer. We’ve heard that they’re going to get heavy with employers which don’t come up to scratch. What’s the latest news?
Some of your job roles may require lone working. If so, it’s important to ensure that the tasks are suitable for it and that staff have been properly trained. Some case law shows what can go wrong if this doesn’t happen. What does it say?
Some of your staff regularly work on electrical systems and you’re reviewing the adequacy of the Personal Protective Equipment which you provide them with. Which factors should you consider during selection?
Preventing a Legionella outbreak
Poor management of water systems has featured in the press recently, especially in connection with multiple deaths from Legionnaire’s Disease. So why not use our Legionella checklist to help you manage the risks?
What about health and safety records?
You’re currently reviewing how well your health and safety records comply with the Data Protection Act. So what are the most important ones to consider and how should you protect them?
Ebay is the top Internet skive
You reckon you’ve dealt with the problem of staff looking at porn etc. But what about online shopping and auction sites? What’s the latest?
If you provide your employees with benefits, such as medical insurance, then the July deadline for completing their P11Ds is fast approaching. What do you need to know this year, and how can you make this time consuming task simpler?
An employee’s just told you that he’s expecting to be disqualified from driving (along with more than 180,000 others). He’s a valued member of staff but a lengthy ban would be difficult for you to swallow. Will dismissal be fair?
What’s a reasonable restriction?
A senior employee’s just quit and you’re sure he’s about to join a major competitor. His employment contract contains a restrictive covenant. But will it do the trick? What is the court’s current view?
You suspended an employee and had arranged a disciplinary hearing. However, he produced a GP’s note claiming that he was too stressed to attend. You re-arranged it and the same thing happened. What can you do?
And now for something different
One of your workers wants you to take positive action to get more women to take-up jobs mainly filled by men, yet you’ve been advised that positive discrimination is unlawful. Are they the same thing or completely different? Positive action
Safe access the tax-efficient way
Whilst you’re aware of the need for the disabled to be able to access your premises safely, you may have refrained from making alterations due to cost. How can you use tax relief to your immediate advantage?
The Health & Safety Executive wants to introduce a new type of inspector which will only provide advice. Is this idea as good as it sounds?
With summer on its way, it’s likely that those of you with water dispensers will be stocking up on your supply of water bottles. What possible health and safety issues could a bottle of water pose? You might be surprised; we were.
The number of your employees who work alone has increased over the last few months. For health and safety reasons, you’ve decided to introduce a lone worker policy. What are the key topics to include?
Protecting those working abroad
You may need to send staff abroad on business. Apart from health and safety issues, this raises questions about whether accident insurance is necessary. Following a Court of Appeal decision, what are your duties to provide it?
A colleague recently experienced a safety scare over a gas leak. To avoid this happening to you, you’ve decided to update your gas safety procedures. How should you approach this and what topics should be included?
Whilst you’ve probably heard of the risks of Deep Vein Thrombosis from long haul air travel, you’re unlikely to associate it with those who drive long journeys for work. In light of medical research, what should you be aware of?
You know that a pregnant employee is entitled to maternity leave and, in most cases, to statutory maternity pay. However, what’s the position where an employee who is still on maternity leave tells you that she’s pregnant again?
The Fixed-Term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002 say that fixed-term employees should not be treated less favourably than permanent employees. But what’s a fixed-term contract?
Following last year’s landmark ruling by the House of Lords in the Barber case, what do the courts now expect of you when confronted with a stress claim?
An employee who’s been on your books for ages has become complacent and lazy. You’ve tried the informal warnings route with little effect so now want to cut his salary and pay him what he’s worth. Can you do it?
With the summer holiday season fast approaching, annual leave requests are flooding in. What’s the story if you turn down a request but the employee announces that he’s taking the time off anyway?
The company has temporary cash flow problems and can’t pay the PAYE bill this month. Will the Taxman allow you to defer payment and if not, is there a way around the system?
Once an employee has shown that a discriminatory remark has been made, the burden of proving otherwise shifts to you. However, the point at which this occurs has now changed. What’s the latest news?